One of the world's oldest beverages

Malcolm Purinton |

TED-Ed

• March 2026

Today, there are over 100 distinct beer varieties, from pilsners and bocks, to porters, stouts, and IPAs. The oldest evidence of beer brewing dates back 13,000 years, but experts believe the drink developed independently across the world. So, how did ancient civilizations brew beer, and how did their methods develop into the beverage we know today? Malcolm Purinton traces the evolution of beer. [Directed by Anton Bogaty, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Jarrett Farkas].