A Very Short History of Beer

So where did beer come from, and why do we like itinteresting history than you knew!
so much? Even if you drink just every once in aAll beers are classified into two main types: Pale
while, I'll be there has been a time or two when youLagers which are the most popular around the world,
have stared pensively at your half empty beer glassand Ales which are distinct to the region where they
and asked yourself those, or similar questions.are brewed. These two main types are further
Well, as you stare into your glass, would it surprisedefined into other varieties like stout, brown ale and
you that beer is the third most popular drink in thepale ale. Beer is usually produced with about 4%-6%
world? Water and Tea take the two top slotsalcohol but can contain as little as less than one
(really). It certainly would not surprise you to discoverpercent or, rarely, over 20%!
that beer is the most widely consumed alcoholicBeer was introduced to Europe around 5,000 years
beverage. Or that beer predates both wine and liquorago and was most certainly not the same sort of
to claim the title of world's oldest alcoholic beverage.beer we know today. In those days beer brewing
Beer as a beverage probably dates back on the earlyused fruits, honey, various types of plants, spices
Neolithic era, some 11,000 years ago. The process ofand even some narcotic herbs.
brewing beer was, most likely, discovered by manyNotice that hops are not on the list. The first mention
cultures independent of each other. The earliestof hops in the brewing of beer comes 1,200 years
chemical evidence of beer was found in the Zagrosago by an Abbot (by the 7th century beer was
Mountains in western Iran.being brewed and sold by monasteries).
Brewing beer and distributing it are referenced inIt took the Industrial Revolution to bring beer
some of the earliest human writings. Remember yourbrewing into what we would recognize today. It was
high school history and the "Code of Hammurabi"? Ifduring this time that both hydrometers and
not, that's okay. Anyway, this Babylonian code ofthermometers were invented. These gave the
laws was written almost 4,000 years ago and itbrewers much more control over the process and
contains rules regarding the production and distributionthe ability to predict the results. This ability to
of beer. Or how about this; in Mesopotamia they hadstandardize results led to brewing in much larger
a beer goddess, Ninkasi, and one of the prayersquantities and shipment over much wider areas.
recited to her was a recipe for beer! In fact, severalNow, the brewing industry spans the globe. Where
years ago, Anchor Brewing Company made a limitedthere are several huge international companies that
edition and branded it Ninkasi. The recipe was baseddominate the market, there are literally thousands of
on a reconstruction of the original ancient one andsmall brewers also producing beer. Here is another
included twice baked bread, malt, honey and dates.fun fact: in 2006 more than 35 BILLION gallons of
Interestingly, it did not include hops so it ended upbeer were sold for about $294.5 billion dollars.
being much sweeter than modern beers. This justHow much of that did you spend?
proves that those golden suds have a much more