For many in the United States and across the globe, drinking beer in good company is an enjoyable pastime; for historians Christopher Dobbs and Rick Spencer, it is so much more.

After spending their Thursday evening in the community room of the Old Lyme Library presenting to, singing for and tasting beer with a group of about 30 hops growers, homebrewers and interested locals on October 8, they can rest assured that they are not alone.

“Drinking beer is something that many people bond over and take for granted,” said Dobbs, who is also the executive director of the Connecticut River Museum. Also a self-described beer connoisseur, Dobbs put together a PowerPoint slideshow for the event, complete with maps and pictures of historic documents and figures.

“So after you get to hear about the beer history, you get to taste beer history,” he said.

As library director Mary Fiorelli chuckled to herself before introducing the two presenters, she remarked that this “Glass of Beer History and Tasting” event put a “little twist” on the programming that is usually featured at the library. Fiorelli added that it was also the first time she had such an event there.

“Libraries are becoming more and more about bringing people together,” Dobbs said as he introduced himself to the crowd. “So bringing people together over a glass of beer here kind of makes sense.”

Spencer, a musical history performer of the last five or six years and a historian for 30 years, followed Dobbs with a brief introduction and an English folk song from as early as the mid-19th century: “O good ale, thou art my darling, thou art my joy both night and morning.”

Later song choices, which included additional folk songs, sea chanteys and Irish drinking songs, like “The Wild Rover” he was joined by colleague Dawn Indermuehle and Dobbs.

“Music is a good way to learn about the culture of the past, since people look at music as entertainment,” Spencer said about the music incorporated into the program. “But there’s also a component of it where you can look at some of the cultural things going on during the time that the song was created.”

Five of the presentation’s featured beers were also readied for tasting on tables in the back of the room.

One was a German American Lager beer made by D. G. Yuengling & Son, which produces Yuengling beer and other products like ice cream. Established in 1829, D. G. Yuengling & Son is the oldest operating brewing company in the United States.

After everyone drank their samples of the lager, there were scattered comments about the drink having a “slightly bitter” flavor.

“That’s alright actually, because our taste buds are designed to not like bitter tastes,” said Dobbs. “It tells us that we taste poison in our food and drink.”

Dobbs and Spencer then asked about meals the visitors would pair the beer with. Multiple suggestions were tossed around the room, but sausage and sauerkraut won the majority vote in the end.

Similar discussions followed for the featured Extra Strong Bitter, India Pale Ale, port wine and barley wine.

Barley wine in particular is a beer by definition according to Dobbs and Spender, being made from grain instead of fruit. It was also said to be the “original” beer as they traced its history to the Fertile Crescent area of the Middle East as a mixture of barley, water and windblown yeast.

Though there are no plans in action for future beer history programs, Fiorelli said that she was excited about the reception and is open to organizing a similar event in the future.