General History of Beer
Ale & wine have a past that extends into prehistory. From ancient cave paintings that show humans gathering wild honey to the Egyptians, alcoholic beverages have been a part of human cultures for millennium.
The oldest known document, inscribed on clay, dates from Babylon from 8000-6000 BC.
The tablets of the brewing of beer, called ‘sikaru’ by the Babylonians.
By 4000 BC the Babylonians had no less than six different types of beer, brewed from barley, spelt and honey, while the first use of hops is believed to have been in Sumer around 3000 BC.
At the same time the Egyptians were brewing their own beers dating from 600 BC.
Beer was included in Egyptian religion and Pharaoh Ramses III is recorded as having consecrated 466,303 jugs of beer to hops gods in 1200 BC.
The earliest Biblical reference to beer is in Moses’ time and it was probably a beer nmade from balrye or spelt, or a combination of the two.
General History of Beer