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Thread: The fermented cereal beverage of the Sumerians may not have been beer

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    The fermented cereal beverage of the Sumerians may not have been beer

    Archaeological finds from cuneiform tablets and remnants of different vessels from over 4,000 years ago show that even around the dawn of civilisation, fermented cereal juice was highly enjoyed by Mesopotamia’s inhabitants. However, besides the two basic ingredients, barley and emmer (a species of wheat) the brew produced in the clay jars of the Sumerians is shrouded in mystery. Despite an abundance of finds and scribal traditions which point to an early love of fermented cereal beverages, reconstructing ancient brewing methods is very difficult, according to the historian of science and cuneiform writing scholar Peter Damerow of the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin. A scholarly paper by Damerow, who passed away at the end of November 2011 in Berlin, carefully examines the beer brewing technologies of the Sumerians. However, the author also expresses great doubts as to whether the popular brew in ancient times was even beer.

    http://historyoftheancientworld.com/...ave-been-beer/
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    Cool website.
    Whoever criticizes capitalism, while approving immigration, whose working class is its first victim, had better shut up. Whoever criticizes immigration, while remaining silent about capitalism, should do the same.


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    So if it wasn't beer, what was it?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Conley View Post
    So if it wasn't beer, what was it?
    According to the article we can't say much more beyond the fact that it was a fermented drink.
    Whoever criticizes capitalism, while approving immigration, whose working class is its first victim, had better shut up. Whoever criticizes immigration, while remaining silent about capitalism, should do the same.


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    Conley (03-23-2012)

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    These uncertainties lead to a question, which the author considers “much more fundamental”: to which extent is it at all possible to compare ancient products with modern ones? “Given our limited knowledge about the Sumerian brewing processes, we cannot say for sure whether their end product even contained alcohol”, writes Damerow. There is no way of ascertaining whether the brew was not more similar to the bread drink kvass from Eastern Europe than to German Pilsner, Altbier or wheat beer.
    Whoever criticizes capitalism, while approving immigration, whose working class is its first victim, had better shut up. Whoever criticizes immigration, while remaining silent about capitalism, should do the same.


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    We can't even say it contained alcohol? Wow, I am disappointed...I thought that was pretty definite.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Conley View Post
    We can't even say it contained alcohol? Wow, I am disappointed...I thought that was pretty definite.
    It's seems pretty well accepted but, according to the author(s), it's only a strong probability that it was beer and that it contained alcohol. I don't know if they have been able to test any jugs etc. for traces of alcohol.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mister D View Post
    It's seems pretty well accepted but, according to the author(s), it's only a strong probability that it was beer and that it contained alcohol. I don't know if they have been able to test any jugs etc. for traces of alcohol.
    If it fermented how could it NOT be alcohol of some sort?

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    When sweet fruits are fermented in water, they form a carbonated water with some alchohol.

    Don't see why grain can't be made to do the same, though I haven't tried grain.

    There is a white sake that contains the residual rice from the fermentation process.

    Probably no one has really put much effort into comprehending Mesopotamian grain fermentation, especially considering that Egypt was doing it too.

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    The guy might be in a minority regarding this. I just thought it was interesting.
    Whoever criticizes capitalism, while approving immigration, whose working class is its first victim, had better shut up. Whoever criticizes immigration, while remaining silent about capitalism, should do the same.


    ~Alain de Benoist


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