Changes

[[Image:Duvel beer.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Belgian bottled beer]]'''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]] or [[oats]] as the primary grain.

[[Image:Duvel beer.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Belgian bottled beer]]'''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]] or [[oats]] 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.  

[[Image:Beer1890.jpg|thumb|300px|U.S. brewery about 1880]]

[[Image:Beer1890.jpg|thumb|300px|U.S. brewery about 1880]]

===United States===

===United States===

Beer was a staple on the Mayflower and colonists began home brewing early. Even Harvard College had its own brew house. Having greater stability in processing and storage, rum and whiskey soon became more common. With the coming of lager in 1842, however, new interest in brewing - by people with such names as Schaefer, Schmidt, Best, Pabst, Anheuser, Miller, and Busch - revitalized the popularity of beer. Milwaukee's supply of natural ice made it a prime location for the brewing industry, and by the 1870s beer had become America's drink of choice. Anti-German feelings combined with opposition to alcohol led to Prohibition. After an interlude in the 1920s when [[Prohibition]] closed the breweries, they reopened in 1933. By World War II beer was no longer seen as "German" and was readily available to troops who continued to drink it when they returned to the United States.   

Beer was a staple on the Mayflower and colonists began home brewing early. Even Harvard College had its own brew house. Having greater stability in processing and storage, rum and whiskey soon became more common. With the coming of lager in 1842, however, new interest in brewing - by people with such names as Schaefer, Schmidt, Best, Pabst, Anheuser, Miller, and Busch - revitalized the popularity of beer. Milwaukee's supply of natural ice made it a prime location for the brewing industry, and by the 1870s beer had become America's drink of choice. Anti-German feelings combined with opposition to alcohol led to Prohibition. After an interlude in the 1920s when [[Prohibition in the United States|Prohibition]] closed the breweries, they reopened in 1933. By World War II beer was no longer seen as "German" and was readily available to troops who continued to drink it when they returned to the United States.   

Major league baseball featured beer in its refreshment offerings and the working class found beer, baseball, and the saloon "places" of refuge and camaraderie. Since that time, beer has remained America's alcoholic drink of choice because of its appeal to the working class.<ref> Rudin (2002)</ref>

Major league baseball featured beer in its refreshment offerings and the working class found beer, baseball, and the saloon "places" of refuge and camaraderie. Since that time, beer has remained America's alcoholic drink of choice because of its appeal to the working class.<ref> Rudin (2002)</ref>

==Well known brands==

==See also==

* [[Alcoholic drinks]]

* [[Alcoholic drinks]]

* [[Heineken]]

* [[Heineken]]

* [[Budweiser]]

* [[Budweiser]]

* [[Becks]]

* [[Becks]]

* [[Corona]]

* [[Corona]]

* [[Miller]]

* [[Miller]]

* [[Steinlager]]  

* [[Steinlager]]  

* [[Taverns]]

* [[Taverns]]

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

[[Category:Alcoholic Beverages]]

[[Category:Alcoholic Beverages]]

[[Category:Food and Drink]]

[[Category:Food and Drink]]