From Barley to Beer: The Most Important Beverage

Question 3: Reflect on our Monday lecture and our Field Study and discuss the importance of Barley to mankind, both historically and now.

What makes beer so important, you may be wondering? Well first of all, cereals were the first plants to be domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, or the "cradle of civilization." Evidence indicates that barley played a key role in forming early neolithic farming communities, meaning that humans could maintain a more sedentary lifestyle. Known as a Neolithic founder crop, barley was a critical source of nutrition in early farming communities. In other words, barley allowed humans to involve into the developed species that we are today. No big deal or anything (it's a big deal).

The "cradle of civilization"

At some point during this time (no one is sure precisely when), beer began to crop up in multiple settlements around the world. It is not known exactly how beer was discovered. Because creating beer is a pretty scientific process for early humans, it is assumed that beer was discovered accidentally, through some turn of fate. Indeed, it is quite possible that a barrel of barley was left out in the rain and somehow yeast was introduced to the mixture. Perhaps a young man tasted the water and liked it then reproduced the process. However it happened, it was an incredibly important innovation for the world.

As A Brief History of Beer put it, "Beer is almost a wonder food: nutritionally enriched, hedonistically satisfying, and medically protective." In fact, beer has played an important role in human health through the ages. For example, when water borne illnesses were prevalent, beer was a safer alternative for hydration and nutrition. Today beer is still chosen over water in less developed countries because the alcohol kills deadly germs and parasites.

Meanwhile in modern Denmark, beer production is important for the economy and society. The Carlsberg Group is a Danish brewing company - the fourth largest brewer in the world. Carlsberg accounts for approximately 6.2% of world beer production and a stunning 40% of the Russian market. Through a field study to the Carlsberg Laboratory, we learned about their innovative research on barley breeding. Not surprisingly, consumers are not fans of GMO (genetically modified organisms) barley. Therefore, Carlsberg selects for barley with the best genes, hoping to increase productivity the old fashioned way. The Carlsberg tour continued to repeat one important phrase, "brewing is old fashioned." And it is - beer brewing hasn't really changed for thousands of years. It is an ancient science that has left its mark on the world and will continue to do so in the years to come.

For more fascinating information on how beer is made, check out this BBC documentary. 

You should also check out this video about the Carlsberg Laboratory. 

Sources:

Bamforth, Charles. "Grape vs. Grain: A Brief History of Beer." Cambridge University Press. 2008.

http://www.therichest.com/expensive-lifestyle/entertainment/top-five-largest-beer-brewing-companies-in-the-world/?view=all