Beers Around The Globe: Exploring The Varieties

Beer is the world's most widely consumed alcoholic drink and the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. There are hundreds of different types of beer, from craft beers to mega-brands, and the variety is astonishing, including pilsner, amber ale, bock, dunkel, porter, stout, and weissbier, to name a few. Each type of beer has a distinct flavour, colour, and taste, ranging from light yellow to dark brown. Beer is also differentiated by factors such as appearance, flavour, ingredients, production method, history, and origin.

How Many Different Beers Are There in the World?

Beer is the third-most popular drink in the world after water and tea

Beer is the third-most popular drink in the world, after water and tea. While it is the most widely consumed alcoholic drink globally, it falls behind tea, which is thought to have been first harvested around 2700 BCE by the emperor Shen Nung, also known as "the divine healer". Tea is the national drink of China and India, which together account for over two billion people.

The world of beer is diverse, with various styles, appearances, flavours, ingredients, production methods, histories, and origins. Beer competitions, such as the Campaign for Real Ale's (CAMRA) Champion Beer of Britain, and the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP), have categories based on processes or ingredients, like cask ale or gluten-free beer. Beer terms like ale and lager are broad categories that encompass a wide array of styles. For instance, lager includes light lagers and bocks, while ale includes bitter, mild, and brown ales.

Beer has a long history, with the oldest known recipe discovered in ancient Sumeria and dating back over 4,000 years. This ancient beer was made from barley, dates, and bread and likely differed significantly from modern beers. Beer has been brewed in Armenia since ancient times, with one of the earliest written records of beer production found in Xenophon's 5th-century BCE work, Anabasis.

Today, beer is enjoyed worldwide, with the Czech Republic leading the per capita consumption at 142.4 litres per person per year. Beer also has cultural significance, as evidenced by the world's largest beer festival, Oktoberfest, which attracts over six million visitors annually to Munich, Germany.

Beyond its popularity, beer has played a practical role throughout history. In the Middle Ages, beer was often safer to drink than water, as the brewing process killed harmful bacteria. This led to the popularity of "beer soup" in many European countries.

The biggest brands in beer dominate the industry, with the top 50 accounting for 48% of consumption

Beer is the most widely consumed alcoholic drink in the world, and the third-most popular drink overall, after water and tea. The global beer market was valued at $721.12 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $1315.46 billion by 2031.

In other parts of the world, different brands dominate. In Thailand, the three most consumed beers are Singha, Chang, and Leo. Singha, in particular, has become well-known globally through its sponsorship of Chelsea Football Club. In the Czech Republic, Pilsner Urquell is the most popular beer, with an estimated 11 million hectolitres produced every year. In India, Kingfisher has a 35% market share, while in the Philippines and Hong Kong, San Miguel is the most widely consumed beer.

Lager is the most widely consumed and commercially available style of beer

Beer is the world's most widely consumed alcoholic drink and lager is the most common type of beer. Lager is a light-coloured, highly carbonated type of beer produced from bottom-fermenting yeast. It is brewed and conditioned at low temperatures, resulting in a crisp, clean flavour. The term "lager" comes from the German word for "storage", as the beer was traditionally stored in cool caves before drinking.

Lager is a diverse group that includes many famous beers from around the world. For example, Budweiser, Busch Lite, Coors, Miller Genuine Draft, and PBR are all American lagers. Lager also encompasses the great Bavarian pilsners, as well as bocks, dunkels, and Oktoberfest beers. In the United Kingdom, the term lager commonly refers to pale lagers derived from the Pilsner style.

Lagers can be pale, amber, or dark. Pale lager is the most widely consumed and commercially available style of lager. The most common lagers in worldwide production are pale lagers, which tend to have a mild flavour and are often served refrigerated. Pale lager has a well-attenuated body and noble hop bitterness. Pilsners, a type of hoppy lager, are a popular variety of pale lager. They are characterised by their refreshing crispness, low-range alcohol content, and delicate bitterness.

