by Tange

Created on: June 17, 2008   Last Updated: December 10, 2011

The brewing of beer more than likely dates back to the Neolithic period, when our ancestors first started harvesting and using cereal crops. Dateable evidence, however, comes a while later, but it is probable that, due to its relatively simple brewing process and that it can be made from readily available crops (such as barley, sugar and hops) the development of beer is likely to have evolved separately across the world. We can tell, from paintings and sculptures throughout history, that it was certainly produced by the ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians, and is likely to have been in production throughout the world since the 5th Century BC.

The production of beer varies from culture to culture but, apart from minor ingredient changes (mainly due to regional availability), the basic make up of barley, fermented yeast and water remains pretty much constant throughout history and location. The brewing of beer has always been shrouded in mysticism and mystery from the outset. In Ancient Egypt, beer was used to honour the dead, Babylonian brewers who abused their positions were put to death and it was used as an offering to honour their ancestors in ancient China.

It isn't really clear exactly when beer made its way from its North African roots to the shores of the United Kingdom, but it is written by the Romans that Britons drank 'ale', made from barley, fermented yeast and water. It is also written that the Roman occupiers of Britain tried in vain to introduce wine to the population, but the climate made the growing of grapes quite difficult, so the people of Britain stuck to beer!

We can surmise that beer spread across the world, west and north, with the migration of people and the cultivation of barley and other cereal crops. It is likely (although the ability to produce documentary evidence of this is naturally problematic) that, before the Romans occupied Britain, the Celts were almost certainly drinking beer. It is generally assumed that, linking in with the mystical heritage of my favourite brew, the Celtic Druids incorporated some form of beer in their rites and lifestyle.

During the Middle Ages beer was the most popular drink amongst the British people. It was even consumed at breakfast time. This is mainly due to the fact that, throughout many periods of history, the available water supply was usually contaminated and undrinkable, so beer was the obvious healthy choice. To many, beer was termed "liquid bread" or "the bread of life" and was made from

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