The origin of beer
Beer finds it’s origin in ancient Mesopotamia approximately 7000 years ago.
Mesopotamia is known as the ‘Cradle of Civilisation' and archeologists believe the invention of beer is the main reason it even came into existence.
Beer was safer to drink than water and proved to be a healthy meal because of it’s rich nutrients. But it really became popular due to the ability to bring people together and make them feel happy! Beer quickly became an essential part of the Mesopotamian diet and people started to domesticate grains resulting in the first agricultural revolution which led to the invention of the wheel, writing, a metric system, mathematics, and a 12 month calendar.
So it’s safe to say beer is not only one of the tastiest, but also one of the most important inventions ever made by man!
Map of Mesopotamia and the Middle-East
World heritage under threat
Ancient Mesopotamia includes parts of modern day Iraq, Syria and Iran. It’s cultural heritage is under constant threat, especially by ISIS terrorists who deliberately destroy it's ancient cultural artefacts. A lot of the iconic winged lion/bull-man statues called Lamassu’s are not being spared this fate. The Lamassu motif and sculptures are found throughout the whole Middle-East and played an important role as a protective deity in Sumerian, Babylonian, Akkadian, Assyrian and Persian culture.​
ISIS member destroying a Lamassu statue in the Mosul museum.
Lamassu Ancient Ale
Lamassu is going to fulfil it’s role as protective deity once again. Not only by becoming the face of this extraordinary beer, but also by giving this important part of history a new place in our modern world so it may never be lost. Lamassu also contributes to the improvement of the present situation in Mesopotamia by donating to the Shlama Foundation, this charity is involved in rebuilding the region.
Hybrid
The Lamassu is a hybrid, a mix between human, lion, bull and eagle. This beer is a hybrid too, it is the combination of ancient traditions and modern crafts, a meeting point of East and West.
Ancient hieroglyphs showing people drinking beer together in a social setting
Reintroducing old drinking culture
Drinking Lamassu is like a stepping into a culinary time-machine. The recipe for Lamassu Ancient Ale is a reconstruction based on archeological findings such as beer residue found on pottery shards and ingredients mentioned on clay tablets. Thanks to hieroglyphs we now know that drinking beer was a very social affair in daily ancient Mesopotamian life. People drank from the same ceramic cups with straws to show that they were equals and important business and decisions would only be discussed when drunk. Lamassu not only gives you the opportunity to taste what people tasted thousands of years ago, it boldly reintroduces a ceramic, double longneck bottle and the use of straws. So it can be enjoyed by you and a friend at the same time, just like the Mesopotamians did all those years ago.
