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Friday, January 27, 2017

THE BREWSPAPER / CRAFT BEER IS ALL ABOUT HOPS, BUT WHAT ABOUT ITS ROOTS?



Modern civilization is beer civilization. Yet, agriculture, cities, writing, and religion all have ties to ancient craft brewing.

More than 10,000 years ago, early hipster hunter-gatherers crafted the first brews. Ancient Egyptians, Sumerians, Chinese, and others each perfected the brewing arts in interesting, and even strange, ways. Beer-loving headhunters from the Amazon, for example, did the amazing trick of chewing poisonous cassava root so it could become a drinkable beer.

Since then, beer has spread across the globe and has come to be known by many names.  Other than water, coffee, and perhaps tea, it is the most widespread drink in the world.

San Diego Museum of Man’s “Beerology” exhibit offers other intriguing beer centric stories, including ancient artifacts that reveal the links between beer and culture, such as the solid gold beer cup of an Inca king.

Brewing beer led early humans to grow crops, build cities, and write the earliest recipes.  As our relationship with beer continued, it became part of our daily life, religion and culture. 

Craft beer has roots.  It reflects the foundations of civilization.


“Beerology,” The Exhibit is linked with occasional live beer pairings at the venerable Balboa Park museum (under the California Tower).   For info and beer tasting dates check in at http://www.museumofman.org/exhibits/beerology/


“Beerology” at the San Diego Museum of Man closes in February, 2017.

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