Ancient Alcohol: A Taste of Bygone Booze Is an Adult-Only Journey Through History With a Beer Tasting, Ancient Artifacts, and Tour
If you’re looking for the most educational—and entertaining—way to recover from New Year’s festivities, the Penn Museum has you covered. Ancient Alcohol: A Taste of Bygone Booze returns on January 10 and January 11, 2026, inviting guests to enjoy a true “hair of the dog” experience by traveling back thousands of years to explore how humans have been drinking together since 5000 BCE.
Running from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., this adults-only program blends archaeology, history, and tasting into an unconventional afternoon that proves one thing: people have been finding reasons to drink—and celebrate—for millennia.
Long before modern breweries and cocktail bars, alcohol played a vital role in ancient societies. During Ancient Alcohol, guests will explore how early civilizations made, consumed, and understood booze, from everyday drinking to elite feasts and ritual gatherings.
Participants will:
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Examine early drinking vessels that reveal the secrets of ancient Greek drinking games
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Learn about the beverage served at a legendary feast hosted by King Midas
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Discover how alcohol shaped social life in the ancient world
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End the experience by tasting a beer inspired by an ancient recipe, recreated from research uncovered by a Penn biomolecular archaeologist
It’s history you can see—and taste.
Designed for guests 21 and over, Ancient Alcohol offers a rare chance to experience the Penn Museum in a relaxed, interactive setting. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early or stay afterward to explore the galleries and exhibitions, making the most of their visit while soaking in both culture and flavor.
