...... beer in ancient Egypt." Did they make in out of papyrus?
No, out of the noble grain barley.
barley is generally considered an inferior grain to wheat, but it will tolerate colder, damper, and saltier soils than wheat, so it is the crop of choice for poor lands.
barley's was considered inferior, because it is not as nutritious, it lacks gluten,(a protein found in wheat) so bread does not form up as the same. still there are some of us who like barley cakes..
but barley is superior for making beer or alcohol. any grain can be malted, but barley malt has the highest sugar content, (and potential the highest alcohol).
and while i haven't yet become a lush, i can't say drinking is something i am unfamiliar with... but i don't much like beer, so i'll leave to the beer drinkers to discuss the merits of the various grains used to make beer.
