The study of the oldest bible texts, written in Aramaic (the common language spoken in the Middle East during Jesus’ time) suggests that Jesus turned water into beer, not wine, during the wedding feast at Canaan. The old texts talk about “strong drink”, and about “lines of ale vats”.

It is very logical to think that people drank beer in Jesus’ time. For starters, Egypt and the Nile-delta was known as the main exporter of beer all over the Mediterranean world. Grain was the most important crop for the Middle Eastern people. The Middle East had far more fertile grounds, and was considered the grain-barn for the Roman Empire. The oldest texts about brewing beer have been found in the Middle East. People at that time, certainly didn’t drink water. It would have killed them.

In later translations of the bible, centuries after the fact, beer was replaced by wine. Why? Wine was considered a drink for the happy few who could afford it. Already at that time, the wine marketers succeeded in giving wine a more upscale image. The translators wanted to suggest that Jesus would only offer the “best” to his family and friends. Jesus was the hero of the common people, fighting the establishment. Why wouldn’t he drink what everybody else was drinking? When you think about it, it is very possible that the drink at the last supper was also beer.

Michael Jackson, the international beer-hunter, believes also very strongly in this theory.