Raul Cano has successfully brewed a beer that can honestly be referred to as the only one of its kind in the world--a beer brewed with yeast that is 45 million years old.
Cano extracted the yeast from a Lebanese weevil inside ancient Burmese amber. He successfully activated the yeast and did what any self-respecting beer-loving scientist would do--used it to brew German pale ale and wheat beer for what would become known as the Fossil Fuels Brewing Company.
Incidentally, Cano's work with prehistoric fossils was a major inspiration for the 'Jurassic Park' movies. He is now a scientist at California Polytechnic University and uses the sales proceeds from his 45 million-year-old beer to fund research on biofuels at Cal Poly.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Ancient Ingredient Revival
- Incorporating ancient ingredients or materials with modern technology or processes can create a unique selling proposition for products.
- Biofacture
- Using biological sources, such as ancient yeast, to manufacture products can create sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.
- Nostalgia Marketing
- Using historical or nostalgic elements in marketing campaigns can create emotional connections with consumers and differentiate products from competitors.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Craft Beer
- Craft beer companies can differentiate themselves by using unique ingredients, such as ancient yeast, in their brewing process.
- Biofuels
- Using prehistoric fossils and ancient materials can inspire the development of new and sustainable biofuels.
- Entertainment
- Incorporating real-world scientific concepts or historical elements in entertainment media, such as movies like 'Jurassic Park', can create engaging and educational content.
