Craft Beer Revolution: How an Ancient Beverage Embarked on an Epic Journey Across the Globe..
From ancient Egypt to modern beer halls, one drink has defined man’s long and unwavering love affair with alcohol – beer. Rich with a deep, complex history and traditions, beer has held a prominent place in popular culture since the start of humanity. On that note, we want to share the incredible story of how beer went from a domestic homebrewed beverage to the internationally esteemed craft brewery phenomenon we recognize today.
Many people think that brewing beer is a relatively recent innovation, but in reality, it has been around since nearly 6000 B.C. in locations such as Egypt and Sumer. The Sumerians even took their beer-making process so seriously that brewers were assigned specific names and tasks in their brewpubs, along with quality standards. This was undoubtedly some of the earliest evidence of brewing traditions that have endured until present day.
The roots of beer’s popularity traces back to a combination of innovative technology and a favorable climate. Fermentation and storage methods that allowed brewers to transport large amounts of the beverage in colder weather, along with Roman advances in malting technology, meant that beer quickly became a staple of the modern diet. From the Middle Ages to the Age of Industrialization, beer was simply part and parcel of European cultures.
Fast forward to the modern era, where with the craft beer revolution’s rise in the mid-1980s, and breweries in all parts of the world began producing a variety of styles and flavors to satisfy the exploding demand. In the United States, the rise of craft breweries gave way to a booming industry, with now over 8,000 active breweries operating throughout the nation.
This boom, coupled with a passionate demand for high-quality beer and better ingredients, has made the craft beer movement truly global. For example, in Germany, the Reinheitsgebot, or purity law, still remains intact and sets standards for what can legally be considered beer. Meanwhile, in Japan, the craft beer movement is simultaneously starting to grow, if slowly, as local breweries are beginning to produce unique, small-batch beers.
The craft beer journey has been a long and winding road, but the one thing that has remained constant throughout its considerable history is the passion and dedication of brewers all around the world. By embracing new brewing methods and ingredients, brewers are able to produce beers that are not only great, but also evoke a sense of culture and history that reminds us of all the places – and people – who have come together to give us the amazing beverage that we all know and love.
If you find yourself intrigued by the craft beer craze, there’s no better time than now to experience it first-hand. With the incredible variety of styles, flavors, and countries to explore, craft beer is sure to offer you a unique and unforgettable journey into humanity’s rich past and promising future.