ABSTRACT
Cereals are extensively used to produce alcoholic beverages and fuel ethanol. Beer is the main alcoholic beverage consumed in the world, and has been enjoyed for more than 8,000 years. In 2007, approximately 1.62 billion hectoliters of barley beer were brewed worldwide (FAO 2009). More than 21% of the beer is manufactured in China, although the Chinese themselves have a relatively low per capita consumption (19 L/year). Other important producers are the United States (16%), Russia (7.3%), Germany (6%), Brazil (4.4%), and Mexico (3.8%). The Irish, Czechs, Austrians, Germans, Britons, and Belgians had the highest per capita consumption in 2003, with an estimated intake of 189, 157, 117, 109, 103, and 102 L beer, respectively (FAO 2009). In some places such as parts of Germany, of beer is still the traditional drink of preference for accompanying food.
