Ninkasi was the
Sumerian goddess of
beer. She is said to have created a
recipe for beer 4000 years ago.
Ninkasi was worshipped in what is now Iraq around 3500 BC, and is thought to be one of the early brewers of beer. At the time ale was made and served exclusively by women.
Sources:
http://www.piney.com/BabNinkasi.html
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/articles_read/304/