The Origin of Beer

The beer industry is a mammoth of production, producing the third most consumed beverage in the world.  Over 35 billion gallons of beer are enjoyed per year, and the industry experiences over $294 billion in annual revenues.  Water and tea are the only beverages that have managed to top beer in consumption, and I suppose that has to do with children not being allowed to drink alcoholic substances...

But the question of the day is this- where did this wonderful elixir have its humble beginnings?  Surely beer could not have simply appeared out of nowhere; or could it have?  Today, I invite you to join me in a thrill ride full of inquiry, laughs, and discovery, as I present to you- The Origin of Beer.

Many people imagine the invention of beer as some dude sitting around in his house and throwing a bunch of ingredients together, letting it ferment and then enjoying the result.  This is not how it happened.  11,000 years ago, in ancient Mesopotamia, humanity was made up of hunter-gatherers who had probably just learned how to create fire.  There were no roads, irrigation, chariots, catapults, or any real primitive technologies at all at this point.  These people didn't even know how to make bread.

Basically, these people were as ignorant as they come and without fate, our entire civilization would not have advanced.  Without the magical elixir known as beer, you would not have your cell phone, your laptop computer or your I-Pod.  And we feeble humans couldn't even create this magical elixer on our own either...