Acidic compounds taste “sour”. Basic compounds taste “bitter”.
Yes, whiskey sour and bitter ale.
Good thought. There may be a lack of distinction between acid and base from a first century perspective. Bitterness may also be due to other elements leached from the soil by the acid rain (see article excerpt below):
“On the continents the acid rain would have weathered the soil removing many of the insoluble elements ( for e.g. Be+2, Al+3, Hg+2, Cu+, Fe+2, Fe+3, Ti+3, Pb+2, Cd+2, Mn+2, Sr+2). These elements would end up in soil water, streams, rivers, lakes, etc., causing a problem as some of these elements are known for their toxicity towards plants and animals (e.g. Al, Be, Ti, Hg).”