The Rise of Beer

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People across the globe love beer. A LOT. Danielle traces the history of beer and how we got from fermented corn to the craft beers so many enjoy today. She looks not just at the science of brewing, but also the various fermented beverages that cropped up around the world over the centuries. Grab a cold one (if you're of age) and let's get started!
Created and Hosted by Danielle Bainbridge
Produced by Complexly for PBS Digital Studios
Special thanks to our Historian Harry Brisson at Patreon! Join him at / originofeverything
#OriginOfEverything #Beer #Brewery
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Origin of Everything is a show about the undertold histories and cultural dialogues that make up our collective story. From the food we eat, to the trivia and fun facts we can’t seem to get out of our heads, to the social issues we can’t stop debating, everything around us has a history. Origin of Everything is here to explore it all. We like to think that no topic is too small or too challenging to get started.
Works Cited:
Bostwick, William. The Brewer's Tale: A History of the World According to Beer. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2015.
DeSalle, Rob and Ian Tattersall. A Natural History of Beer. New Haven: Yale UP, 2019.
Goldstein, Ellen. Stuff Every Beer Snob Should Know. Philadelphia, PA: Quirk Productions, 2018.
Huckelbridge, Dane. The United States of Beer: The True Tale of How Beer Conquered America, From B.C. to Budweiser and Beyond. New York: William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition, 2017.
Lui, Li, Jiajing Wang, Danny Rosenberg, Hao Zhao, György Lengyel, Dani Nadel, “Fermented beverage and food storage in 13,000 y-old stone mortars at Raqefet Cave, Israel: Investigating Natufian ritual feasting” Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Volume 21, October 2018, Pages 783-793. www.sciencedirect.com/science...
McGovern, Patrick E., Rudolph H. Michel, and Virginia R. Radler. “Chemical Evidence for Ancient Beer.” Nature.
www.penn.museum/sites/biomole...
Meilgaard, Morten. “The Beer Flavor Wheel.” www.beersnobs.org/recipes_tool...
Papazian, Charlie. “Beer Style Guidelines.” Brewers Association, last modified March 10, 2014. www.brewersassociation.org/at...
Statista. www.statista.com/topics/1654/...
Wang, Jiajing, Li Liu, Terry Ball, Linjie Yu, Yuanqing Li, and Fulai Xing. “Revealing a 5,000-y-old beer recipe in China” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States of America. June 7, 2016 113 (23) 6444-6448; first published May 23, 2016 doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1601465113.

[@pbsorigins]

Correction: Thanks to our commenters who pointed out an error in the video. Chica is still prepared in certain parts of South America to this day and was not, in fact, replaced by beer in later years. Thanks to our Originauts for catching this! Peace love and Learning, Danielle

[@MsJeanneMarie]

Origin Of Everything haha I was just coming here to say that! Origins viewers are smart! lol

[@TotoTorresV]

Additional facts: Chicha is a common drink in Bolivia. It's rarely elaborated in the traditional way; but there are some where they still do it. Also, there are many different kinds of chica, made out of maiz (corn), peanuts or yuca (cassava). Some are not alcoholic beverages

[@southpawdj]

I don't know why it took me so long to find your channel, but I'm here now! And what a way to find my way here. I am an absolute lover of beer, dark ones to exact. I loved learning where some of my favorite (and least favorite beers got their names). As an aside, I once heard that in The Code of Hammurabi the brewing bad beer could get you put to death! I mean, I get it but wow! Thank you again, good luck in your next video, and you've made a new sub.

[@alejandramendoza8823]

*Chicha not Chica

[@ThoroughlyBaked]

Great video! I used to say I didn't like beer when all I had tried were the typical American lagers. The craft scene turned me on to stouts and porters, I fell in love.

[@anafiorelladasso3502]

In the Amazon, people still ferment drinks by chewing, there is a drink called Masato made from fermented yuca that is spat. Never tried it but heard is not bad.

