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This is a list of articles and categories dealing with beer by region, including breweries and brewing in general. Beer is the world's most widely consumed alcoholic beverage, and is the third-most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is thought by some to be the oldest fermented beverage. A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company that makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company. The diversity of size in breweries is matched by the diversity of processes, degrees of automation, and kinds of beer produced in breweries. A brewery is typically divided into distinct sections, with each section reserved for one part of the brewing process.
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Armenia
Beer has been brewed by Armenians since ancient times. One of the first confirmed written evidences of ancient beer production is Xenophon's reference to "wine made from barley" in one of the ancient Armenia villages, as described in his 5th century B.C. work Anabasis: "There were stores within of wheat and barley and vegetables, and wine made from barley in great big bowls; the grains of barley malt lay floating in the beverage up to the lip of the vessel, and reeds lay in them, some longer, some shorter, without joints; when you were thirsty you must take one of these into your mouth, and suck. The beverage without admixture of water was very strong, and of a delicious flavour to certain palates, but the taste must be acquired."
Currently there are four local breweries throughout the country making a variety of beer types: Yerevan Brewery in Yerevan - 14 types of beer brand Kilikia (named after a historic Armenian kingdom at the Mediterranean coast) and one type of beer brand Hayer; Kotayk Brewery in Abovyan - a number of beers under Kotayk (named after the Armenian province east of Yerevan), Erebuni (named after the historical settlement in the southeastern part of present-day Yerevan), Abovyan and Castelbeer brands; Gyumri-Garejour Brewery in Gyumri - 3 types of beer brand Gyumri (named after the second largest city in Armenia, where the brewery is located), one type of beer brand Aleksandrapol and one type of beer brand Ararat; Lihnitis Sevan Brewery in Sevan - beer brands Kellers. Kellers Gold and Kellers Dark.
Europe
Europe's largest single brewery and single malting facility in terms of installed capacity currently are the Obolon CJSC's production facility in Kiev, Ukraine, and malting facility in Chemerivtsi, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Ukraine, respectively
Latvia
Beer is a historic traditions in Latvia and is known to have been made before the Northern Crusades in the 13th century. Today, the most popular brand in Latvia is Aldaris (based in Riga).
Lithuania
This Baltic state has a major beer scene in the northern part of the country, centred around the towns of Pasvalys, Pakruojis, Kupiškis and Biržai. The farmhouse brews of the region are highly distinctive, using local ingredients and techniques from pre-Soviet times.
The biggest commercial breweries are located in towns Utena (Utenos alus'), Panevėžys (Kalnapilis), Klaipėda (Švyturys), Kaunas (Ragutis) and Vilnius (Tauras).
Macedonia
The best-known beer in Macedonia is Skopsko. There are also Silver Moon, Zlaten Dab, Bitolsko, Gorsko etc.
Slovakia
The most famous brands in Slovakia are Šariš, Smädný mních (Thirsty Monk) and Zlatý Bažant (Golden pheasant).
There are 15 breweries in Slovakia:
Spain
Some known Spanish beers are Mahou-San Miguel (known as Mahou before the acquisition by San Miguel company), Estrella Damm, Alhambra, Estrella Galicia, Estrella Levante, Cruzcampo, Reina, Dorada and La Zaragozana (Ambar).
Mexico
Beer in Mexico has a long history. Mesoamerican cultures knew of fermented alcoholic beverages, including a corn beer. Only two corporations, Grupo Modelo (owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev) and FEMSA (owned by Heineken International) control the majority of the Mexican beer market. Beer is a major export for the country, with most going to the United States, but is available in over 150 countries in the world.
Argentina
With almost 80% of the Argentine market, Cerveza Quilmes is the most popular Argentine beer. Third in the market is Schneider. The most consumed foreign beers are Heineken and Budweiser.
Colombia
With almost 90% of the Colombia market, Bavaria is the most popular Colombian beer.
Peru
The consumption per capita in Peru is 22 liters per year.
Three local producers are: Sab Miller, with the local brands: Cusqueña, Cristal, Pilsen, Arequipeña and the Honduran but local-made Barena; Ambev, with the Brazilian, but also local made, Brahma; Ajeper, with the all new Franca. This is a Peruvian company.
Also, there is a selection of imported beers such as Erdinger and Flensburger from Germany, Strong Suffolk and Abbot from the UK, Corona from Mexico, Heineken from the Netherlands, Sapporo from Japan, Stella Artois (the Belgian brand, but made in Argentina), Quilmes also from Argentina, etc.
There are also small local producers of standard beer and many producers of the ancient beer named Chicha, normally made of a local corn named Jora in the traditional "Chicherías".