#kingofbeer

Originating in Europe, King Gambrinus is known as a culture hero and is often represented as the icon for beer and the brewing industry. Many know him as the “patron saint of beer.”

  While Gambrinus has been representing beer for centuries through his appearance, there is little known about the historical figure. 

Some people attribute the invention of hopped malt-beer to an individual named Sans Peur. Sans Peur, who lived form 1371 to 1419, was also know as Ganbrivius. A slight corruption of the name might have resulted in the current name for the king of beer. 

Through the years, it has become tradition to tell tall tales about King Gambrinus. In one such popular tale, Gambrinus was the inventor of beer and  also had enormous capacity to drink beer. Others credit Gambrinus to have special powers to bless beers and make crops grow. 

One of the most popular folk tales about King Gambrinus shares that Gambrinus was a good-looking but poor young man who worked as a glassblower’s apprentice. Legend has it that he fell in love with the daughter of his boss, Flandrine, but she wanted nothing to do with him. 

Heartbroken, the young Gambrinus decided to focus on his musical talents. While performing in his home town, Gambrinus was amazing until he spotted Flandrine in the crowd. At this point, Gambrinus’s music turned terrible and the crowd became angry and rioted. Since Gambrinus was deemed responsible for the riots, he was thrown in jail. 

Just when Gambrinus was about to give up hope in jail, the Devil showed Gambrinus how to build a brewery and brew beer. The Devil also presented Gambrinus with seeds to grow hops and a musical chime that had the ability to make anyone dance. 

When Gambrinus returned home and opened a brewery people did not like the bitter tasting drink. However, as soon as Gambrinus played his chime, everyone began to dance. After dancing for hours, the citizens were so thirsty that they craved any type of liquid. The people then tried the beer and fell in love. 

Gambrinus went on to live a happy, drunken life.  As legend has it, the Devil eventually came back to collect Gambrinus’s soul, but was unable to do so because all that was left in place of Gambrinus’s body was a barrel of beer.