Even with all their uncertainty, attempts at recreation can teach us about the beers of the past. And a historic perspective can be inspirational when trying to dream up new and unusual beers to brew. Thinking about history without having to worry about whether it is correct or not can be a great big hogshead of fun. Sometimes you just want to brew, history be damned.
They may be light and fluffy confections suited for a summer garden, or profound and brooding—worthy of, as the Italians say about their greatest red wines, meditatazione. Added casually for centuries, fruit has now come into its own in the family of contemporary craft beers.
This is a beer history timeline I put together for my book Mastering Homebrew. Divisions within the line show when hopped beer, lager and modern craft beers made their mark.