History Extra podcast Beer history: everything you wanted to know
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Jul 19, 2025 Phil Withington, a Professor in Social and Cultural History at the University of Sheffield, delves into the intriguing history of beer. He explores its journey from ancient fermentation practices in Mesopotamia to the transformative role of medieval monasteries. Withering also discusses the masculine culture surrounding beer consumption and the historical contributions of women to brewing. The conversation touches on the impact of the Industrial Revolution that paved the way for today's craft beer movement, redefining beer's cultural significance through the ages.
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Ancient Origins of Beer
- Beer history starts with grain fermentation which may date back about 80,000 years, though evidence is not concrete.
- Written records with clear evidence of beer appear around 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt.
Medieval Hops and Monasteries
- The addition of hops to beer began in the early Middle Ages, greatly changing beer's production and trade.
- Monasteries played a key role in growing hops and brewing beer, pioneering the relationship between hops, malt, and water.
Medieval Beer Strength Variety
- Medieval beers varied widely in strength from weak "small beer" to very strong brews possibly in the high teens of alcohol percentage.
- Historical recreations suggest ancient beers were often stronger than many assume and had diverse flavors.