Beer historian Dr. Christina Wade describes her new book Filthy Queens: A History of Beer in Ireland as a love letter to the Irish craft beer community. That love is evident in the passion and rigor she brings to this fascinating and important book, which takes readers on a journey through the history of Ireland from the 5^th century CE to the end of the 19^th century. Author of the award-winning The Devil’s in the Draught Lines: 1000 Years of Women in Britain’s Beer History, Dr. Wade uses her impeccable research and writing skills to weave together intriguing stories of saints, sinners, warriors, colonizers, sex workers, ghosts, priests and demons who all have one thing in common: beer.

Beer, Dr. Wade says, “is deeply intertwined with the culture of Ireland, not only in daily life, but with kings and queens, power rituals, colonialism and war, monastic life, politics, and so much more.” Dr. Wade moved to Ireland from the US in 2011 as an MPhil and PhD student, and immersed herself in the history and culture of her new home, while bringing with her an enthusiasm for beer honed in her native D.C. Forming the Ladies Craft Beer Society of Ireland as a way to make new friends and explore her new beer scene, Dr Wade kick-started a movement that now — 11 years in — has over 1,400 members. It is a living, breathing testament to the importance of beer in Irish society.

As someone so enmeshed in Irish beer culture, when Dr. Wade noticed that there was no dedicated book on beer in Ireland from the beginning of recorded history into contemporary times, she began working to fill that gap. Seven years of meticulous research later, this volume of incredible stories of beer’s role in shaping Irish history is the result, from early Christian religious communities to colonization by the Vikings and the English to rebellion and industrialization.

The book is filled with engaging characters, from the holy goddess of beer, Saint Brigid to the infamous Atilla the Hun, famed courtesan Peg Plunkett to Arthur Guinness, whose legacy continues to grow strong (although quite what he’d make of splitting the G we’ll never know). In between the fun myths and fables, where Saint Brigid turns water into ale and Viking ghosts get drunk at their own funeral feast are detailed insights into who was brewing, what they were brewing, how beer was used and evolved as a social and cultural object, and how tastes for different beer styles evolved and changed.

“The waves of colonization, first the Vikings, then the English, then the English again, provide us with a way to look at the history of beer through the lens of multiple cultures,” says Dr. Wade. “Through this colonization, we can trace how beer was used not only in conquest, but also as a way to adapt or assimilate. It played a key role not only in the war machine, but also in peace.”

Throughout the book, Dr. Wade draws comparisons with our own beer culture and society, and how intrinsic beer is to our socialization and rituals. “Probably to me the most exciting part of beer history is how it is something that we can relate to in our own lives,“ says Dr. Wade. “It’s tangible and relatable. For example, some of us probably love to come home from a long day at work and enjoy a nice cold beer in a lovely hot bath. Well, so did the medieval Irish.”

This considered connection between the past and present — how beer has played a pivotal role in shaping Irish society and culture — is at the heart of this excellent study. With tall tales of zombies, cannibals, miracles and murders, it emphasizes how beer and storytelling have always been as entwined as they are today. “I told myself that I had to write the book like I was telling my friends a story over a pint at the pub,” says Dr. Wade, and her witty, humorous approach to history works its magic to bring each tale to life.

Whether you’re Irish or have Irish heritage or not, this is a fantastic read for anyone with a curiosity about how beer, culture and society interact with one another, shape each other and at times hold one another up — told through the lens of expertly researched vignettes of individual experiences. And I think we can all agree that Saint Brigid got it right when she wished that heaven would be a lake of beer.

Filthy Queens: A History of Beer in Ireland, by Dr. Christina Wade, is published by Nine Bean Rows.

Find out more about Dr. Christina Wade at her blog on women’s beer history Braciatrix, where she posts historical beer recipes she recreates

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