Ancient Brews

[Zartonk]

Erebuni museum to host Yerevan Beer from Urartu exhibition

 

 

PanARMENIAN.Net - On April 18, Erebuni historical and archeological museum-reserve of Yerevan will host an exhibition, where a technology on beer production in Urartu will be presented.

 

Director of the museum Gagik Gyurjyan said that beer and wine were produced in Erebuni already in IX-VII centuries BC. Meanwhile, the exhibition will present technologies on beer production in ancient Urartu, as well as modern brewing technologies of Armenia, Gagik Gyurjyan told a press conference on April 17. The exhibition will be conducted through cooperation with Yerevan Beer organization.

 

The exhibition is a part of Yerevan Beer from Urartu event dedicated to International Day for Monuments and Sites that has been celebrated on April 18 since 1983.

 

“UNESCO declared 2010 the Year of Agricultural Heritage. It is known that Karmir Blur and Erebuni are considered to be an agricultural granary. Currently, a commission of historians, archeologists and architects that was established by the Armenian Prime Minister’s instruction and through the assistance of the Ministry of Culture is developing a project on restoration of Erebuni museum-reserve,” said Gyurjyan.

 

Erebuni is an ancient city founded by Urartian King Argishti I in 782 BC to serve as a military stronghold at Ararat valley. Erebuni ruins are located on top of Arin-Berd hill on the outskirts of modern-day Yerevan. Karmir Blur is a historical site and a part of Erebuni museum. Items relating to the 7th century BC were uncovered during excavations by Russian archeologist Boris Piotrovsky from the end of 1930s to 1971.

[Zartonk]

Feel free to "dig up" and incorporate older posts related to beer and archeology.

[Moushegh]

http://www.kilikia.am/index.html

 

I had a bottle of Erebuni about 5 years ago, and if memory serves me correct ... I found it to be quite decent. I'd say it was somewhat similar to Becks, a nice refreshing brew but nothing to write home about. Compared to Heineken, I'll take an Erebuni.

 

 

 

 

Now Kilikia, on the other hand, is simply superb!

It is my opinion that Kilikia is one of the best lagers/pilsners being produced today. Yes, it really is that good.

I would put Kilikia up there with any high quality European lager or pilsner - I have sampled more than my share and I assure you, Kilikia is absolutely Top Shelf.

 

 

 

 

One thing I am sure of is that I will definitely not go thirsty when I arrive in Hayastan on 05/25 ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Moushegh]

Confirmed written evidence of ancient beer production in Armenia can be obtained from Xenophon in his work Anabasis (V century B.C.) when he was in one of the ancient Armenian villages in which he wrote (Book 4, V). [25]

 

 

“There were stores within of wheat and barley and vegetables, and wine made from barley in great big bowls; the grains of barley malt lay floating in the beverage up to the lip of the vessel, and reeds lay in them, some longer, some shorter, without joints; when you were thirsty you must take one of these into your mouth, and suck. The beverage without admixture of water was very strong, and of a delicious flavour to certain palates, but the taste must be acquired.”

[Arpa]

How can we forget…;

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=331&hl=kotayk&st=20

http://www.kotayknights.com/

Speaking of Xenophon, we all assume that he was Greek. Look again at his name "xeno=alien/foreign" and "phon=sound"/ օտարահունչ, did he speak with an accent? Was he in fact a foreigner to the Greeks, i.e he was an Armenian???

Edited April 21, 2010 by Arpa

[Zartonk]

Կենաց Մուշեղ Kilikia is good

[Moushegh]

կենաց, Զարթօնք ջան.

 

 

Arpa jan,

Was he in fact a foreigner to the Greeks, i.e he was an Armenian??? ("xeno=alien/foreign" and "phon=sound")

 

 

Good observation. Considering this, he very likely could have been.

[Zartonk]

Oldest Winery in the World Found in Armenia

 

PanARMENIAN.Net - Wine's time with humankind goes back more than 6,000 years in Armenia.

 

Discovered in the Areni-1 cave near the Iranian border, a team led by UCLA archaeologist Hans Barnard, details of the ancient wine press find appear in an upcoming Journal of Archaeological Science. The study reports discovery of a wine vat, wine-stained pots and grape remains, as well as a drinking bowl, located near a cemetery inside the cave.

 

"We believe the wine was made there for ritual activity," says UCLA's Gregory Areshian, co-director of the excavation site. "But the people living outside the cave in the region likely made wine all the time," he says, based on the evidence of the expertise needed to craft the wine vats and pots.

 

Archaeologists have found evidence of wine-making throughout the ancient world, but the 4,000 BC carbon dating at the site appears the oldest yet for confirmed wine vessels, Areshian adds. The team found chemical evidence of a grape-coloring compound, along with the preserved grape remains. Fermented wine and beer's production is widely thought to have spurred the spread of agriculture and trade in prehistoric times.

 

A layer of ancient sheep dung above the wine press site preserved much of the grape material from decay. The same team reported discovery of an ancient leather shoe at the site last year.

 

"It is a wonderful site," Areshian says. "The preservation is very good, and we hope to find more."

 

The work was supported by the National Geographic Society, National Science Foundation and private foundations, usatoday.com reported.