The great British statesman Winston Churchill once said: “Most people hate the taste of beer — to begin with. It is , however, a prejudice that many have been able to overcome.”
This reminds me of the tale from Europe about how a man bested the Devil and how the Beer came about.
Gambrinus of Flanders was an apprentice bottle-maker who was in love with a Flandrina the daughter of the Master glass maker. And Gambrinus was so in loved with Flandrina that he would do anything but alas to Flandrina looked down upon him.
Driven to despair Gambrinus went up an Oak tree and decided to end his life while he saying he would trade anything for Flandrina even his soul. As he said this Beelzebub the Devil appeared dressed as a Huntsman. And Old Beelzebub promised that although he could not make Flandrina loved him – he could make him happy with his gifts in exchange for Gambrinus soul ,which Beelzebub would come back for in thirty years.
Beelzebub gave Gambrinus a plant that would later be known as the Hop and he transported him to a place where men were processing hop and making it into an amber liquid with foam on the top. Beelzebub gave Gambrinus a tankard of beer. The first sip was bitter, the second was still bitter but the Demon encouraged him to drink some more and the third beer was refreshing and Gambrinus wanted some more.
Then it occured to Gambrinus that he would have a hard time convincing the people of Flanders to drink the bitter brew. But Beelzebub the Old Demon just shooked his head and gave Gambrinus ten to twelve bells. He then instruced Gambribnus to built what was to become a carillon whose music no man or creature on Hell, Earth and Heaven could refuse to dance to.
So it came to pass with the beer and enchanted Carillon Gambrinus introduced beer to Flanders. And soon the former apprentice glass maker become famous and rich. Beer was well loved in Flanders. And soon Gambrinus from being a count, to a Duke and eventually a King.
By this Gambrinus was happy indeed and enjoying the beer like everyone. Gambrinus even took on a beer belly and he forgot Flandrina. So much so that when Flandrina approached Gambrinus he just gave her a mug of beer.
Flandrina was never to marry King Gambrinus ever.It turned out that she really loved Gambrinus but it was too late. She died alone.
King Gambrinus outwitted the Devil with the aid of beer and the carillon bested the old demon Beelzebub, who freed him from the pact. The Hop King lived a long life and when he died only a barrel of beer was found where he stood.
Today, King is known as the unofficial Patron Saint of beer or beer brewing. His birthday is supposedly on April 11.
