Beer is an alcoholic beverage produced by brewing and fermenting starches from cereal grain, most commonly malted barley though wheat, maize, rice, and oats are also used, and it ranks among the oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic drinks in the world. The modern brewing industry combines a handful of dominant multinational corporations with many thousands of smaller producers, from brewpubs to regional breweries, and as of 2006 global sales exceeded 133 billion liters a year, generating revenue of 294.5 billion dollars. As of 2020, market researcher Technavio ranked AB InBev as the largest brewer worldwide, followed by Heineken, CR Snow, Carlsberg, and Molson Coors. The 2000s brought heavy consolidation to the sector, with major acquisitions reshaping the competitive landscape among the industry's largest producers.
Beer is an alcoholic beverage produced by brewing and fermenting starches from cereal grain, most commonly malted barley though wheat, maize, rice, and oats are also used, and it ranks among the oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic drinks in the world. The modern brewing industry combines a handful of dominant multinational corporations with many thousands of smaller producers, from brewpubs to regional breweries, and as of 2006 global sales exceeded 133 billion liters a year, generating revenue of 294.5 billion dollars. As of 2020, market researcher Technavio ranked AB InBev as the largest brewer worldwide, followed by Heineken, CR Snow, Carlsberg, and Molson Coors. The 2000s brought heavy consolidation to the sector, with major acquisitions reshaping the competitive landscape among the industry's largest producers.