No one seems
to know exactly when the first beer was produced, although it certainly dates
back to 3400 BC. Whilst excavating in 1974, a jar from this period was
discovered at the Godin
Tepe site in Iran,
which contained residue from a barley brewed beer. Remnants were also found on
ancient Chinese pottery, dated around 5,400 years ago, which proves that beer
was being produced from, not just barley, but other grains too. With no further
conclusive dating possible, it is thought that people were drinking beer long
before; the exact era to potentially remain a mystery forever.
The oldest
beer recipe is contained within a 3,900-year-old Sumerian poem to the goddess
of brewing, Ninkasi, which waxes lyrical about how beer was brewed
from barley using bread. One thing we know for sure is that ancient man, (and
no doubt woman too), loved beer as much as we do today. The ancient Egyptians
liked to flavour theirs with dates, wild herbs and olive oil, whilst Pharaohs
were buried with plenty of vats to keep them happy in the afterlife. Indeed,
the Babylonians had more than 20 recipes for different types of beer; workers
who built the pyramids preferred to be paid in the liquid gold,
Beer Through The Ages
For many
centuries, in Europe, beer production relied on Gruit, a mixture of specially
selected herbs and spices. It wasn't until the first millennium AD that the joy
of hops was discovered - Germany began to export them in the 13th century. The
appearance, taste and quality of beer now began its journey to where we are
today. By the 16th century, Germany had introduced a purity law for all beer,
called “Reinheitsgebot”,
which left a basic mix of barley, hops and water as being the only acceptable
ingredients. The importance of adding yeast was realised a few centuries on.
Beer has come
a long way from a thick sludge-like consistency to the wonderful substance that
is produced today. Yeast is now a very important ingredient, a fact that was
discovered by Louis Pasteur, a French microbiologist, in 1857. He was able to
prove that alcoholic fermentation was carried out by living yeasts and not, as
previously thought, by a chemical catalyst. He also discovered that the process
of heating up the beer prevented spoilage, as it killed off any contaminated
organisms. Today, we now know this technique as Pasteurization.
Modern Day Brewing
Grain malting
has become a very precise science, allowing the process to retain that
delicious crisp flavour and light colour we now enjoy. Refrigeration, a
relatively new invention in brewing and drinking, was invented by Carl von
Linde in 1873, at the Spaten Brewery in Munich, where it is still based today.
Nowadays, apart from the high calorie count, beer has some plus points: a high
vitamin B content and essential amino acids, which we need to maintain tissue,
muscles, organs, hair and skin. Perhaps that’s why beer drinkers acquire a rosy
glow!
Next time you pick up your glass of beer, think about where it’s come from. That original
clay pot of flat, slightly burnt tasting, almost gruel-like drink, to the
refreshing, chilled, bubbly beverage that you now hold in your hand. Beer rates
as the third most popular drink in the world, with water and tea taking first
and second. It has become very much a part of modern day living, so, raise your
glass and give a toast to all those geniuses who have worked hard to produce
the world’s most popular alcoholic drink.
