origions

Exactly when beer was first brewed cannot be determined. Two slate tablets are displayed in the British Museum in London, which were, in the year 1926, scientifically estimated to be about 9000 years old. The scientist, a Mr. E. Huber, was of the opinion that the inscriptions on these tablets showed the coarse milling of emmer (A prehistoric grain type, similar to spelt, used for the brewing of beer). He concluded that this was possibly the oldest evidence of the brewing of beer. More recent research has indicated that the tablets are probably not so old as Mr. Huber thought and that even the connection with the brewing process may be doubtful.
The oldest proven records of brewing are about 6000 years old and refer to the

Sumarians Sumaria lay between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, encompassing Southern Mesopotamia. The Sumarians discovered the fermentation process by chance. Of course, nobody knows today, exactly how this occurred, but it could be that a piece of bread became wet and was simply forgotten. After a short time the bread began to ferment and a inebriating pulp resulted. The Sumarians were able to repeat this process and are assumed to be he first civilized culture to brew beer. They had discovered a "divine drink" which they offered to their gods.

GilgameshFrom the Gilgamesh Epic, written in the 3rd millennium B.C., we learn that not only bread but also beer were very important. This epic is recognized as one of the first great works of world literature. Ancient oral sagas from the beginning of human history were recorded in writing for the first time. The Gilgamesh Epic describes the evolution from primitive man to "cultured man".
Enkidu, a shaggy, unkempt, almost beastial primitive man, who ate grass and could milk wild animals, wanted to test his strength against Gilgamesh, the demigod-like sovereign. Taking no chances, Gilgamesh sent a whore to Enkidu to learn of his strengths and weaknesses. Enkidu enjoyed a week with her, during which she taught him of civilization:
"(..)Enkidu knew not, what bread was nor how one ate it. He had also not learned to drink beer. The whore opened her mouth and spoke to Enkidu: `Eat the bread now, O Enkidu, as it belongs to life. Drink also beer, as it is the custom of the land. (..) " Enkidu drank seven cups of beer and his heart soared. In this condition he washed himself and became a human being.
The Sumarian empire collapsed during the 2nd millennium B.C., hopefully not because of their beer consumption, and the




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