[@rapidfiremuzik_official]

With the way covid19 is going?....yeah nah bro, and even BEFORE covid19?...yeah nah bro loloooo

[@TheTwick]

Barkeep! I’ll have a Paleolithic Pale Ale, my good man.

[@otakuribo]

*spits chewed barley into glass

[@Steveofthejungle8]

I love the beer selection in the background: Sun King, Upland, and Rhinegeist! Yay Midwest indeed! And thanks for the great info!

[@eomguel9017]

Cool video, although it would be nice if for the last part you didn't focus that much only on the US. You could've mentioned the fact that today, the No. 1 exporter of beer worldwide is... Mexico.

[@jokerfacebitch]

The research on this was really thorough. Thanks for teaching me more about what I love 😆

[@martinae8601]

I read the wikipedia article about beer multiply times, but for some parts still had problems to wrap my head around... Thanks to this very good explanation I finally understood it fully... 😅 Good work.

[@verymuchrafi]

This was really interesting

[@treasuretrails]

Still drinking beer in August 2020!!!!!!

[@caitlyngoodwin1676]

Some central South American cultures still make chicha to this day!

[@alexandredumont8651]

Exactly what I thought ! They do it too in the Andes and the Amazon. It's quite a widespread practice and can be made from maize but also amaranth or cassava.

[@Dayglodaydreams]

Wow

[@ieatgremlins]

😊 yewp

[@kitsunesspblm17]

🍻 loved the video. Also, amazing ring game (couldn't stop looking at your hands)

[@timothyr3038]

I am all of a sudden super interested in trying a beer/wine hybrid. I also like that we are now "originaughts" (sp?)

[@happymonk4206]

Dog fish head also reproduced a beer called Theobroma. I think 🤔 it was from the anylysis of the inside residue of a clay pot or container in one of the Latin America countries. Your t shirt is a classic 👍

[@Verticalblinds832]

From Middle English wort, wurt, wyrte (“plant”), from Old English wyrt (“herb") beer used to be brewed from various herbs (via alewives or herbwives, not unlike the word midwife). So the word Wort used in beer making carried over. There had been a notable debate if beer made from herbs or grain was better in Europe at that time, hence Reinheitsgebot law declaring that it had to be made of barley. The word wort (herb) is still used in many common herb names such as St. John's Wort or Motherwort

[@robertleslie2467]

Excellent video flick and the gal reporting did a fantastic job of it. Having said that, over my 63 years I have tasted and drank most beers from every where in the world. I find that sadly most of the craft and big breweries are junk. These days I only drink German or Czech beers. The best beer makers in the world!

[@rrrosecarbinela]

I do miss you....This was an awesome project.

[@danielcastromorales9929]

chicha is still something and was not replaced by beer in the americas until the early 20th century... it was not spat, though, but normally its production and storage conditions were unsanitary

[@lyreparadox]

Good to know I'm not the only one who noticed that. :P

[@spacewolfcub]

My gramma still liked to make her own chicha for winter holidays. She’s not around anymore, but the recipes for chicha are not all lost... I’m a bit disappointed there was so little mention/research of chicha, and the rice beer, but then again modern viewers would click on a “beer” video expecting to hear about the mainstream versions. Shrug. Living archaeology seems more interesting.

[@eaterdrinker000]

Chicha's origins sound similar to those of Japanese sake. I haven't had very many exotic brews recently, since I tend to prefer wine and spirits as of late.

[@j3fr135]

Upland, Sunking, and Rhinegeist. Repping those midwestern beers! Well really just hoosier beers if you forget about Rhinegeist.

[@shanematheson8920]

The amount of research that went into this is impressive. New sub for sure

[@dickmcshan9778]

You never fail to give us a personable and humor tilted presentation! Keep up the great work. Cheers, Dick in Vancouver

[@friendlykristen]

I love this channel, clicked immediately when I saw it on my suggestions

[@OlgaFedorovna]

Thank you for such an amazing presentation!

