Alcohol's History

Alcoholic beverages date back to the very early part of man's history.  Many archaeologists believe that wines made from grapes have existed for more than 10,000 years and that drinks such as mead and beer have existed for even longer.[1]  The Celts, Ancient Greeks, the Norse, Egyptians, and Babylonians all have records of production and consumption of alcoholic drinks. 

The beers and ales of Medieval Europe were actually rich in proteins and carbohydrates, making them a good source of nutrition in that society.  It is theorized that hops, which are now a universal ingredient in beer making, date back to Babylonians in the eighth and ninth centuries BC.[2]  In Europe hops were primarily medicinal plants which were added to beer to make both the drink and the medication taste better.  This process soon became standard in the production of the beverage.

Distilled spirits have their origin in China and India in about 800 BC.  Alcoholic drinks such as wine and beer are produced primarily through fermentation of a fruit or grain of some kind.  Drinks such as Brandy, Cognac, and Sake are created by distilling these ferments yielding what is often a more potent drink.  The distillation process did not make its way to Europe until the eleventh century.[3] 

When all is said and done, the extent of the use of alcoholic beverages reaches far back into history and spans the world.  Nearly every nation with the capacity to produce grain has produced beer.  Wines have been made from pomegranates, dates, and palms, and distilled spirits carry us back to Ancient China and Japan.