International Beer Day: 11 Fun Facts About Beer - The World's Most Famous Drink After Water & Tea

Beer is a drink for everyone. On a hot summer day, it quenches your thirst. On a stressful day, it makes your problems go away.

When it is a special occasion, beer doubles up that celebration. And speaking of special occasion, the world is celebrating International Beer Day today.

International Beer Day was first celebrated in 2007 by Jesse Avshalomovn in California. It was initially observed on August 5 but was shifted to the first Friday of the month in the year 2012. Thereafter, Beer Day is celebrated every year on the first Friday of August.

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Much like a glass of deliciously brewed beer, the story of this drink is a brilliant mix of rich history, facts you didn't really know and a slew of health benefits. As today world is celebrating International Beer Day, we bring you some interesting facts about beer - the world's most famous drink:

1. Oldest recorded brewery

Beer is the oldest recorded recipe in the world. The first known barley beer can be traced back to around 5,000 B.C.

2. World's oldest operating brewery

Established in 1040, in Weihenstephan, Germany, Weihenstephan is the world's oldest operating brewery.

3. World's most consumed alcoholic drink

Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage drink worldwide. In fact, after water and tea, beer is the most commonly consumed drink in the world.

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4. Strongest Beer in the World

The strongest beer in the world has a strength of 67.5% alcohol by volume. This beer was created in 2017 by the Scottish brewery Brewmeister. The beer is called Snake Venom.

5. Top beer-producing countries

China, the US, Brazil, Mexico, and Germany are the top beer-producing countries in the world, even while global sales are down.

6. Leading beer brand worldwide

According to Brand Directory ranking, the leading beer brand worldwide is Corona. The value of this brand is more than $11.4 billion dollars. In second place is Heineken, in third place is Budweiser. The top five also include Victoria and Bud Light.

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7. Most popular beer style

Lager is the most popular beer style in the world. Budweiser, Coors Light, Corona and Michelob Ultra are all lagers. These come from large beer producers, which accounts for roughly 87% of the beer marketplace in the U.S.

8. Beer health benefits

Beer is made from natural ingredients, including malted cereals (most often barley), hops, yeast and water. Thanks to these, beer contains minerals, vitamins, fibre and polyphenols that can positively contribute to a person's diet.

9. Country with most expensive beer

Qatar has the most expensive beer in the world, with an average price of USD $11.26 (Rs. 830.76) per 330ml bottle.

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10. Country with the cheapest beer

The cheapest beer is in South Africa, where the average price is $1.68 per bottle. The Czech Republic has the highest consumption rate, with 468 beers per person per year. The cheapest beer is in South Africa, where the average price is $1.68 per bottle.

11. Largest number of beers consumed in a single sitting

Andre the Giant holds the world record for the largest number of beers consumed in a single sitting. During a six-hour period, Andre drink 119, 12-ounce bottles of beer.