The history of beer and the diffusion of the most consumed alcoholic drink in the world

Beer is not just the Alcoholic drink more drunk in the worldbut also one of the oldest. Its origins date back to prehistorybut over the centuries the production systems and the ingredients have changed several times and The current beer is very different from that of the ancient world. Today production and consumption are widespread all over the world, but the quantities vary according to the geographical areas.

The consumption of beer in the world

Beer, as we know, is produced through the fermentation of the barley malt and is flavored with the hop. Every year in the world there are dozens of billions of liters. In 2023, for example, global consumption was estimated in 187.9 billion liters.

The per capita consumption, however, varies much according to the countries. According to the data of Kirin Holdings, a Japanese company, here is the ranking of populations – all European – who in 2023 drank multiple per capita beer:

1. Czech Republic: 152.1 liters
2. Austria: 106.5 liters
3. Lithuania: 103.3 liters
4. Ireland: 100.6 liters
5. Croatia: 94.2 liters

The ranking, of course, changes if you see the Total consumption by country:

1. China: 37.7 billion liters, equal to 20.1% of world consumption
2. United States: 21.4 billion liters (11.4%)
3. Brazil: 15.1 billion liters (8.1%)
4. Mexico: 10.2 billion liters (5.5%)
5. Russia: 8.7 billion liters (4.6%)

Italy is in 16th placewith a consumption of 2.1 billion liters, equal to 1.1% of the total. The areas where less beer is consumed are the Islamic world, sub -Saharan Africa (with the exception of some countries) and the Indian subcontinent.

Production in the world

The beer market is dominated by large multinationalsto the point that the 40 largest companies cover 90% of world production. The two largest companies are absolutely the AB in beerbased in Belgium, which has, among others, the Budweiser brands, Corona, Stella Artois, Beck’s and Leffe; there Heinekenbased in the Netherlands, which, in addition to the label that gives its name to the company, markets many others, including our Moretti and Ichnusa.

For some years a growing diffusion of small breweries artisanalwhose number is increasing all over the world, including Italy. However, they are unable to challenge the domain of multinationals.

Styles and types of beer

How many types of beer exist? It is not easy to give an answer. In general, classifications are based on one of these three parameters: color, alcoholic gradation And taste. The fundamental distinction, however, is that linked to yeast and the fermentationaccording to which the beers are divided into two macrocastreors:

• Lagerlow fermentation (the yeasts deposit on the bottom of the vat);
• Alewith high fermentation (the yeasts rise to the surface).

However, there are beers that do not fall into this subdivision, such as the lambic spontaneous fermentation. In addition, each of the macro -crime includes dozens of different styles And there is no agreement on how many existing beers are and how they must be classified.

The origins of beer

Where and when was the beer born? The oldest tracks are attested in the current Iran About 7,000 years ago. Since many cereals can face spontaneous fermentation, the drink is likely to have been “Discovery” randomlywhile looking for the way to store agricultural products. Later the beer spread among the Sumerianwho also venerated a special goddess, Ninkasisand among the Egyptian. The beer of the time, however, was very different from the current one, because it was not flavored with hops, but with spices and fruits, which gave it a sweet taste.

Also i Greek and Romans They knew beer, but they considered it a barbaric drink, because it was widespread among the eastern and northern European peoples, and preferred wine. More specifically, in the years of Rome he began the contrast between two half of Europea northern and eastern, who prefers beer, and a southern one, in which wine prevails. The predilection, of course, was (and is) also dictated by climatic reasonssince the vine is widespread above all in the Mediterranean area, while barley grows even more northern latitudes.

The Middle Ages and the “discovery” of hops

The division between the two Europe forgiven in the Middle Ages, during which the beer consumption increased significantly in the northern part of the continent. The drink was appreciated both for the caloric intake, and because it was less contaminated by bacteria than the water. Consumption, however,, drastically decreased in the area where beer was bornthe Middle East, due to the advent of Islam which, as we know, does not admit the consumption of alcohol.

In Europe, a fundamental innovation was introduced starting from the 9th century: the flavoring with hops. The application of the discovery was slow, so much so that only four centuries later will be perfected, but it proved to be fundamental. The hops, in fact, did not change only the flavor of the beer, but neither conservation also increased. It therefore made it possible to produce beer for non -immediate consumption, which also allowed the passage from home production to one on a larger scalewhich occurred above all in pub (in Great Britain) and in the monasteries.

Industrial production

New changes took place with the industrial revolution. The machines were also introduced into the breweries, which increased production and allowed to improve the flavor. Were tested, among other things, New systems for the drying of the barley malt Which, avoiding smoking, gave a better flavor to the drink. Also new tools, such as the thermometer and the densimeterallowed better quality control.

Since then i progress have been continuousnot only in production, but also in refrigeration, in bottling (with dark glass bottles, born in 1912) and in other sectors. The beer has thus become in all respects a industrial product.

Beer in Italy

The beer was already consumed by Etruscans and in the Sicilian colonies of Phoenicians several centuries before Christ. However, as we have seen, at the time of Rome he lost attractive and until the nineteenth century the consumption was very modestto the advantage of wine.

Only in the nineteenth century there is an increase in the interest in beer, at least in the richest bands of the population. The first Italian factory, the Wührerwas founded in 1829 in Brescia by an Austrian brewer. In the following years, other companies were born, including some existing, such as Peroni And Menabreaboth from 1846 3-4 liters per year per capita, with ups and downs linked to political and economic contingencies.

A few decades have been underway a growth of demand also in our country. The annual per capita consumption has arrived around the 15 liters in the 70s and then increased up to around 30 current. The Italian figure, however, continues to be one of the lowest in Europe.