Once an important life-force of early civilization and an ancient crafter of community, beer has been, like many things under our current economic system, disfigured and twisted by the forces of the market and the drive for profit. Our beer episode takes a close look at this story, starting in ancient Mesopotamia and tracing the history of beer up through the giant consolidations of the 20th century to the birth of the craft beer revolution in the 1970s and 80s. But the story doesn't end there -- there is a beer revolution afoot. Craft beer has begun to bring back many of the most important values and characteristics of beer that were lost for so long, going far beyond just taste. How can beer demonstrate the concept of the circular economy? These are important questions explored in depth through Rob’s expertise. 

There are many other incredible stories of brewers and breweries that are radically changing the landscape of the beer industry. Throughout the episode you’ll meet a wide variety of folks, from a brewery in London that makes beer out of surplus bread, to the first cooperatively owned brewery in California. After listening to this episode, you may never look at a bottle of beer in the same way.

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