[@ericfritz8805]

Great video ... bit kind of glossed over the theory that beer was why people left hunting and gathering to farming and agriculture. People leaned how to grow the needed materials to make the brew with some producing a very caloric sufficient drink .and ability to store in the winter months. This ment those folks did not have to be super mobile to follow hurds of game and could stay and produce beer in New ways and learn better ways to brew and if your growing malt barley and hops then you grow other crops to eat with it or to subsist on while your brew ferments

[@jamullin97]

This makes the name of Alewife station in Cambridge, MA all the more interesting!

[@lpburrows]

Alewife Station is named after the Alewife Brook, itself named after the alewife, a North American shad fish. It is speculated that the fish got that name because they have paunch little bellies, which reminded people of the alewives (who were also often tavern keepers) who would also have paunch beer bellies. #themoreyouknow

[@fumomofumosarum5893]

good video - thanks

[@Tsukiko.97]

When I was last in Ethiopia I noticed that a large portion of people were drinking a pale lager known as Habesha, but boy oh boy do they love Heinekin. My restaurant being German recently celebrated Octoberfest by having a dark "Dunkel" lager with a 500yr recepie and a hazy Belgian Allagash white. Some people even brought there own beer Stein. Responsible drinking can be fun especially with good food and great friends. I can't even imagine why people still buy Modelos, Cornoas, Coor or bud light. Each man to his own I guess 🤷‍♂️

[@Tsukiko.97]

@@solchapeau6343 I agree, lite beer is trash, and I somewhat cringe when I see friends needing to by 2x 24 backs of Coors just to get by the night when 3 7.5% IPAs has me feeling good for sure. Either way the liquors I enjoy are vodka, rum, whiskey with soda, and clear tequilas. Never that gold stuff 🤮. At the same time it would be nice to build a taste of scotch on the rocks like how we see in the movies, it just seems cool. If I drink wine I prefer red or Pinot. I have yet to try any white whine. I find nothing magical about champagne other than being a good starter to toast with friends on select days. Iam only 22 and I now already prefer a beer with my meal rather than a soda or juice. But I always wait until 5 o'clock more or less to start drinking. Plus I hate going to clubs since a single beer here in Cali can cost $7 + tip. I only go to bars occasionally but it's been 4 months since I have last been to one. Drinking to me is a reward and not a pass time.

[@r.casagrande8689]

Beer is amazing. I appreciate all kinds of beer.

[@KelciaMarie1]

Shes wearing a DARE shirt - iconic

[@olly2027]

Love it.

[@bellewells2099]

Haha

[@ddmarsh21]

One of the least successful initiatives in US history

[@PatrickAshe41]

I'm guessing some beautiful irony. Terrible program, but cool shirts! ;)

[@freeman042210]

Very informative video. Thanks !

[@Katie-cw1hs]

I'm watching this video with a glass of white wine in my hand 😂

[@skydiaz8151]

This was so interesting!

[@Gr33nWind0w]

What’s with her wearing a DARE shirt on an episode about alcohol?

[@Pfsif]

@@solchapeau6343 Adam also ruined Adam.

[@itsyagirljessssss]

Chicha is still around in indigenous cultures in South America.

[@twilightfox014]

For anyone else wondering about the Godin Tepe ruins, the place where the biological markers of beer were discovered at, they are in Western Iran.

[@nihouma11]

as always another great video. D.A.R.E to keep giving us these histories

[@adammetzger4182]

Maybe one about how dare was a massive failure.

[@little_forest]

Regarding beer being more save to drink than water: That kind of everyday beer had an alcohol content of less than 1%. As far as I remember it was really few alcohol, more like if you leave apple juice stand for some days.

[@jeffreyaustin4037]

As a Cincinnatian, I love seeing Rhinegeist representing!

[@jasonbuchanan9662]

I like the glitchy screen transfer 0:41

[@KoketsoR7]

This video turned me into an alcoholic 😂

[@alwaysincentivestrumpethic6689]

Great content as always 👍👍

[@GamyH]

I thought Chicha was still made in certain parts of South and Central America

[@raberuo_dobida]

Nope, chicha is still done the same way.

