The World of Ales & Beers...

The World of Ales & Beers... is the fermentation of yeast & cereal grains, hops, barley & many, many other organic products.

But I am remiss... Why don't we start at the beginning...

OK... So... Somewhere around the year 3000 BC or about 5000 years ago... Sustainable society was coming together slowly yet surely... because of the advent of agriculture, which was necessary to be able to feed large groups of people consistently. Perhaps simultaneously in Mesopotamia   (somewhere near present day Baghdad) AND Mesoamerica (present day South America).

No matter... every society or grouping of people, utilized what was available to them. Of course one of the most popular & cost effective of these products was grain. There are many forms of grains, some of these grains, were hard & bitter.

So... picture the woman of the house, preparing the daily meals, or more likely the family ration of grain. These would be prepared in as much variety as possible. She wants to make her family happy. So one day... this fine woman... weather she be from Argentina or Persia... Makes a mash of grain on her grinding stone. To this she adds water... somehow heating this mix over her fire. She mixes some herbs & spices. The lady of the house has prepared a fine meal of mush for her family. Some of this she serves to her family... but some she saves. This is stored somewhere... Probably with a layer of water on top. Well somewhere near... traveling on the winds, are some naturally occurring 'yeasts'. Like perhaps the white frosting that you may see on a wine grape cluster. That is yeast. So this yeast finds it's way to the ground mash & water. Well... now we have all the components of making beer. Grains, heat, water & yeast.

So the 'leftovers' (nobody eats leftovers today) soon came to be noticed as having a different effect on the body & mind. A somewhat puzzling one, yet pleasurable... So... Our fine maiden, making dinner for her family... may have accidentally become the first brew master. People from miles around were talking about her magic meal. The food that makes you feel whacky, but good.

Well as time progressed... these foods became drinks, and fast became an overwhelming force in many, many cultures. Religious consumption was of great value to many ancient civilizations. Cerimonial use of these elixirs was very popular throughout history & before... Recreational use to these fine varied brews was, and is still enjoyed by many across the globe.

It has taken root & is now woven into the fabric of our society.