Days of the Beer, October 22

The beer for today is Carlsberg Elephant.

On October 22, 202BC, Hannibal Barca, the leader of the Carthaginians, was defeated by the Roman legions under Scipio Africanus at the Battle of Zama. This battle marked the end of the Second Punic War.

At the battle of Zama, Hannibal's army was 50,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry and 80 war elephants, Scipio had 34,000 Roman infantry, and 9,000 cavalry. Hannibal's forces had 20,000 killed, 11,000 wounded, and 15,000 killed; while the Romans had 1,500 killed and 4,000 wounded.

The Romans involved in the fight were the most experienced from the Roman army. They easily destroyed the Carthaginians. The Roman cavalry rode the Carthaginians off the battle field, and then came back right as the Carthaginians were about to win. Then routed them and killed or wounded more than 60% or Hannibal's forces.

About the beer:

Pasteurised strong lager.
First brewed in 1959. Sold in a 330ml bottle in 1989 as "the beer you will never forget". In May 1996 Elephant Beer was repackaged into an emerald green 275ml bottle.
UK version is brewed at the Carlsberg Northampton brewery.
Carlsberg Elephant Beer is an amber-coloured beer with big intensity in its aroma, and with a distinct maltyness. There is notes of honey in the aroma. The palate of Carlsberg Elephant shows a good balance between a good body from the alcohol, and a discrete sweetness which is tamed by the sophisticated bitterness of the aftertaste.

For the man who was famous for riding elephants across the alps, have the most famous Elephant beer.