Jerusalem Brewery reproduces beer dating back to time of Jesus - then drinks it all

 A Jerusalem brewery has produced a craft beer with a taste it says dates back to the time of Jesus.



Herzl Brewery, Israel's smallest, took wheat that Tel Aviv University geneticists say was the strain used for beer in the Holy Land two millennia ago to produce 20 litres (five gallons) of "biblical beer".



It says the concoction may help explain why wine was the preferred sacred drink of the Bible.



There's a hint of honey and berries in the cloudy - and flat - nectar, which has a three percent alcohol content. The brewery made it from 5kg of grain donated by the university, along with the other traditional ingredients hops, yeast and water.



Herzl's owner, Itai Gutman, and his friends have downed most of the results of the six-month experiment.



Only one bottle remains and there are no plans to make more.



"We were curious about being able to come up with the first 'biblical' beer," said Gutman, whose award-winning brewery produces five contemporary labels for sale. "It's really not the kind of flavour that has a market."