As craft beer continues to grow in popularity, Colonial Williamsburg will explore its globe-spanning history with Ale through the Ages, a conference of brewers and beer scholars Oct. 18-21.
“Today, beer is a recreational drink, but for thousands of years it was a critical source of nourishment that varied greatly between periods and places,” Frank Clark, brewer and Colonial Williamsburg’s master of historic foodways, said in a news release.
The conference features authors, journalists, food historians and others discussing the beverage. Speakers include Travis Rupp, lecturer in classics, art history and anthropology at the University of Colorado Boulder, recounting the history beer in the Roman Empire, and Clark alongside author Lee Graves detailing brewing in 18th century Virginia.
Live demonstrations of brewing techniques are also planned.
“We learn more about beer’s history every day, and this year’s Ales through the Ages conference promises new insights for anyone passionate about beer, whether brewing it or just drinking it,” Clark said.
Want to go?
Primary conference sessions run 5-7 p.m. Oct. 19, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 20 and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. Registration is $375 per person, available online at bit.ly/2vp6LkR or by calling 1-800-603-0948.
