While there are some truly outrageous craft brews out there — which incorporate everything from frozen pizza to squid ink — Utah homebrewer Dylan McDonnell took on the ultimate beer experiment when he set out to replicate an ancient Egyptian recipe with real ancient yeast.
McDonnell, who also holds a master’s degree in Middle Eastern studies, was inspired by the creative at-home baking that took place during the pandemic. He recalls seeing video game designer Seamus Blackley sharing on social media about baking bread with 4,500-year-old Egyptian yeast. As an ambitious homebrewer, McDonnell wondered if he could replicate the concept with beer.
