Beer Throughout History From The International Trappist ✓ Solved

Beer Throughout History from the International Trappist

Beer has a long and intimate history with humankind. One can trace the roots of beer back to the dawn of civilization, and beer has persisted to the present day to become a part of everyday life. Since beer has been an intricate part of human society, one can equate beer production with development of civilization, in particular technological innovation and social development.

Beer production has its beginnings back to near 10,000 BCE in the Mesopotamia region. Not quite coincidentally, civilization began near that same time period. There is a popular line of thought that the discovery of fermentation and the development of beer were key factors in the start of civilization. The earliest known western civilization was Sumer (literally “land of the civilized kings”) that started in 5300 BCE. The Sumerian civilization provided us with the first detailed records of brewing, the first records of transactions involving beer, and the first instructions for producing beer.

Many of the medicines used beer as an ingredient. Beer and its production were very important to the Sumerians. It established their identity as a civilization, and drinking beer was what civilized people did. The Hymn to Ninkasi was dedicated to the goddess of brewing and contained descriptions of the brewing process. The first four lines describe the process of malting, which frees up sugars in grain for fermentation. The next lines describe the process of lautering (used to separate the solid parts of the mash from the liquid parts), and the last part describes what happens after lautering.

Since microorganisms such as yeast were not visualized until millennia later, the process of fermentation was attributed to the divine influence of the gods, in this case Ninkasi. In 2000 BCE, the Babylonian Empire occupied the same land as the now-dead Sumerian civilization and extended the brewing traditions of the Sumerians. The Babylonians devised the first laws pertaining to beer and the first bars. The first significant recorded laws were Hammurabi’s Codes, which included laws concerning beer quality.

The Epic of Gilgamesh is thought to be one of the oldest recorded pieces of literature in the world. In one part of the epic, the hero Gilgamesh is challenged by Enkidu, who transforms from a beast to a human after drinking beer and eating bread, thus highlighting the civilizing power of processed foods.

Beer parlors became popular in Babylon, and bars were always run by women, who were the only people allowed to brew beer. A popular belief has it that in Babylon, the father of the bride was obligated to supply his new son-in-law with as much mead as he desired for a month, giving rise to the term “honeymoon.”

The Egyptians carried on many of the traditions of the Sumerians and Babylonians. Their key contribution to brewing was the invention and perfection of the malting process. They used beer as currency and medicine, emphasizing its significant role in society. Hammurabi’s Codes even contained laws dealing specifically with beer.

The Iron Age saw beer struggling for acceptance in ancient Greece and Rome, where it was considered an uncivilized drink fit only for barbarians. Still, the Romans and Greeks played an important role in the spread of alcoholic beverages with the establishment of trade routes and the invention of amphorae.

During the Middle Ages, monasteries played a crucial role in the continuation of brewing traditions. Monks contributed to the brewing process, adopting the use of hops for flavoring. There was a belief among Vikings that warriors who died in battle would go to Valhalla, where they would have unlimited beer.

The Reinheitsgebot, Germany's Beer Purity Law enacted in 1516, defined beer as made of barley, hops, and water, highlighting the importance of quality in brewing. In the US, beer experienced significant changes post-Prohibition, leading to the current diverse and thriving beer market.

Beer Production and Consumption Today

Beer production and consumption is now a global phenomenon. The United States leads in beer consumption with more than half of its alcoholic beverages consumed in the form of beer. Mexico has become the largest exporter of beer due to cost-effective production and proximity to the US market, while China is now one of the largest producers, driven by its massive population.

In conclusion, the history of beer illustrates its vital role not only in the daily lives of many cultures but also in shaping civilization. As societies evolve, so too does beer, continuing to be a key aspect of cultural identity and social interactions around the world.

References

• International Trappist Association. (2006). Beer Throughout History. Retrieved from Httpwwwainaorgata20060827151956htm
• Hammurabi, King of Babylon. (c. 1754 BCE). The Code of Hammurabi.
• Gilgamesh, The Epic of. (c. 2100 BCE). Translated version of the Epic of Gilgamesh.
• Hesiod. (c. 700 BCE). Works and Days.
• Thucydides. (c. 400 BCE). The History of the Peloponnesian War.
• Christian Monasteries and Beer. (2013). Retrieved from [link to source]
• Reinheitsgebot: The Purity Law of Beer. German Beer Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved from [link to source]
• Beer Consumption Statistics. (2023). Retrieved from [link to source]
• Chinese Beer Production and Market Trends. (2023). Retrieved from [link to source]
• Impact of Prohibition on the Brewing Industry. (n.d.). American Brewers Association. Retrieved from [link to source]