[@olly2027]

Love your shirt

[@Tsukiko.97]

I raise a pint to this video. 🍻 And local IPAs for me here in wine county California!

[@idil4657]

Regarding 3.59-ish, I think "prostitute" is a rather superficial term to use, the person of concern was a nun of a Mesapothamian Goddess and sex work was just one of the things they did and had a completely different status then it had today.

[@tecpaocelotl]

I prefer tejuino, tepache and pulque. There was a vendor nearby who would sell it. I haven't seen them. I think the police found out they were alcohols. Lol.

[@TuanTran-im9bo]

Take one down and so many beer bottles on the wall today. So lol.😂

[@Tribble_Mama]

Am I the only one who has been seeing these black DARE T-shirt’s pop up again recently? What’s with that? Did I miss something, or just a nostalgia thing?

[@PatrickAshe41]

I just love vintage tees. Alas, it's a notoriously failed program, but the tees are great vintage, ha :)

[@Iisa1010]

natur radler, even if its only 50% beer, is still one of my favs.

[@GDMiller419]

Chicha is still made and drank in the Andes...

[@Ngasii]

Any other South Africans here wondering if she'd mention Umqombothi?

[@devonconnax]

I haven't even watched it and I already hit like

[@ERYN__]

I was actually already drinking a beer. Five o' clock doesn't matter on your day off after a cat scratched you.

[@ERYN__]

@@solchapeau6343 my cat was done with a hug before I could set her down, so I got a big scratch near my collarbone.

[@kenster8270]

@@ERYN__ Cat scratch does sound like beer o'clock to me

[@dirtywaterpj_dj]

This makes it sound as though Guinness invented the dark style of beer known as stout. Stout is a type of porter, which is a beer created in London and named after the porters in the docks amongst whom this was a favourite drink. Arthur Guinness made his inferior version popular through good advertising. Try a real English porter or stout and you'll no doubt be surprised at how much better it is.

[@dontgivamonkeyz]

Yep unfortunately we see it all over KZbin and not just with the origins of Stout

[@drmsanford]

Because of the precise nature the brewing process in ancient cultures this led to the need for small numbers ... fractions. The Sumerians and Babylonians used a based 60 number system or sexigesimals. Our clock with it’s based 60 number system can also be traced to them as well. So when it’s time for a beer thank a Babylonian. Lol.

[@limalicious]

IPAs are my favorite, nice to know where it comes from!

[@kairyss4285]

the D.A.R.E. shirt's kinda ironic.

[@ludbpg26]

Speaking as a brewer, this was a very well assembled brief overview of brewing history and one that I hope is enjoyed by many beer drinkers and enthusiasts. Great job!

[@SmartVideosJarkaWatched]

Your puns give Jane Pauley a run for her 'punniest punster' money!

[@mr.b3168]

IPA and lagers for me. Some pilsners.

[@grendelsmomsboyfriend]

Belgian beer is my favorite.

[@dosbibletech5266]

Great video! Cheers.

[@luciferfn]

Something I really like about the history of beer (and other fermented foods and drinks like wine and bread and such) is that it does not seem to have a single origin. It appears to have been invented independently by so many different and independent cultures across vast distances and continents without any meaningful contact between them. Without becoming to sentimental, it does give me some feel that these types of food and drink are so universally tied to the human experience worldwide that it should be seen as a common culture and as something deeply human. So #beerforworldpeace?

[@Hallows4]

How about an analysis of the history of post-apocalyptic themes in popular culture, something along the lines of your "Alien Invasion" video?

[@HayTatsuko]

From what I understand, "wort" is supposed to be pronounced similar to "word", except ending with a "t".

[@NicJohn]

Hi. Good day. How are ya? I only have two requests😁. First on is more of a question/ suggestion.would or be possible to do a video about why we have 12 months instead of 13. I am curious as to why it's this way. The second is for more frequent videos😁. I know subjects need to be researched, and that takes time. But I still really enjoy these videos and would like more. Thanks, have a great day.

