Overview

“The Indiana Jones of ancient ales and extreme beverages” (NPR) takes readers on a well- lubricated Interweaving archaeology and science, Patrick E. McGovern uncovers the world’s ancient cultures through an unlikely lens: our oldest alcoholic beverages. Our ancestors likely experimented with high-sugar fruits, honey, roots and cereals, herbs and tree resins, mixing wines, beers, meads, and botanicals together to concoct the perfect drink. By sharing the origins of brews such as the “The King Midas Golden Elixir” from Turkey and the 9,000-year-old “Chateau Jiahu” of China, McGovern opens a window into the lives of their original connoisseurs. For the intrepid reader, homebrew interpretations of each ancient beverage and culturally appropriate meal recipes are provided. McGovern proves that the humble brew is more than just a drink¯it’s a heady “liquid time capsule” of social, medicinal, and religious significance that can transport us back in time.

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A very enjoyable book that would intrigue anyone interested either in archaeology or beer.--Martin Morse Wooster An extraordinary, globe-trotting journey through the remarkable history of our ancient connection with alcohol.--Amy Stewart, author of The Drunken Botanist Thanks to Dr. Pat's research, beer is a gateway to discovery for armchair historians and bold homebrewers alike.--Courtney Cox If you ever wondered what might happen when America's most adventurous brewer and a molecular archaeologist whose love of extreme beverages extends across ten millennia begin fiddling together, this is the book for you! Great storytelling, as ancient brews live again!--Roald Hoffmann, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry Of interest to home brewer and historian alike.--Benjamin Shull This book is worth reading now and well into the future.--Jon Page Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has rarely been put to headier use.--Barbara Kiser One might assume not much Venn exists between diagrams of beer and archaeology. One would be wrong. Learning what we drank and why makes for a superb adventure. Dr. Pat--America's foremost barstool archaeologist--is back from the trenches to entertain, educate, and quench your thirst. Pull up a barstool!--Wayne Curtis, author of And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails

A very enjoyable book that would intrigue anyone interested either in archaeology or beer.--Martin Morse Wooster Mid-Atlantic Brewing News Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has rarely been put to headier use.--Barbara Kiser Nature Of interest to home brewer and historian alike.--Benjamin Shull Wall Street Journal Thanks to Dr. Pat's research, beer is a gateway to discovery for armchair historians and bold homebrewers alike.--Courtney Cox BeerAdvocate This book is worth reading now and well into the future.--Jon Page All About Beer One might assume not much Venn exists between diagrams of beer and archaeology. One would be wrong. Learning what we drank and why makes for a superb adventure. Dr. Pat--America's foremost barstool archaeologist--is back from the trenches to entertain, educate, and quench your thirst. Pull up a barstool!--Wayne Curtis, author of And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails An extraordinary, globe-trotting journey through the remarkable history of our ancient connection with alcohol.--Amy Stewart, author of The Drunken Botanist If you ever wondered what might happen when America's most adventurous brewer and a molecular archaeologist whose love of extreme beverages extends across ten millennia begin fiddling together, this is the book for you! Great storytelling, as ancient brews live again!--Roald Hoffmann, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry McGovern's mix of gee-whiz science and thoughtful historical context makes Ancient Brews a refreshing read.--Kevin Begos Associated Press

One might assume not much Venn exists between diagrams of beer and archaeology. One would be wrong. Learning what we drank and why makes for a superb adventure. Dr. Pat-America's foremost barstool archaeologist-is back from the trenches to entertain, educate, and quench your thirst. Pull up a barstool! -- Wayne Curtis, author of And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has rarely been put to headier use. -- Barbara Kiser - Nature This book is worth reading now and well into the future. -- Jon Page - All About Beer Of interest to home brewer and historian alike. -- Benjamin Shull - Wall Street Journal A very enjoyable book that would intrigue anyone interested either in archaeology or beer. -- Martin Morse Wooster - Mid-Atlantic Brewing News McGovern's mix of gee-whiz science and thoughtful historical context makes Ancient Brews a refreshing read. -- Kevin Begos - Associated Press If you ever wondered what might happen when America's most adventurous brewer and a molecular archaeologist whose love of extreme beverages extends across ten millennia begin fiddling together, this is the book for you! Great storytelling, as ancient brews live again! -- Roald Hoffmann, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry Thanks to Dr. Pat's research, beer is a gateway to discovery for armchair historians and bold homebrewers alike. -- Courtney Cox - BeerAdvocate An extraordinary, globe-trotting journey through the remarkable history of our ancient connection with alcohol. -- Amy Stewart, author of The Drunken Botanist

Ancient Brews is an excellent example of science outreach: honest about the limits of research, forthright about the tentative nature of results, and demonstrative of how scientific research can be a personal passion. -- Martin C. Doppelt - Science Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has rarely been put to headier use. -- Barbara Kiser - Nature This book is worth reading now and well into the future. -- Jon Page - All About Beer Of interest to home brewer and historian alike. -- Benjamin Shull - Wall Street Journal A very enjoyable book that would intrigue anyone interested either in archaeology or beer. -- Martin Morse Wooster - Mid-Atlantic Brewing News McGovern's mix of gee-whiz science and thoughtful historical context makes Ancient Brews a refreshing read. -- Kevin Begos - Associated Press If you ever wondered what might happen when America's most adventurous brewer and a molecular archaeologist whose love of extreme beverages extends across ten millennia begin fiddling together, this is the book for you! Great storytelling, as ancient brews live again! -- Roald Hoffmann, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry Thanks to Dr. Pat's research, beer is a gateway to discovery for armchair historians and bold homebrewers alike. -- Courtney Cox - BeerAdvocate An extraordinary, globe-trotting journey through the remarkable history of our ancient connection with alcohol. -- Amy Stewart, author of The Drunken Botanist

Author Information

Patrick E. McGovern is the scientific director of the Biomolecular Archaeology Project for Cuisine, Fermented Beverages, and Health at University of Pennsylvania Museum and an adjunct professor of anthropology. He and Sam Calagione, founder of Dogfish Head Brewery, collaborated on the series of Ancient Ales and Spirits.

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