Globalization in a Glass: The Rise of Pilsner Beer through Technology, Taste and Empire

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The spread of Pilsner beer from its inception in 1842 clearly shows the changes wrought by globalization in an age of empire. Its rise was dependent not only on technological innovations and faster supply chains, but also on the increased connectedness of the world and the political and economic structures of empire. Drawing upon a wide range of archival sources from Europe, the Americas, and Sub-Saharan Africa, this study traces the spread of industrial beer brewing in Europe from the late 18th to the early 20th century to show how a single beer style became the global favourite through advances in science, business and imperial power. In highlighting the evolution of consumer tastes through changing hierarchical relationships between the British metropole and colonies, as well as the evolution of business organizations and practices, Globalization in a Glass contributes to ongoing debates about globalization, empire, and trade. It argues that, despite the might and power of the British Empire as a colonizing force, the effects of globalization, imperial trade networks, and colonial migration led to the domination of the most popular Continental European style of beer, the Pilsner, over British-style ales.

Reviews

This is a well researched book which makes excellent use of primary source, especially brewing journals of the period [A]n extremely readable and thought-provoking attempt to explain the rise and continued success of pilsner. * Brewery History *
Purinton brings together valuable threads of analysis in the history of the brewing industryscience, technology, and business and managerial practiceand also offers a global framework that begins to reveal the simultaneous and multidirectional dynamics of industrial beer production and mass consumption. * H-Net Reviews *

Author Bio

Malcolm F. Purinton is a visiting lecturer at Northeastern University, USA.