Historians are not entirely sure when, but it is presumed that beer was created accidentally by early nomadic tribes roughly 10,000 years ago.

2. What is beer made of?

The four primary ingredients are malt, hops, yeast and water.

The small flowers of the hops vine are added partly because they taste bitter, helping balance the sweetness of the malt. Hops also serve as a natural preservative, inhibiting the growth of bacteria that can spoil beer.

Yeast is responsible for fermentation, which creates the alcohol and carbonation. Many varieties of yeast are used, each with its own aroma and flavor.

Beer makers sometimes use adjuncts, which are additives or substitutes for malt or hops. Adjuncts such as corn or rice can make a beer lighter-bodied or cheaper to produce. Fruit extracts give a beer a fruity taste.

3. How much beer is produced in the United States annually?

Nearly 200 million barrels are brewed in the United States each year.

4. What is the most popular beer, and who makes it?

Budweiser, made by Anheuser-Busch, is the bestselling beer in the world. It is distributed in more than 65 countries. No. 2 is Bud Light, also made by Anheuser-Busch.

5. Which country drinks the most beer?

The Czech Republic consumes 156 liters of beer per capita, more than any other country, followed by Ireland and Germany.

7. How much

alcohol does beer contain?

Beers range from 2 percent to 6 percent alcohol. Other beverages are more alcoholic. Wine, for example, contains 8 percent to 20 percent alcohol.

9. What are the dangers of drinking beer?

Like all alcoholic beverages, beer can impair motor skills and the ability to think clearly. Excessive drinking can also lead to liver damage, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers and other health problems. Women should avoid drinking during pregnancy to avoid harming the fetus.

10. Does beer offer health benefits?

Not only does beer contain a moderate number of vitamins and minerals necessary for health, but it may also help prevent some problems when consumed in moderation.

Studies have shown that small amounts of alcohol can reduce the risk of heart disease. Beer also contains selenium, a mineral that promotes bone growth and helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

11. Can beer give you a beer belly?

Genes determine how fat is deposited, and no food or drink can create fat deposits in specific areas of the body. As with all foods, the more calories you consume, the more likely they are to be stored as fat and cause weight gain. Beer contains no fat and averages 150 calories per serving.

12. What are common beer myths?

n Drinking light beer won't result in a beer belly. Light beer is only a little less caloric than regular beer. Taking in more calories than your body needs can cause weight gain.

n The darker the color, the stronger the beer. Color is never a good indication of alcoholic content. For example, a Guinness ale is dark and contains less alcohol than most of the lighter lagers on the market.

n A cloudy beer is a bad beer. Not all beers are the same, and some are naturally cloudy. Some wheat beers are naturally cloudy.

13. Can I make beer at home?

Many home-brewing kits are available. Home brewing is legal as long as the beer is for your own consumption and is not sold and you do not produce more beer than you are legally allowed.

14. Is root beer really a beer?

Although root beer contains no alcohol, most common definitions of beer include nonalcoholic beverages containing flavors derived from root extracts. The flavor of root beer is derived from sassafras roots or the sarsaparilla vine.

Other root-flavored beers include birch beer and ginger beer.

15. Does the taste of beer improve with age like that of some wines?

Beer is a food product that will eventually become stale. The amount of time that takes depends on its strength. Beer should be stored in a cool, dark location before consumption.

16. Does beer from a bottle taste better than beer from a can?

Most beer drinkers cannot tell the difference. But the color of a bottle can influence the flavor. Brown bottles block out light that reacts with the hops, which could damage the flavor. Green or clear bottles provide little or no protection from light damage.

Draft beer generally offers the best taste. Beer in kegs does not require pasteurization because of its short shelf life. The result is a fresher-tasting beer.

17. What is a widget?

It's a small plastic ball placed in some draft beer cans or bottles to aid in the release of carbon dioxide when the container is opened and to help create a fuller, creamier head when the beer is poured.

18. What are microbreweries?

They are smaller beweries that produce specialty beers in a limited capacity. Popular throughout the world, they offer the appeal of "homemade beer" with distinctive flavors.

19. Where can I find recipes for cooking with beer?

The unique flavors of beer make it a popular ingredient. It can be used in baking or as a marinade on meats. The Beer Institute offers many recipes on its Web site, www.beerinstitute.org/ recipes.htm.

20. What are some of the strangest beer flavors?

There are many unusual beer flavors on the market, and many of them are only seasonal. Some of the more unusual beer flavors include chili pepper, banana, turkey, pumpkin, chocolate and candy cane.

— Daniel Cooper, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

SOURCES: "Michael Jackson's Beer Companion, A connoisseur's Guide to the World's Best Beer," thebeerstore.ca, howstuffworks.com, Knight Ridder/Tribune, Reelbeer.com, beerhunter.com, beerinstitute.org, tastings.com, Reuters, anheuser-busch.com, allaboutbeer.com, fort worth star-telegram