Beer is an alcoholic beverage made from grains like barley that is flavored with hops. The brewing process has been traced back thousands of years to ancient Babylon and Egypt. Beer styles like ale and lager developed, distinguished by using top-fermenting or bottom-fermenting yeast. The key ingredients of beer - barley, hops, yeast, and water - each contribute important flavors and characteristics to the final product. The production process involves steeping, malting, mashing, boiling, fermenting and conditioning the beer over several weeks. Common beer types include pilsner, lager and ale, which vary in color, body and alcohol content.