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Beer is an [[alcoholic drink]] produced through [[fermentation]] of sugars derived primarily from [[malt|malted grains]].  The primary grain used is usually malted barley, although some styles of beer use malted wheat as the primary grain.

'''Beer''' is an [[alcoholic drink]] produced through [[fermentation]] of [[sugar]]s derived primarily from [[malt|malted grains]].  The primary [[grain]] used is usually malted [[barley]], although some styles of beer use malted [[wheat]] as the primary grain.

The four major ingredients of beer are water, malt, hops and yeast.  The particular combination, amount and variety of each of these ingredients determine the final flavor, alcoholic strength and style of the finished beer.

The four major ingredients of beer are [[water]], [[malt]], [[hops]] and [[yeast]].  The particular combination, amount and variety of each of these ingredients determine the final flavor, alcoholic strength and style of the finished beer.

Although almost all modern beer styles use [[hops]], early European brewers originally added spices such as rosemary, coriander, ginger, anise seed, and juniper berries to their beers to impart more complex flavors.  Hops are used primarily used today because the bitterness derived from the hops tend to counter-balance the sweetness derived from the malt, and provide a more balanced flavor.  Hops may also be added to beer to impart a floral or spicy aroma and flavor.  Another benefit early brewers found was that hops also tended to help preserve their beers longer than unhopped beers.  

Although almost all modern beer styles use [[hops]], early European brewers originally added spices such as rosemary, coriander, ginger, anise seed, and juniper berries to their beers to impart more complex flavors.  Hops are used primarily used today because the bitterness derived from the hops tend to counter-balance the sweetness derived from the malt, and provide a more balanced flavor.  Hops may also be added to beer to impart a floral or spicy aroma and flavor.  Another benefit early brewers found was that hops also tended to help preserve their beers longer than unhopped beers.