[@FrennisDaemon]

Because you don't split something into a odd number of pieces. Research lunar cycles.

[@adammetzger4182]

I'm raising a beer right now.

[@hfwilkesjr]

I like beer 🍻

[@owen9669]

Beer, the best invention of man in my opinion. I have a problem.......

[@t.vinters3128]

For any future reference, a tiny pronounciation correction: Raqefet [literally means "Cyclamen"] in pronounced "RaKEfet". [:

[@kbee225]

Ipa is actually from India wow!

[@FrennisDaemon]

"For" India (or the trip to it), not "from" India.

[@Squigshot]

All this info is hilarious. It is insane how much people like beer. I went to my first beer expo last year, and filmed the whole thing. Looked back at it today and was like WOW that place was PACKED haha

[@TRAVELLEROFWORLDS]

Mmmm Beer 🍺

[@prashpatel6436]

I like beer 🍺

[@rapidfiremuzik_official]

Rise of beer?....i never knew, its a staple diet in Nz/Aus 😅🤣

[@evelyneb590]

0.35 the way they poured that is embarrassing

[@darthbee18]

I don't even drink but this video about beer was really interesting 😏😂🍻 (...and I can't stop thinking about the silent Belgian monks, dedicated to lots of things, including brewing beer! 😏)

[@bvtnFutureCorpse]

No love for cider. 😥 gimme ALL the ciders!!

[@FrennisDaemon]

That would be a different topic. Like wine, or spirits would be their own videos.

[@ninamo3523]

salubrious : adj. Conducive or favorable to health or well-being. Thanks!

[@Dayglodaydreams]

Why is wine less popular?

[@patzjash]

Consider Mexican pulque

[@maibimbum]

Hate to tell ya, chicha is still made by some indigenous women in South America. Yup, mouthful by mouthfull still done the traditional way. 😐

[@GajanaNigade]

Did she say Samuel Colt?

[@cannerbernerd1836]

Dare was such a failure.

[@dropkickcorpse]

Yeah, Weird History had a great video on D.A.R.E's history and effects.

[@MatthewStinar]

Drug Abuse Reinforcement and Encouragement.

[@patrickohooliganpl]

Also: birophiles. I'm such an example.

[@megamcee]

I got one question: We smoking hops with our asses?

[@d.7416]

Bier 🍺🍻🥨🥨🍺🇩🇪♥️

[@turdl38]

33 and still prefer tea.

[@turdl38]

@@solchapeau6343 haha didn't even notice!

[@otakuribo]

Love me some hot leaf water 🍃🍵

[@otakuribo]

"zynthophile" sounds cool but "cerevizaphile?" Why not _cerveza_phile?

[@NotHPotter]

Cerveza is Spanish. Cervisiam is Latin. Cerveza and cervisiphile have the same root.

[@henrybecerra1353]

They still drink chicha

[@redacted6090]

Your shirt days dare but it's wrong because dare stand for drugs are really ecellent

[@SkyreeXScalabar]

I thought Guinness was a stout

[@lpburrows]

It is. A stout is a kind of ale. It was originally (and still is kinda technically) simply called a "stout porter" meaning a strong porter.

[@SkyreeXScalabar]

@@lpburrows love that beer, and sam adams too, I can't stand the watered down mainstream lagers

[@slimaneismailli8732]

Alcohol is an Arabic word Al kohol. But this name means, something blackish. So its color was probably black and dates back thousands of years

[@flywalll]

Girl, I like you. Wish I was your friend. Greetings.

[@Elburion]

When I want an old shoe taste I grab an ice cold Indian Pale Ale

[@eliscanfield3913]

and here's me, not liking beer. I know, what kind of Irish-American am I??

[@wandasetzer1469]

Skunky beer doesn't really appeal to me . . .

[@scottmacs]

I watched while enjoying a White Claw.

[@sraldleif]

Spent half of it trying to figure out what 'logger' beer was before realizing you were saying 'lager' Great video though!

[@kenster8270]

In American English, logger and lager are homophonous.