Beer Day Beer, known to humanity for over 5,000 years, has its own festival. International Beer Day (International Beer Day) is celebrated on the first Friday of August. In 2026, it is on August 7. However, June 13 is also sometimes called "Beer Day" in some countries (for example, unofficially in Russia). Either way, there is always a good reason to drink a glass of cold beer. Beer is the third most popular drink in the world after water and tea. It is loved for the hop bitterness, the sweetness of the malt, the effervescence, and its ability to bring people together. In this article, we will discuss the history of beer, its types, the culture of consumption, and of course, how to celebrate the festival. The history of beer: from ancient Sumer to craft revolution The first beer was brewed by the Sumerians about 4000 years ago. They called it "kash" (barley bread soaked in water). In Ancient Egypt, beer was the drink of the poor and builders of the pyramids (they were given 4-5 liters a day!). In the Middle Ages, European monks improved the recipes by adding hops (beer could be stored longer). In the sixteenth century, the Reinheitsgebot law was adopted in Germany: only barley, hops, and water are allowed (yeast was later added). In the nineteenth century, with the invention of refrigerators, lager beer (bottom fermentation) appeared. In the twentieth century, beer became a mass product. The twenty-first century is the era of craft beer, when small breweries experiment with ingredients, creating thousands of varieties. Major types of beer: lager, ale, stout, and others Beer is classified by the type of fermentation: top-fermented (ales) and bottom-fermented (lagers). Lagers are the most common (pale lager, Pilsner, Munich Helles, Dunkel). They are light, light, with hop bitterness. Ales are more aromatic, fruity, with caramel notes (Pale Ale, India Pale Ale (IPA), Brown Ale, Porter). Stouts and porters are dark, with roasted malt, coffee, chocolate notes. Wheat beer ... Читать далее