Beer is the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage in the world, with over $17.7 billion spent on beer in the UK alone each year. Beer is also thought to be the oldest alcoholic drink, dating back to around 6000 BC. The process of making beer involves fermenting starches like malt barley and adding hops for flavoring and preservation. Advancements in technology allowed for more precise brewing methods and helped the beer industry grow into a $133 billion global business today.