7,000 years in the making |
Beer is one of the oldest beverages in the world. Tests on ancient pottery reveal that beer was being made over 7,000 years ago in what is now Iran.
The oldest recorded beer recipe is a nearly 4,000 years old. It's a Sumerian poem "Hymn to Ninkasi" honouring Ninkasi, the goddess of brewing, that describes early beer production.
In Northern areas of Europe, where grapes are harder to grow, beer was consumed everyday by all classes during the Middle Ages; often being served with every meal. Beer was a safer option for consumption than water alone as the water in beer is boiled as part of the brewing process.