In first place came refrigeration, dating back to 1748. Second was pasteurisation, successfully tested in 1862. Third was canning, originally patented in 1810.
These all beat irrigation and the plough, fishing nets and eating utensils.
Others of particular beverage interest are fermentation at 11th, the cork at 17th and the barrel at 18th.
Further details are available at www.royalsociety.org.
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