Archaeologists Find 5,000-Year-Old Brewery In Egypt
America’s oldest brewery is Yuengling in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Originally called Eagle Brewery, it was founded in 1829 by German immigrant David G. Yuengling. The oldest brewery in Europe is the Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan. It claims to be the oldest operating brewery in the world, making beer since 1040. But beer has been brewed a lot longer than that.
The Associated Press reports that a team of American and Egyptian archaeologists have unearthed a 5,000-year-old brewery in Egypt. The facility dates back to 3100 B.C. and the reign of King Narmer. The site includes eight sections, each filled with several dozen clay pots that were used to warm grain and water.
According to a Reuters report, experts believe the brewery could have produced nearly 6,000 gallons of beer at a time. Researchers think ancient Egyptians used beer during burial and sacrificial rites. So the next time you brew your own beer, or simply crack open a cold one, know that you’re carrying on a very old tradition.
