History of the origin of beer: all the most interesting things about the favorite drink

• From the ancient to the modern

In recent years, the number of breweries, specialty stores, and beer restaurants has increased dramatically, and so many people think that beer is a symbol of modernity. Although in fact beer is considered the most ancient alcoholic drink in the world — the first traces of its production were found in a cave in Israel, and they are at least 13 thousand years old. There is a whole theory that man began to grow crops not for the production of bread, but for beer. Whether this is true or not is impossible to prove, but it is far from being the only interesting fact in the rich history of beer.

From the ancient to the modern

It is believed that the first industrial production of beer started as early as VII millennium B.C.! This is confirmed by clay tablets found in ancient Mesopotamia, which depict a brewing vat and masters engaged in making the drink. Of course, at that time beer was not brewed according to modern recipes: spelt and barley, as well as various spices were used for it.

In the history of ancient Babylon, beer can be found in the laws, and quite severe ones at that — for example, the producer could be punished by death for a bad quality of the drink. In ancient Egypt, beer was also very popular — about 20 different recipes were used there.

The ancient Romans, on the other hand, considered beer a "barbarian drink" because it was used by Celts, Germans and other European tribes who were at war with the legions.

In the Middle Ages the center of beer production was the lands of Germany and Flanders. Drinks were usually brewed in monasteries, and some recipes have survived to this day, such as the famous Trappist beer, which is considered one of the symbols of modern Belgium. In those days, even children drank beer because the area was unhygienic, the quality of water was poor, and substitutes like milk deteriorated quickly.

In Russia, beer has also been appreciated since ancient times. For example, in ancient Russia it was often found at princes' feasts. It was brewed from wild honey, which was considered a rather scarce commodity, and to make it cheaper, hops began to be added to it over time. Among the Russian tsars, Peter I was especially fond of beer, and other rulers followed him — for example, under Catherine II the first brewery in the country was built.

Today in Russia and all over the world there are hundreds of such enterprises — from huge companies to tiny craft breweries. But one thing is unchanged: beer is still at the peak of popularity, and first of all — and we are only talking about quality beverages — because of its excellent taste. Come to Lambic and taste it for yourself!

Date: 29 March

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