Beers and brews are beverages that are produced by a process called fermentation. In fermentation, yeast is used to change the sugars in a mixture into alcohol. Beer making begins by allowing grains (such as barley) to sprout. These sprouted grains are called malt. Malt is mixed with water and the dried flowers of a vine (hops). Yeast is added to this mixture of malted grains, hops, and water, producing alcohol and carbon dioxide gas (carbonation). Beers generally contain 2 to 9 percent ethyl alcohol, although some may contain as much as 15 percent. Various types and flavors are created by adding different combinations of malts and cereals and allowing the process to continue for varying lengths of time.

Beer was an important food to the people of the Near East probably as far back as 10,000 years ago. The making of beer and of bread developed at...