Beer in Egypt: history, traditions and breweries
In the land of the pharaohs beer was a staple food and a wage – one of the oldest large-scale breweries in the world stood here.
History
Beer was brewed in Egypt even before the time of the pharaohs. At Hierakonpolis archaeologists found brewing installations more than 5,000 years old.
In 2021 an Egyptian-American team uncovered a large brewery at Abydos from the time of King Narmer, around 3100 BC. In eight large units with about 40 clay pots each, some 22,400 litres (about 5,917 gal) could be brewed at once.
Beer made from barley and emmer was a staple food. The workers on the pyramids of Giza received bread and beer as part of their wages, and beer was also offered to the gods and the dead.
Modern brewing began in 1897: Belgian businessmen founded the Crown Brewery in Alexandria, followed in 1898 by the Pyramid Brewery near Cairo. Both brewed a beer called Stella. In 1963 they were nationalised and merged into the Al Ahram Beverages Company; today the company belongs to Heineken.
Traditions and drinking culture
“Bouza” is still brewed in some villages and old quarters: a cloudy, thick beer made from bread and barley, whose making recalls the pictures in the pharaohs’ tombs.
As a mainly Muslim country, Egypt is reserved about alcohol; beer is sold mostly in hotels, restaurants and special shops. Non-alcoholic beers are very popular.
Fun facts
- According to an ancient Egyptian myth, the goddess Sekhmet wanted to destroy humankind. The sun god Ra had beer dyed red and poured over the fields; Sekhmet took it for blood, drank herself to sleep, and humanity was saved.
- The ancient Egyptian word for beer was “heqet”.
- Many ancient Egyptian remedies contained beer, for example in the famous Ebers Papyrus.
- Stella is part of everyday life in Egypt: in 2016 47.5 million litres (about 12.5 million gal) were sold – a third of all the beer drunk in the country.
Typical beer styles
Beer cities and their stories
Abydos
Archaeologists discovered a large brewery here from around 3100 BC that could brew over 22,000 litres (about 5,812 gal) at once.
Hierakonpolis
The remains of one of the world’s oldest breweries, over 5,000 years old, lie in this ancient city on the Nile.
Giza
The workers who built the pyramids received bread and beer as wages.
Alexandria
In 1897 Belgian businessmen founded the Crown Brewery here, which brewed the first Stella.
Breweries and their stories
Al Ahram Beverages (Stella)
Formed in 1963 from the Crown Brewery in Alexandria (1897) and the Pyramid Brewery (1898). Today it belongs to Heineken.
Known for: Stella, Sakara
Timeline
- over 5,000 years agoHierakonpolis
At Hierakonpolis people are already brewing beer in large vessels.
- around 3100 BCAbydos
A large brewery stands at Abydos: around 22,400 litres (about 5,917 gal) can be brewed at once.
- around 2500 BCGiza
The workers on the pyramids of Giza receive bread and beer as wages.
- 1897Alexandria
Belgian businessmen found the Crown Brewery in Alexandria, which brews the first Stella.
- 1963whole country
The breweries are nationalised and merged into the Al Ahram Beverages Company.
- 2021Abydos
An Egyptian-American team uncovers the large brewery at Abydos.