How Israeli scientists recreated beer from the Bible! They used 5000 year old yeast (3 photos)

In an effort to expand the field of experimental archaeology, Israeli researchers sought to brew an ancestral brew to better understand humanity's past. This is what came out of this experiment!





How Israeli scientists recreated beer from the Bible! They used 5000 year old yeast

When scientists discovered yeast residue in ancient pottery shards from an archaeological dig in Israel, there seemed to be only one logical solution: brew some aged beer and mead. Thus, yeast samples were found in almost two dozen ceramic jugs dating back to 3000 BC. From excavations in Tel Aviv and a Persian-era palace in Jerusalem to a 5,000-year-old Egyptian brewery near the Gaza Strip, pieces of yeast were scattered throughout the country.

According to Western journalists in 2019, archaeologists and microbiologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority and four Israeli universities initially teamed up to study the yeast colonies. But then the same team proudly announced that they had successfully “resurrected” the colonies and the ancient drink.



Excavation site in Tel Aviv on Ha-Masger Street, where part of the yeast was taken/Israel Antiquities Authority

An ancient drink recipe: beer from the Bible

The nascent field of experimental archeology aims to bring back to life the "material remnants of the past" - all to enrich the science. So, scientists asked the question: what could be better than the drink that our ancient ancestors drank?

“Our research offers new tools for studying ancient techniques and allows us to sense the flavors of the past,” says Ronen Hazan from the Hebrew University School of Dental Medicine.

“The greatest miracle here is that the yeast colonies survived inside the vessel for thousands of years—just waiting to be dug up and nurtured.”

“These ancient yeasts allowed us to create beer, and we learned what the ancient Philistine and Egyptian drink tasted like,” Hazan continued.

To ensure that the yeast samples did not go to waste after thousands of years of existence, the scientists collaborated with a professional brewer in Jerusalem. To make things easier, the researchers made a "pretty simple ale" - with a few modern additions, such as hops, which were noted to be absent in the ancient Near East.

“We tried to recreate some of the old flavors that people in our area consumed hundreds and thousands of years ago.”



About two dozen similar ceramic vessels were discovered throughout Israel, containing preserved strains of yeast./Israel Antiquities Authority

Ancient alcoholic drink

Shmuel Naki, brewer at the Jerusalem Beer Center, explained that yeast “has a very important effect on flavor.”

So what did the ancient Middle Eastern people's drink taste like?

Nucky described the beer as "spicy, a little fruity and very complex in flavor."

Thanks to the successful revival of ale, a new partnership of scientists and inquisitive craft brewers plans to further expand the range of Israeli beers.

The next step, according to the experimenters, should be to use the revived yeast and use it with previously discovered ancient beer recipes.