Ninkasi
Term from the Brauwerkstatt brewing glossary, category “History and beer culture”.
Explanation
Sumerian goddess of beer. The “Hymn to Ninkasi” from around 1800 BC describes how beer is brewed while praising the goddess, and is considered one of the oldest beer recipes in the world.
Test your knowledge
Who was Ninkasi?
- A Babylonian king
- An Egyptian pharaoh
- The Sumerian goddess of beer
Show answer
Correct: The Sumerian goddess of beer. The “Hymn to Ninkasi” describes how beer is brewed. It is considered one of the oldest surviving beer recipes.
Which brewery brewed a beer based on the Sumerian “Hymn to Ninkasi” in 1989?
- Anchor Brewing in San Francisco
- Carlsberg in Copenhagen
- Guinness in Dublin
Show answer
Correct: Anchor Brewing in San Francisco. The Hymn to Ninkasi from around 1800 BC is considered one of the oldest beer recipes.
According to an Egyptian myth, which goddess was stopped from destroying humankind with beer dyed red?
- Isis
- Ninkasi
- Sekhmet
Show answer
Correct: Sekhmet. Sekhmet took the red beer for blood, drank it and fell asleep. Ninkasi was the Sumerian goddess of beer.