The Barbarian's Beverage: A History of Beer in Ancient Europe

by Max Nelson, Nelson Max

Comprehensive and detailed, this is the first ever study of ancient beer and its distilling, consumption and characteristics Examining evidence from Greek and Latin authors from 700 BC to AD 900, the book demonstrates the important technological as well as ideological contributions the Europeans made to beer throughout the ages. The study is supported by textual and archaeological evidence and gives a fresh and fascinating insight into an aspect of ancient life that has fed through to modern society and which stands today as one of the world’s most popular beverages. Students of ancient history, classical studies and the history of food and drink will find this an useful and enjoyable read.

Genres: Beer, History, Brewing, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published November 11, 2004

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

If one is interested in European beer brewing traditions and cultures, and views this is a fine book, but it is not for the faint of heart. The author noted that this book started out as a thesis paper, and it certainly reads like one. There is about 120 pages of text, 50 pages of notes, and nearly 30 pages of a bibliography!

It is not an easy read, but it does a good job at analyzing the literary and archaeological evidence of beer consumption in Europe from the Neolithic to the early Middle Ages. It was very interesting to see how Greek and Roman people viewed the beer drinking cultures in contrast to their own, generally unfavorably. Surprisingly to me, people did not seem to realize that the fermenting of grapes with wild yeast was the same process as the fermenting of malted grains. Often beer was viewed by the Mediterraneans as being rotted or corrupted grain, rather than the same fermentation process as wine.

[Joshua]

Interesting expose of greco-roman class bias against beer and beer drinkers. Not just due to its "foreignness" but also to the medical/scientific theories of the classical era. (Using the word "beer" in the loose sense that the author does, referring to fermented grain beverages in general. Yes, I know, in later days the distinction is that "beer" is hopped (as opposed to ale), but that would be anachronistic, since there was apparently no widespread use of hops in the beverages that were consumed then.)

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nelson does a fine job up front explaining the purpose of his book and takes you on a tour of European history that, hitherto his writing, has been superficially explored. This is for the niche historian or the super-super beer-geek/gastronomical anthropologist.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Began reading in McMenamins on Monroe, Corvallis.