Dark lagers possess a robust malt profile, with subtle notes of chocolate and coffee. These lagers offer a depth and complexity that appeal to those seeking a more flavourful beer experience. Budweiser Budvar Tmavy Lezak Dark Lager and Schwarzbier, a dark lager with a chocolate or licorice-like flavour, are examples of dark lagers.

Amber lagers, such as Vienna lager, are another variety of lager. They are characterised by a toasty or caramel-like malt character and range in colour from amber to light copper. They offer a perfect balance of malt sweetness and hop bitterness, making them a versatile choice for food pairings.

Ale is a type of beer using a warm fermentation method that results in a full-bodied and fruity taste

Beer is the world's most widely consumed alcoholic drink and is available in a multitude of varieties. Ale is a type of beer that uses a warm fermentation method, resulting in a full-bodied and fruity taste. Ales are typically brewed with a yeast that flocculates or gathers at the top of the fermentation tank, known as top-fermenting yeast. This yeast has a preference for warmer temperatures, usually between 15°C and 24°C, or 60°F and 72°F. The warm fermentation process gives ale its distinctive, robust flavour and contributes to a higher alcohol content compared to lagers.

Ale has a long history, dating back to medieval times in England, where it was consumed in large quantities. In the Middle Ages, ale was an important source of nutrition, providing a significant portion of the calorie intake for people from all walks of life. Brewing ale was a local industry, often pursued by women, who would brew in their homes for both domestic consumption and small-scale commercial sale.

Over time, different styles of ale have emerged, including pale ales, porters, stouts, and wheat beers. These ales vary in terms of colour, flavour, and bitterness. For example, British-style Summer Ale is a thirst-quenching, lighter gold-coloured beer with a fruity flavour and subdued bitterness. On the other hand, Old Ale is an intensely dark red ale with a fruity aroma and a sweet taste.

Ales are best served closer to room temperature to fully appreciate their flavour, although serving temperature may vary depending on the specific style of ale. Ales are also generally better when consumed fresh or aged for a very short period, as they do not require extended ageing like some other types of beer.

The warm fermentation process of ale, combined with the right selection of yeast, results in the full-bodied and fruity characteristics that differentiate it from other types of beer. This unique fermentation method has contributed to the popularity and diverse range of ales available today.

Beer is a $661 billion global business

The global beer market was valued at $821.39 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $1,167.47 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.03% during the forecast period. Europe dominated the beer market with a 33.77% share in 2023, owing to the integral role that alcohol plays in the culture, heritage, and nutrition of European countries. The European Union is one of the main beer-producing regions in the world, with emerging new micro and small breweries signalling the industry's potential for innovation.

Beer is gaining immense popularity, especially among millennials and Gen Z, due to its various formulations, varieties, and flavour offerings. The emergence of new brewing technologies in developing economies has also positively impacted consumption patterns. Consumers are increasingly seeking innovative alcoholic drinks with different flavours, and this is augmenting the global beer market growth.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected alcohol consumption patterns, with government restrictions reducing beer sales in Europe by 42% in 2020. However, the pandemic also promoted the value of mainstream e-commerce channels, with online sales of alcoholic beverages capturing the largest market share in countries such as Japan, the UK, and the US.

Improving disposable income and rising westernization are also contributing to the growth of the beer market. The increasing influence of craft beers in Asian countries and the growing number of craft breweries globally are anticipated to push market growth further.

The beer market is segmented into various categories, including type (lager, ale, stouts, and others), packaging (glass bottle and metal can), distribution channel (on-trade and off-trade), production (macro brewery and microbrewery), and category (standard and premium). Lager is the most famous type of beer worldwide, while the off-trade distribution channel leads the market due to its low-price products. The premium segment, which includes high-quality, highly priced products, holds a major share in the market and is anticipated to dominate during the forecast period.

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