Pouring the Past: A Discussion of Authenticity in Re-created Ancient Ales

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Raise Your Glass to the Past: An Exploration of the Archaeology of Beer" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Beer, by all archaeological evidence, has been a passion of humanity since before written language. This fermented beverage was the chosen drink of many ancient cultures and societies, for health and nutrition, for the effects of alcohol, and for social and religious occasions. Today, the craft beer movement is exploding across the globe; as drinkers explore new styles and flavors, some breweries are turning to the tried and true brews of our ancestors to meet demand. There has been a multitude of academic and commercial attempts to re-create a variety of ancient beers with varying degrees of "authenticity" employed. These beers range from ancient inspired brews made for modern palates to more authentic re-creations using ancient grains, locally sourced ingredients, and even using ancient brewing methods and technology. The concept of authenticity and its varying degrees in beer re-creation will be explored, as well as the benefits and difficulties surrounding modern attempts to re-create ancient beer. Authenticity in ancient beer re-creation will be highlighted through my project with Dr. Marie Hopwood (VIU) and Dave Paul (Loveshack Libations) to make ancient inspired ales that bridge the gap between contemporary and ancient drinkers.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 86th Annual Meeting, Online (2021)   •
• Raise Your Glass to the Past: An Exploration of the Archaeology of Beer

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 33641