• Captain Janeway@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    It’s not just the boiling process. The alcohol in beer is anti-bacterial which allows the water to remain safer to drink for longer.

    It wasn’t beer in many cases. Grog is basically rum, water, and limes/citrus which help sailors prevent scurvy whilst also protecting them from bacterial infections. I don’t believe they boiled the water at all in that case. I believe it was just mixed all together.

    • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      2 months ago

      WOAH TIL grog is an actual thing not just pirate slang for rum! Now I need to recreate one of their old recipes!

    • RBG@discuss.tchncs.de
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      2 months ago

      Is that proven about the alcohol level being antibacterial? Beer is pretty low on alcohol, even if they did strong beers back then, it would land around 10-12% or so. I am not sure that is enough to do anything to bacteria. Rum or other strong spirits, definitely yes.