History of Beer

Beer is as old as civilization itself. Beer is one of the oldest beverages humans have produced, dating back to at least the 5th millennium BC (prior even to writing), and recorded in the written history of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.

The Chinese brewed beer called 'Kui' some 5,000 years ago. In Mesopotamia, a 4,000 year-old clay tablet indicates that brewing was a highly respected profession. Interestingly enough, women were the master brewers. In ancient Babylon, women brewers were also priestesses.

Beer largely remained a homemaker's activity, made in the home in medieval times. By the 14th and 15th centuries, beer making was gradually changing from a family-oriented activity to an industrial one, with pubs and monasteries brewing their own beer for mass consumption.

Today, the brewing industry is a huge global business, consisting of several multinational companies, and many thousands of smaller producers ranging from brewpubs to regional breweries.