Malcolm Purinton: One of the world's oldest beverages

One of the world's oldest beverages

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]. 

Beer’s journey began long before medieval monks, with evidence of brewing dating back 13,000 years in what is now Israel. Across continents, ancient people crafted beers from local grains, sometimes chewing them to start fermentation. In medieval Europe, monasteries refined brewing and innovations like adding hops transformed both taste and shelf life. Today, more than 100 varieties exist, but the process still echoes its ancient origins.

Beer’s Global Story Spans 13,000 Years Of Innovation

Beer has been brewed for at least 13,000 years, evolving from ancient, nutrient-rich drinks to a vast array of modern varieties. Early cultures used local grains and creative techniques, sometimes chewing or germinating seeds, to kickstart fermentation. Monasteries later shaped large-scale brewing, and the introduction of hops transformed beer's taste and shelf life. Today, over 100 distinct styles exist, and new challenges like crafting non-alcoholic beer show this beverage’s story isn’t over.