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..............
“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.”
They probably threw it out and discovered that the animals that consumed it got wasted.
Back on the farm the birds, rabbits, squirrels and deer were abundant when we cut silage.
With a trench or bunker silo we would use a tractor with a blade to distribute and pack the cut corn.
This caused the moisture in the corn to leak out and ferment as it did.
There would be puddles of fermented corn juice around the bunker.
Every manner of animal would come to the bunker for a taste.
Ever seen a deer falling down drunk?
I have, funny as all get out.
Squirrels so drunk they can’t stand up to look around.
Rabbits so drunk they can only lay there and feebly kick their legs.
Drunk birds can be particularly entertaining.
If farmer Ahmed threw out his spoiled grain and saw the animals that ate it acting happy and sloppy he might have taken a taste.
Deciding it was a bit skunky he may have made an effort to tone down the skunkiness.
Trial and error brought about a drinkable potion.
Ancient mans palate was probably completely different than ours.
What we consider inedible he would probably find quite acceptable.