The First Beer In History: Boozing With The Pharoahs In Ancient Egypt

Beer is one of the oldest beverages humans have produced, dating back to at least the 5th millennium BC in ancient Iran, and was recorded in the written history of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. However, the exact origin of beer is difficult to pinpoint because it is likely that beer-like beverages spontaneously fermented from wild cereals, meaning the discovery would pre-date recorded history.

In the context of ancient Egypt, beer was a vital part of their daily life. It was a dietary staple, used in religious rituals and even medicine. There is archaeological evidence of beer brewing dating back to the early years of ancient Egypt, and it's clear that by the time of the Pharaohs, brewing beer was a well-developed craft. The beer brewed in ancient Egypt was a thick, porridge-like drink, made from a recipe of barley, water, and yeast.

Everyone in ancient Egypt drank beer, including children, largely because it was safer than drinking water from the Nile, which could contain harmful bacteria. Beer was also used as a form of compensation. Workers who built the pyramids, for example, were often paid in beer (and bread).

Despite its prevalence, beer in ancient Egypt was not the same as the beer we know today. It was thicker and sweeter, often flavoured with spices or fruits. Some versions were so thick they had to be consumed with the aid of a straw to avoid drinking the barley hulls left in the brew. 

However, the basic principles of brewing that were established in those ancient times – the fermentation of sugars from starches – continue to guide beer production today. So, while we can't say that the Pharaohs had the first beer in history, their civilization certainly played a significant role in the development and history of this popular beverage.