Beer is finally having its time in the sun. The generic lager culture of bygone years has been swept up by a market of passionate consumers keen for knowledge and new experiences. But what do we really know about the world’s most widely consumed alcoholic beverage. Here are eight surprising things you probably didn’t know about beer.
Women were the major players in beer production throughout history
In stark contrast to today’s male dominated beer industry, women ran the show in the past. The first documentation of women’s involvement in beer production dates back four thousand years, to Mesopotamia. Brewsters (the title given to women who brew ale) enjoyed tremendous respect in Sumerian society, serving the illustrious goddess of beer, Ninkasi. In some periods throughout ancient Egyptian history, there were even laws in place, banning men from selling or making beer.
Beer’s role in providing essential sustenance meant consumption was an essential part of daily life for men, women and children throughout history. The importance of beer in the household was paramount and brewing was part of domestic life. It wasn’t until beer’s industrialisation that men began to take over.
On the bright side, the craft beer revolution is seeing history come full circle, with brewsters again taking the helm at respected breweries around the world.
Beer, civilisation and the agricultural revolution
The rise of agriculture changed the course of human history. It was originally believed that food production inspired our Neolithic ancestors to move away from a nomadic way of life, instead setting up camp to grow crops. But recent archaeological research suggests otherwise. It turns out that both the tools and types of grain unearthed at ancient sites have more in common with those used for beer production, giving rise to the “beer before bread” theory. These findings imply that civilisation as we know it, including the invention of the wheel, the plough, irrigation and basic commerce, may have been fuelled by man’s quest for a cold one. Cheers to that.
Is wine healthier than beer?
The beer belly myth has been perpetuated by the stigma of binge drinking in beer culture. With the rise of craft beer, and a move towards quality over quantity, it’s time to think again.