Pre-Industrial Era
- 3000 BCE: Ancient Civilizations discover the hop plant, unaware of its future greatness
- 500 BCE: Greek philosophers ponder the bitter, golden elixir
- 100 CE: Roman engineers perfect the art of brewing, but not the art of hop cultivation
Industrial Era
- 1800s: Hops arrive in America, and the craft beer revolution begins... sort of
- 1862: The first American lager is brewed in the Midwest, but it's no good
- 1886: The first American lager with a hint of citrus is brewed, but it's still not good
- 1906: The first American lager with a hint of citrus and a hint of flavor is brewed, but it's still not that great
- 1950s: The American lager becomes a symbol of suburban conformity, a drink for the masses
Craft Beer Era (aka The Era of Mildly-Competent Humans)
- 1960s: The first American microbrewery opens, and Steve becomes a regular
- 1970s: The first American pale ale is brewed, and it's actually pretty good
- 1980s: The American IPA is born, and Steve is over here
- 1990s: The craft beer scene explodes, and Steve has to start wearing a beard
- 2000s: The first American IPA with a hint of citrus and a hint of hops is brewed, and it's actually pretty great
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