Microbreweries may be popular right now, but they’re definitely not a new thing. That has been made even more abundantly clear by a recent archaeological excavation that discovered a 3,500 year old microbrewery.
Yes, there’s really supposed to be four digits in that number. It’s that old.
The microbrewery was found in western Cyprus and it dates back to the Bronze Age. Archaeologists already had a feeling that beer drinking was an important part of society back then and may have even been the reason that people started to cultivate grain in the first place. People had their priorities straight over three thousand years ago. This microbrewery discovery, however, is apparently an extremely rare find and they can’t believe how well-preserved it is.
The archaeologists said there’s a mud-plaster domed structure, which they believe was used as a kiln to dry malt. Different flavored beers would have been brewed from the substance and fermented with yeasts, which may have been produced from grapes or figs. They think the alcohol content would have been about five percent.
The excavation team also found grinding tools and mortars, cooking pots and juglets, and a small hearth. Beer ingredients like carbonized seeds were also found, which pretty much makes their belief that this was a microbrewery a total slam dunk.
We’re considering having one built in our back yard, we know enough home brewers that could set us up with the right equipment.