A Brief History of Beer

Vintage-style illustration of beer being poured from a tap into a frothy mug, with wooden barrels, hops, and barley representing beer’s historic roots.

A Brief History of Beer

“What is beer?”

It’s a simple question — perhaps too simple — for a beverage with such a deep and storied past. The most straightforward answer might be: Beer is an alcoholic drink made from fermented grains. And while that’s technically correct, it’s far from telling the whole story.

The truth is, the history of beer is inseparable from the story of human civilization itself. That’s why, here at Time2Drink, we’d like to guide you through the rich journey of beer — starting from the very beginning — in a way that’s accessible, engaging, and real.

Many historians believe beer may be the very first alcoholic beverage humans ever consumed — likely second only to water. Its core ingredients, especially grains, have been part of the human diet for millennia — even before we had organized civilizations.

Archaeological discoveries take us back to Mesopotamia around 8,000 BCE, where early people stored harvested grains in clay pots. These containers, when exposed to rainwater and wild airborne yeast, underwent natural fermentation — giving birth to a mildly alcoholic liquid, around 2–3% ABV. This was likely the earliest form of beer, created not through intent, but through a happy accident.

Beer in those days didn’t come from a brewery or follow a precise recipe. But what followed over time was refinement. As humans evolved, so did their understanding of fermentation. By the time of ancient Egypt, around 3,000 BCE, beer had become a daily essential. Egyptian records show over 75 unique beer recipes. The brewing process involved not only water and malted grains (what we call “malt” today), but also herbs, spices, and fruits like figs, raisins, berries — even milk fats and honey were included to enhance flavor and variety.

Beer wasn’t just a drink in Egypt — it was currency. Laborers who built the pyramids were paid in beer and bread. It was nourishment, celebration, and status all in one.

As civilizations expanded and trade routes developed, beer found its way into Europe. Techniques and ingredients adapted to local environments and cultures. Recipes changed, but beer’s role in society didn’t — it continued to unite people and places. And for centuries, brewing continued to grow, until one addition changed everything: hops.

Hops, now considered essential in modern brewing, weren’t always part of the picture. Initially used in herbal medicine and cosmetics, hops made their way into beer around the 17th century. They brought not only bitterness and aroma but also acted as a preservative, allowing beer to be stored and transported further than ever before.

We still don’t know for certain who first added hops to beer, but what’s clear is that it transformed the drink forever. Today, hops are at the heart of many modern beer styles — most famously in IPAs — giving us the complex bitterness and floral notes many craft beer lovers seek.

So, if you’ve ever asked yourself, “What is beer?”, the real answer is far bigger than one sentence. Beer is a piece of human history. It’s culture in a glass. And understanding where it comes from only makes the next sip more meaningful.

Written & Compiled by: Nuttorn Wongpoom