Craft beer is one of world’s oldest beverages

Invention argued to be partly responsible for humanity’s ability to build civilisation

The dictionary definition of craft beer is one made in a traditional or non-mechanised way by a small brewery, and it is one of the oldest beverages humans have produced.

Wikipedia says chemical tests of ancient pottery jars found beer was produced as far back as 7,000 years ago in what is now Iran.

The drink is also said to have been recorded in the written history of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia and spread throughout the world.

Wikipedia says the invention of bread and beer are behind humanity’s ability to develop technology and build civilisation.

Beer produced before the industrial revolution was made and sold on a domestic scale, although by the 7th Century it was also being produced and sold by European monasteries.

During the industrial revolution the production of beer moved to industrial manufacture, with domestic manufacture ceasing to be significant by the end of the 19th Century.

Today the brewing industry is global, selleing an estimated 35 billion gallons of beer each year.

However, the drift towards mass-produced beverages several decades ago led to one of the most successful consumer campaigns ever.

The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) was founded by a few real ale enthusiasts in 1971.

They were unhappy that the traditional rich-flavoured ales, still fermenting in the casks from which they were served, were being replaced by brewers producing beers with less demanding production and storing techniques.

Through Camra’s campaigning, real ale is now produced by more than 1,500 breweries.

The recent growth in breweries in the UK and the craft beer boom have added a number of specialist brews.

Picture: PA. Craft beers are part of our history.