You might be surprised to learn that women have been at the forefront of beer brewing for centuries. In fact, the world's first beer was brewed by women in ancient Mesopotamia. While beer is often associated with men today, history tells a different story. From ancient Sumeria to contemporary craft breweries, women have played a crucial role in shaping the beer industry. Here’s more about this fascinating history!
The world’s first beer was crafted by women, and they were the original custodians of brewing across ancient civilizations. According to the evidence found, women were called brewsters, and they played a very important role in transforming grains into alcoholic beverages.
This can be traced back to 7000 BCE, which is 7000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia. As original brewers, women wove their domestic duties, spiritual rituals, and creativity together in crafting a beverage (barley beer) that slowly became an integral part of human culture.
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The importance of beer brewing can be seen in the worship of Ninkasi, the goddess of brewing and beer in Sumeria. Her “Hymn to Ninkasi” from 1800 BCE was not just a devotional song but also a brewing recipe. Some priestesses sang these hymns and carried out brewing while passing down these recipes through oral traditions.
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This association of women with brewing actually extended globally from Africa to Asia. The indigenous cultures actually trusted women with this craft. There were many female deities who were said to be associated with fertility and beer in the tribal regions. For example, in small parts of South Africa, women made chicha, and this tradition still exists. It is a form of beer made from maize.
Brewing sorghum beers has been a female-dominated practice in Africa for thousands of years. Here. Women produce as well as market these beers to bring extra money to their family income.
The Viking society from Nordic countries, which is usually known as hypermasculine, also had women playing an important role in brewing. There are archaeological findings that show women brewing meads and ales using herbs and grains.
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Women continued to dominate brewing even in the Middle Ages. Women brewed and sold beer, which gave them an essential income, especially for unmarried women and widows, and they were known as alewives.
One of the key innovations in the beer culture emerged from a woman, a 12th-century German abbess, Hildegard of Bingen. She documented the preservative properties of hops, which help in storing the beer longer. This innovation was very important; it helped it evolve into a commercial product.
Hence, the world’s first beer was a product of women’s innovation and skills. The history shows how women were the central of brewing beer way before it got strongly associated with men.
