††††Beer is an alcoholic drink made from water and malt (fermented barley or other cereal grain), flavoured with hops. It is one of the oldest alcoholic drinks and was brewed as long ago as 8000 BC in Mesopotamia.
The process of making beer is called brewing. During brewing, the barley or other cereal grain is dried, ground, and then heated with water. It is then boiled with the hops. After cooling, yeast is added to convert the carbohydrates in the cereal grains into alcohol. Different types of beer are produced by varying the method and the ingredients used. Ale, for example, is stronger and is brewed without the hops, while lager is a light beer which is matured at a low temperature over a long period.
