Posted on 08/15/2018 11:32:34 AM PDT by C19fan
Archaeologists have found traces of beer in Iraq that are super old, dating back 2,500 years to ancient Mesopotamia and the Babylonian Empire. While texts from those forgotten days speak of fermented drinks, this is the "oldest direct evidence" of beer discovered, Smithsonian reports. And now the archaeologists who discovered the traces are trying to replicate the recipe for us to enjoy in the modern era. Eons pass and civilizations fall, but beer is always good.
Elsa Perruchini, the lead author on the study announcing the discovery, used a process called gas chromatography, which has never before been used to identify beer residue in ancient remains. It allowed her to see past contamination like sunscreen from archaeologists working the dig to identify different compounds in the remains. Lo and behold, barley residue from beer was discovered in clay pots, as well as signs of fermentation.
(Excerpt) Read more at popularmechanics.com ...
Boo! Hiss! Boo!
Okay, I'm only upset because I didn't think of it. That's darn funny.
How about Old Iraqi English 800?
Pharaoh Ale: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/zymurgy/pharaoh-ale-brewing-a-replica-of-an-ancient-egyptian-beer/
Tastes like warm camel pee!
Mesopotamian microbrew
And remember, Tuesday night is Ladies Night at Khufu's Lounge...
The label says “Billy Beer”.
Thanks for the pings! Better ancient beer through science, er somethin'.
New Natty Light slogan:
“The beer so nice, you’ll taste it twice!”
Hold muh beer, Hatsheput..
I wouldn't. But I think that's what you meant.
It probably was brewed with nothing but water, barley and hops. Even back during the Roman Empire, that was the standard...and restricted...list of ingredients.
I'll stick with Weihenstephaner Korbinian or Long Trail Double Bag.
Something that has always puzzled me:
Wine discovery is fairly simple, fruit juices ferment when left in containers and produce alcohol.
But BEER is a complicated process and must be studied and experimented with.
Bwahahahahahahahaha.
Wild Bill’s favorite swill.
"It smells so terrible,” Perruchini told Smithsonian.
With a recommendation like that, who wouldn’t want to try it?
The basics of beer would be pretty simple.
4 ingredients.
I can see water getting into some grain storage, airborne yeast getting the process started, and someone deciding to try adding hops to the mix when the fizzy intoxicating liquid was discovered.
What baffles me is: who would decide “oh look, some water got in my grain and now it’s all fizzy and smells weird - hey, I know, I’LL DRINK IT!” and proceeded to in enough quantity to get past the odd taste and reach inebriation, and did so often enough to decide it’s a good idea.
We may never know................My only other choice is: ALIENS..............
Impossible to prove but I’ll bet during neolithic times crops were grown to make beer and bread was an afterthought. This required organization so beer created civilization!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
