| Kirin Brewery,
a Mitsubishi company that is Japan's foremost and oldest
producer of beer, is recreating the history of its core
product. The company is sponsoring research into the brewing
methods of ancient Egypt. Historians regard Egyptian beer
as the progenitor of our present-day brews. So, Kirin's
project is a chance for beer lovers everywhere to discover
their sudsy roots.
Discovering the secrets of Egyptian beer has
been a continuing quest at Kirin. Two decades ago, the company
brewed a beer with techniques based on the best archaeological
understanding available at that time. Now, Kirin has refined
its approach with the aid of a distinguished Egyptologist.
The Egyptologist who has lent momentum to Kirin's
research is Professor Sakuji Yoshimura, of Tokyo's Waseda
University. He is working with Kirin researchers on a new
hypothesis about the origins of brewing.
Archaeologists have long believed that the ancient
Egyptians brewed beer by placing pieces of fully baked barley
bread in water. According to that theory, the Egyptians
relied entirely on the action of airborne yeast to cause
fermentation. Kirin now reports, however, that its research
findings suggest that the bread was only partially baked
and that the Egyptians added yeast. The yeast could have
come from date palms or other plant sources.
|
Wall paintings from ancient Egypt provide a glimpse
of brewing methods in the age of the pharaohs. 
