Ep 5. Ancient Ale

During the fifth episode of Brew Masters season 1, titled Ancient Ale, we follow Sam Calagione, founder of Dogfish Head Brewery, as he travels to Egypt to research the origins of brewing and develop a new beer recipe inspired by ancient Egyptian ingredients.

The episode begins with Sam meeting with archaeologist Dr. Patrick McGovern in Philadelphia to discuss their upcoming trip to Egypt. Dr. McGovern is an expert in ancient alcoholic beverages and has worked with Sam on previous beer recipes. Together, they plan to visit archaeological sites, museums, and local markets to gather information on the ancient Egyptian beer-making process.

Once in Egypt, Sam and Dr. McGovern first visit the Temple of Hathor in Dendera, where they learn about the goddess of fertility and beer brewing. They also visit the Karnak Temple and the Luxor Temple, where Sam finds inspiration for the beer recipe in the form of ingredients that were originally used in ancient Egyptian brewing such as honey, coriander, and dates.

After their temple visits, Sam and Dr. McGovern travel to a local market in Luxor to purchase ingredients for the beer. They buy honey and coriander from a spice vendor and dates from a fruit seller. They also purchase some local bread, which they plan to use in the brewing process.

Back at the brewery in Delaware, Sam begins the new beer recipe by making a dough from the bread purchased in Egypt. He then adds the honey, coriander, and dates to the mixture and begins the brewing process. The beer will be brewed twice – once with wild yeast and bacteria to replicate the ancient style and then again with modern yeast for consistency and stability.

Throughout the episode, we also see Sam and his team working on other beers in the brewery. They are a small team, and each member has a specific duty in the brewing process. We see one team member working on labeling and packaging, while another is brewing a separate beer recipe.

At the end of the episode, we see the finished product of the ancient Egyptian-inspired beer. Sam names it Ta Henket, which means "bread beer" in ancient Egyptian. He and Dr. McGovern taste the beer and discuss the flavors and ingredients. The beer has a unique taste and aroma, with hints of coriander and dates.

Overall, Ancient Ale is an interesting episode that provides viewers with a glimpse into the history of beer-making. We learn about the ancient Egyptian beer-making process and the ingredients used in the process. Sam and Dr. McGovern's trip to Egypt is well documented, and we get to see the inspiration for the new beer recipe. The episode also shows us the craftsmanship that goes into beer-making and the passion that Sam and his team have for their craft.