The Origin Of Beer

Kapo, the beautiful daughter of Osmotar, was supposed to have invented beer. She took six seeds of barley, seven leaves of hop, and mixed them in seven pitchers of water.

"On the fire she sets the caldron
Boils the barley, hops and water
Lets them steep and seethe and bubble."

(Translation by John Martin Crawford)

The concoction did not ferment and had no taste.

"What will bring the effervescence,
Who will add the needed factor,
That the beer may foam and sparkle,
May ferment and be delightful?"

A snow-white squirrel was commanded to fetch some cones from the pine trees, and the weasel to gather some of the bear's saliva, "the foam from the lips of anger", to serve as yeast. All efforts were in vain—the beer would not foam.

Kalevatar, a sparkling maiden, found a little shell lying on the ground, picked it up, and gave it to Kapo. From it, with the aid of Kapo's magic virginal fingers, a bee issued. The newly created bee was instructed to fly to an island, far over the seas, where a maiden peacefully slumbered under honey-bearing blooms, and collect nectar from these flowers. The agile creature flew off in haste and did what was ordered. The bee soon returned with the honey, which was quickly added to the stubborn mixture. Immediately, the foam rose in the vessel, and the new beverage was found to have a wonderful taste.