Drinkability:  Beer isn’t too sweet and won’t bog you down too much when drunk in large quantities.  So when you find yourself at a festival drinking beer for the weekend, you can have several without feeling as though you’ve overdone it.  And, strange as it may sound, beer is somewhat nutritious.  Well, it’s fat-free and cholesterol free, and packs fewer calories per ounce when compared to most juices, milk, and sodas.  Studies have shown that there are some cardiovascular benefits to drinking beer, too, because of the antioxidants found in the cereal grains used to brew up a batch of beer.

Alcohol:  Yes, some people at times drink beer because there is alcohol in it, and alcohol relaxes your nervous system, helps you unwind after a stressful day, or on a date, or whatever reason you may have for needing to loosen up a little.  That same alcohol content is responsible for starting the beer-drinking trend way back in ancient times, when drinking the water could literally make a person sick.  Thus beer was a staple for the Egyptians and Greeks, young and old alike.  It’s been said that the workers who built the infamous pyramids were given beer three times daily, and scenes of ancient Egyptian breweries could be found on the walls of tombs.  Nowadays, nearly 2/3 of American adults drink alcohol, and of those adults, approximately 41% report that beer is typically their drink of choice.

Cost:  This one is simple. The ingredients in beer (malt, grains, hops, yeast, etc.) are not all that expensive.  It can be made relatively easily on an industrial scale (Budweiser or Coors, anyone?) and even microbreweries, while more expensive to operate, are still overall fairly cheap.  And distribution is easy, too, because once the beer is bottled or put into a keg, it is ready to drink.  No need to add juices or other ingredients to make the perfect beverage.

Food compatibility:  Burgers and beer.  Beer and pizza.  Need I say more?

Variety:  Although beer is comprised of few ingredients, the flavors are complex, varying, and abundant.  Like snowflakes, no two brews are exactly alike, and brewers eager to show off their mad skills are forever working to perfect their craft.  It may be nearly impossible for even the modest beer drinker to not find something they like—or even love.  The result is that brewers are constantly deriving better beers with more flavors, which in turn attract more drinkers, who then encourage brewers to come up with an even better recipe.  The result is a never-ending cycle and as the market continues to grow the competition grows right along with it.

Beer drinking has been around since ancient times, and there is no indication that the love affair will die down any time soon. With new varieties cropping up nearly every day, there will always be something out there for you to love.  Cheers!

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