Need some question suggestions for your next boozy mastermind? Beer is a central part of any pub quiz – the delicious lubricant that gets the conversation flowing and brains going. But it’s also a deep and fascinating topic for those who like to exercise their trivia muscles.
Any punter worth their pint will know a host of facts about pop culture, football statistics, and music chart-toppers from the 80s. But they’ll likely know a fair bit about beer, too.
We know our beer and if you’re reading this, you probably do too. So here are ten fascinating facts about the world of beer that’ll make for a punchy pub quiz. By the way – we’ve researched all the answers to these questions and they are correct as of January 2020.
1 - WHICH COUNTRY IS THE BIGGEST CONSUMER OF BEER (PER PERSON)?
A) Austria
B) Czech Republic
C) Germany
D) Romania
Answer: B) Czech Republic
With a massive 143 litres per person per year, the Czechs absolutely love their beer. If you’ve ever been out on the session in Prague, you’ll know beer is cheap, plentiful and delicious there. Can’t blame them for indulging, can you?
2 - FROM WHICH COUNTRY DOES CORONA BEER ORIGINATE?
A) Mexico
B) Spain
C) Guatemala
D) China
Answer: A) Mexico.
One of the world’s biggest beer brands, this pale lager is one of Central America’s most famous global exports. It’s commonly served with a wedge of lime or lemon in the neck of the bottle, for an extra bit of tartness to the flavour.
3 - WHERE WAS PILSNER INVENTED?
(1 point for the country, 1 bonus point for the city)
A) Czech Republic
B) Germany
C) Belgium
D) USSR
Answer: A) Czech Republic.
The Czech town of Pilsen unsurprisingly has the title as pilsner’s homeland, first being produced in 1842 by Bavarian brew master Josef Groll. The pale lager went on to conquer the world as one of the world’s most popular beers.
4 - WHAT IS THE NAME OF GERMANY’S FAMOUS STRONG BEER FESTIVAL?
A) Oktoberfest
B) Schreckliches Bierfest
C) Starkbierfest
D) Beerapalooza
Answer: C) Starkbierfest
While Oktoberfest is famously the world’s biggest beer festival, the country enjoys another boozy takeover in Starkbierfest, which lasts for three weeks and also takes place in Munich. The ’strong beers’ refer to flavour rather than strength, although a 7.5% ABV brew wouldn’t be out of place here. Expect to taste all kinds of ales, stouts, porters and so on, in contrast to the Lager-focused Oktoberfest.
5 - WHICH ANCIENT CIVILISATION IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TO MAKE BEER?
A) The Babylonians
B) The Saxons
C) The Klaxons
D) The Sumerians
Answer: D) The Sumerians
Sumerian civilisation was centred around the historical region of Southern Mesopotamia (which is now southern Iraq). Along the valleys of the Euphrates river, the first beer was brewed. The earliest known beer recipe was written on a stone tablet, thought to be dated from the year 3,900 BC.
7 - WHAT CITY IS THE WORLD’S BIGGEST BEER FESTIVAL HELD IN?
A) Slough, United Kingdom
B) Munich, Germany
C) Prague, Czech Republic
D) Amsterdam, Netherlands
Answer: B) Munich, Germany
It’s Oktoberfest, of course. This gigantic festival of beer began back in 1810 and has been an important part of Bavarian culture since. It attracts around six million people to the 18-day festival each year, serving up to 8 million litres of beer. That’s quite a lot, isn’t it?
8 - WHICH AFRICAN NATION IS FAMOUS FOR BOTH ITS LARGE DESERT AND LOVE FOR DRINKING BEER?
A) Morocco
B) Sudan
C) Algeria
D) Namibia
Answer: D) Namibia.
This southern African nation is the proud inhabitant of the Namib desert.
German colonisation in the late 1800s left a legacy of German settlement, including some cultural mainstays such as language, food and beer.
Although it has a small population of just under 3 million, annual beer consumption per head is 108 litres – the second highest in the world! It even has its own version of Oktoberfest.
9 - WHY DO MANY BEERS LOSE FLAVOUR WHEN SERVED COLD?
A) Cold temperatures dull your tongue
B) Cold dissolves sugars in the beer
C) Cold kills the yeast in the beer
D) Cold makes the bubbles start to oxygenate
Answer: A) Cold temperatures dull your tongue
Your tongue is unable to perceive as many flavours when cold. This means that ale, with its complex flavour profile, is better served at room temperature, while lager works well chilled as it has fewer flavours to lose.
10 - WHAT’S THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC OF A SESSION BEER?
A) You’re only allowed to drink them on stag do’s
B) More hoppy than other beers
C) Lower alcohol content than other beers
D) Distinctive fruity flavour
Answer: C) Lower alcohol content than other beers
Sessions are designed for easy drinking over the course of a session, so you won’t overload your tastebuds or get too intoxicated. A session is normally under 3.5% ABV, but you might see some go up to 5%.
Happy quizzing - if you need to make up even more questions, then check out our beer guides for more facts and inspiration.