“From Urartu to Yerevan Beer” exhibition, dedicated to the International Day for Monuments and Sites, displayed exhibits demonstrating that Armenia is one of four countries having an ancient history of beer production.

Erebuni historic-archeological reserve-museum and ICOMOS/Armenia NGO on April 18 presented the past and present of Armenia’s beer production from Urartu to “Yerevan Beer” through exhibit samples and photos at Erebuni museum.

“Different countries responded to the call of declaring 2010 Year of Agricultural Heritage suggested by UNESCO, and organize such events. We also decided to exhibit historical samples of beer and wine production, as well as modern brewing technologies of Armenia,” Director of the museum Gagik Gyurjyan told ArmeniaNow.

Even in 4th century BCE Greek historiographer Xenophanes wrote that beer was produced in Armenia. And according to the Ministry of Culture of Armenia, excavations showed that the uniformity and cleanness of the barley grains found in the territory of Erebuni reserve-museum and its branch Karmir Blur (Red Hill) fortress, prove that in the ancient residents of Urartu cultivated high quality sorts of barley.

Currently there are three major companies producing beer in Armenia, exporting their products abroad: Kotayk, Kilikia, Erebuni.