Everyone loves a good quote, whether it’s inspirational, comedic, or something that’s become profound over time. Beer has been a staple in the history of mankind, and along the way a few famous people dropped some memorable quotes.
Last month, I wrote about a variety of beer terms you should add to your beer vocabulary and I felt the appropriate follow-up would be to add some of the best beer quotes known to man. As Ray Bradbury put it, “Beer’s intellectual. What a sham so many idiots drink it.”
“He was a wise man who invented beer.” – Plato
Plato was a genius and his philosophies from the 5th and 4th century B.C. are still taught today. We will never know who invented beer, but the person was indeed wise.
“There is no such thing as a bad beer. It’s that some taste better than others.” – Billy Carter
If you’ve never heard of Billy Carter, he was Jimmy Carter’s (39th U.S. President) brother. He also had a beer named after him called Billy Beer. Billy Beer only lasted a year, so it must have been pretty bad, but Billy is right in his statement. In a pinch, every beer is considered drinkable.
“Work is the curse of the drinking class.” – Oscar Wilde
Those eight-plus hour work days most of us have to put in suck and we would much rather be drinking a beer and having fun. It’s nice to know people felt the same way 100 years ago.
“You can’t be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline – it helps if you have some kind of football team, or some nuclear weapons, but in the very least you need a beer.” – Frank Zappa
This Zappa quote is a bit out there, but that’s what I like about it. Not sure exactly how many countries would qualify as “real” under Zappa’s rules, but all that matters is the United States meets all four requirements.
“My doctor tells me I should start slowing it down, but there are more old drunks than there are old doctors, so let’s all have another round.” – Willie Nelson
Nelson is a legend, a pothead, and a drinker. Probably immortal as well. But I think Nelson is onto something with this line, as many people who live past 100 tend to include booze in their reasoning for living so long.
“A man who lies about beer makes enemies.” – Stephen King in Pet Sematary
Sure, this is a line from a novel about human and pet zombies, but King makes an excellent point. If you lie about beer, whether about having any, what’s in it, or how old it is, then you are going to make some enemies very easily.
“Alcohol may be man’s worst enemy, but the Bible says love your enemy.” – Frank Sinatra
Sinatra was raised Roman Catholic and partied in Las Vegas as part of Rat Pack. This quote is fitting coming from a man how likely had alcohol running through his veins 24/7. There is also a saying that goes, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” Beer is my ultimate enemy then.
Thompson was a well-known alcoholic, so he likely knew a thing or two about good beer and would have enjoyed the company of those who shared his tastes. I think most of us can resonate with that sentiment.
“Let no man thirst for good beer.” – Sam Adams
Adams was a Founding Father, maltster, and eventually had a brewery named after him. It would be interesting to see what Mr. Adams considered “good” beer today, but one would assume he’d be a big fan of the little guys.
“Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed – Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn’t drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, ‘It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.’” – Jack Handey
Drinking too much beer in one night can make for a shameful morning, but I’m not sure I’d feel ashamed for all the beer I’ve drank in my life. Maybe just the amount of macro beer I chugged before jumping on the craft beer bandwagon. Handey’s quote is pretty relevant, though, and one we could all live by.
Those were my 10 favorite beer quotes, so now I want to know what your favorite quote is. Let us know in the comments below.
