| Beer is the world's oldest alcoholic beverage, and was | | | | were also made using various hallucinogenic and |
| one of the first drinks ever produced by human | | | | narcotic substances found growing in local areas. |
| beings. It is estimated that it may date back to as | | | | The first mention of the use of hops comes from a |
| early as 6000 BC, and it is mentioned in the recorded | | | | Carolingian Abbot in the year 822 AD, although it |
| history of the most ancient human civilizations, | | | | certainly could have been in use before that time. |
| including that of Sumeria, Mesopotamia, and ancient | | | | The use of hops in beer production was also |
| Egypt. | | | | mentioned later by writings of the Abbess Hildegard |
| Since beer can occur naturally, through the | | | | of Bingen. |
| fermentation of any substance containing | | | | Most pre industrial beer was produced on a domestic |
| carbohydrates, the beverage was probably | | | | scale, town by town, or household by household. |
| discovered before it was invented. This also means | | | | However in Europe during the Middle Ages |
| that the secret of producing it was probably learned | | | | monasteries did start to produce the beverage on a |
| in many different locations, independent of one | | | | larger scale. |
| another. The earliest archaeological evidence for the | | | | The industrial revolution changed the way that beer |
| consumption of beer that we have is from chemical | | | | was made, turning it into a large scale business. This |
| remains dating back to about 3500 BC. | | | | would eventually put an end to most significant |
| Some archaeologists have theorized that civilization | | | | domestic and small scale production, in favor of mass |
| was developed, to give people the tools necessary | | | | produced corporate beverages manufactured in |
| to produce beer on a large scale, for entire | | | | factories and exported worldwide. |
| populations. | | | | Today beer is produced in countries around the |
| We know that the production and consumption of | | | | world. While there are several larger companies that |
| beer in Europe dates back as far as 3000 BC, carried | | | | dominate the market, there are also a wide variety |
| by Germanic and Celtic Tribes. | | | | of smaller niche brewing businesses that range the |
| Early forms of beer would not be recognizable by | | | | gamut in size and product. There are also a wealth of |
| today's standards because they did not contain hops, | | | | small individual pub breweries and cottage industry |
| and were often made from a variety of fruits, | | | | manufacturers. |
| honeys, and various plants and spices. Many beers | | | | |
