Dive into the fascinating history of beer, tracing its roots back over 11,000 years to the dawn of agriculture. Discover how ancient civilizations, from Egypt to Greece, embraced this beloved beverage and how its evolution has shaped the modern beer industry.
From Tart to Innovative
We think the ancient world was like an endless kegger, but its relationship with beer was much more varied and nuanced. Even the Ancient Egyptians drank one that was rather sour, similar to a gose today (an Olde German lemon beer).
And of course, one mustn’t forget the Ancient Greek poet Homer who mentioned a special drink he called ‘kykeon’, made from grape wine and fermented grains. This is a beer that completely defies our traditional definition of what beer really should be.
The further back in time we look though, the more we see that what exactly beer is has changed. What we know as hoppy, cereal-grain fermented beers are merely one chapter of a historical lineage that spans back thousands of years. The booze buried around the globe, from the wild-grain ferments of Raqefet Cave in Israel to a Neolithic cave near Yantai City in China, included grains alongside tubers and fruit — highlighting the stunning regional variety seen within early beer-making.
The Enduring Appeal of Beer
Beer has been that social glue for ages, dating back hundreds of years. As the “Beer Archaeologist,” Rupp points out that when he drinks wine or sips scotch, he takes a more solitary approach. While with beer, he welcomes the company.
The communal nature of beer has ancient ties. Beer can be used genetically for bonding and to create social cohesion- everyone knows this except the Ancient Egyptians or Greeks. The trajectory of modern beer styles, such as the growth of lagers during the 19th century, is also linked to these German brewing traditions that were readily transplanted to America by immigrant families like the Coors, Anheuser, and Miller clans.
The craft beer movement, to this day, is still driving all of us crazy with ingredients and weird flavors that do not sound like it should be beer. Yet, beneath these exciting new innovations lies the very human need to gather and enjoy a great beer in good company; a pastime dating back millennia.
Conclusion
This tapestry of stories stretches back thousands of years and involves entire civilizations, crafty brewers, and most importantly the communal desire we all have to gather together and enjoy imbibing on this life-changing liquid. Discovering ancient truths and experimenting with the boundaries of modern brewing, we are reminded that beer is an ancient beverage connecting us to a long-standing heritage over centuries.
