The Story of Beer Beer, produced mainly from barley and wheat, originated in at least the fourth millennium BCE in the ancient Near East, particularly in grain-rich Egypt and Mesopotamia. In Mesopotamia, beer was drunk in cultic contexts as well as in taverns and private homes. In Egypt, beer was not offered to the gods since it was a dietary staple of the common folk. Beer never played an important role in the land of Israel, while the ancient Greeks and Romans regarded it as a barbarian drink.
			Figurine of a woman brewing beer, Egypt, Middle Kingdom 2035-1650 BCE The Israel Museum, Jerusalem