In the
Bible, the few chapters that come between the creation of
Adam and the birth of
Noah contain no mention of alcoholic drinks. After the account of
the great flood, the biblical Noah is said to have cultivated a
vineyard, made wine, and
become intoxicated. Thus, the discovery of
fermentation is traditionally attributed to Noah because this is the first time alcohol appears in the Bible. Noah's wine has been described as a "pleasant relief for man from the toilsome work of the crop". There is debate as to whether certain references to wine in the Bible are actually to a non-intoxicating substance, but, at least in this passage, the Bible states Noah became drunk (
yiškār) after consuming wine (
yayin). It has been suggested that Noah's wine must have been drugged as it could not have been strong enough to cause him to become intoxicated.
Rabbinic literature goes as far as to suggest that the grape vine-branch had its origins with Adam, and that
Satan, along with fertilization using animal blood, played a part in the production of the wine. It blames those factors (especially the latter two) for the aforementioned potency of the wine. Some climates are not suited for the growing of grapes; hence it is purported that humanity was led to discover other means (e.g.
beer) of not simply satisfying thirst but also stimulating the mind. == Description and usage ==