We were handed tipples of what tasted like extra spicy eggnog, something resembling cough syrup and just the regular old viche we eventually came to know and tolerate.
But the post-war boom in lager - outstripping traditional tipples like bitter, mild and stout - offers some clues as to what made the drink so appealing to millions in the first place.
Also on the tour, check out the bucolic vineyards and warming tasting room at Domaine de Chaberton Winery, or compare locally-made fruit wines at Krause Berry Farms and Estate Winery with the cranberry-focused tipples at Fort Wine Company.