Jacob Brown
Beer archaeologists are looking back millennia to recreate brews from archaic Egypt, Greece, and Rome using ancient techniques and ingredients.
Introduction: A Journey Through Time in a Pint
The resurgence of ancient beers, known as “rebrews,” offers a unique opportunity to explore human history through a drinkable lens.
Travis Rupp, known as The Beer Archaeologist, combines his expertise in Classics and Anthropology with professional brewing to recreate age-old ales, providing modern drinkers with a taste of the past.
Brewing Through the Ages: From Babylon to Viking Europe
Ancient civilizations such as Babylon, Egypt, Greece, and Viking Europe prized a variety of barley-based beers, as evidenced by ancient recipes carved into stone tablets and passed down through generations.
The simplicity of beer-making, rooted in sprouting grains, heating them in water to create sugars, and fermenting with yeast, remains a timeless process.
The Role of Hops: A Modern Innovation
While hops have been used in beer-making for centuries, their documented use dates back to 9th Century monks in France.
Hops offer versatility to brewers, providing bitterness, flavor, and aroma when added at different stages of the brewing process.
However, ancient brewers relied on various flavorings before the widespread use of hops, showcasing their bold experimentation with ingredients.
Lessons from the Past: Modern Innovation Inspired by Ancient Brews
Rupp’s Ales of Antiquity series at Avery Brewing has resurrected ancient recipes from diverse cultures and time periods.
From Nestor’s Cup, inspired by Mycenaean-era Greece, to chicha, a South American corn beer, each rebrew offers insights into ancient brewing techniques and flavor profiles.
These experiments not only celebrate history but also inform modern brewers seeking inspiration from the past.
Conclusion: Sipping the Past, Brewing the Future
As modern drinkers savor the flavors of ancient beers, they connect with the past in a tangible way, bridging the gap between ancient civilizations and contemporary craft brewing.
Through the revival of age-old recipes and techniques, brewers like Travis Rupp honor the legacy of our ancestors while inspiring innovation in the ever-evolving world of beer.
