Beer and breweries by region

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 drink 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 drink without admixture of water was very strong, and of a delicious flavour to certain palates, but the taste must be acquired."

Currently there are six local brewing companies throughout the country producing a variety of beer types:

• Beer of Yerevan Brewery[7] in Yerevan: around 15 types of beer are served by the brewery, mainly under the brand Kilikia (named after a historic Armenian kingdom at the Mediterranean coast) as well as some other brands.
• Gyumri Beer Brewery in Gyumri: the company produces a variety of lager beer under 3 brands: Gyumri, Aleksandrapol and Ararat.
• Kotayk Brewery in Abovyan: a variety of lager beer under the brand Kotayk (named after the Armenian Kotayk Province), as well as Erebuni and Urartu.
• Lihnitis Sevan Brewery in Sevan: the company produces the Kellers beer.
• Hayasy Group in Voskevaz village, Aragatsotn Province: currently producing under the brand Hayasy.[8]
• Dilijan Brewery in Dilijan: producing under the brand Dilijan.[9]

In addition to brewing factories, the country is also home to 8 microbreweries/brewpubs, that produce and serve draught/unfiltered beer in Armenia.

The dominant brewery in Myanmar, with an approximately 80% share of the market, is Myanmar Brewery, which is 45% owned by Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited. Myanmar Brewery's beers include Myanmar Beer, Double Strong Beer, Andaman Gold (Red) and Andaman Gold (Blue). In 2015 Myanmar Brewery entered into a joint venture with Kirin Brewery to produce and distribute its beers in the country. In 2013 the Carlsberg Group signed an agreement with Myanmar Golden Star, establishing Myanmar Carlsberg Company Ltd. Myanmar Carlsberg Company opened a $75 million brewery in May 2015 which now produces Carlsberg and Turborg locally, together with a new beer, Yoma. In July 2015 Heineken International opened a $60 million brewery in Yangon, in a joint venture with a local company, Alliance Brewery Company. The brewery produces Tiger, Heineken, ABC stout and a new rice beer, Regal Seven.

North Korea has at least ten major breweries and many microbreweries that supply a wide range of beer products.[10][11][12] The top brand is the light lager Taedonggang which is internationally known for its quality.[13]

The country's problems with goods distribution and power output has forced North Korean brewers to innovate. To minimize distribution, many restaurants and hotels maintain their own microbreweries. Because unreliable power supply makes it difficult to refrigerate beer, North Koreans have developed their own steam beer, an originally American beer style brewed in higher than normal temperatures, that is widely available.[12]

Although the Korean liquor soju is preferred,[14] beer comes second when it comes to consumption.[15] Since the 1980s, beer has been within reach of ordinary North Koreans,[16] though it is still rationed. Tourists, on the other hand, enjoy inexpensive beer without such limitations.[17]

The best known beer in Albania is Birra Tirana. Also well-known beer brands are Birra Korça, Birra Kaon, Birra Puka and Birra Stela.

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).

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).

The best-known beer in Macedonia is Skopsko. There are also Silver Moon, Zlaten Dab, Bitolsko, Gorsko etc.

In addition to the major breweries that mostly brew pilsner beer, there are a number of microbreweries brewing a variety of other types of beer.

The most famous brands in Slovakia are Šariš, Smädný mních (Thirsty Monk) and Zlatý Bažant (Golden pheasant).

There are 15 breweries in Slovakia:

Pivovar Bytča brewery

• Pivovar Bytča (K. K. Company) - Martiner, Popper, Palatín
• Pivovar Corgoň (Heineken Slovensko a.s.) - Corgoň, Maurus, Stup
• Pivovar a sladovňa Gemer a.s. (Heineken Slovensko a.s.) - Gemer, Zuzana
• Pivovar Horden (Esperia a.s.) - Horden
• Pivovar Hurbanovo (Heineken Slovensko a.s.) - Zlatý Bažant, Heineken
• Pivovar Ilava (K. K. Company) - Richtár, Vartáš
• Pivovar Martiner (Heineken Slovensko a.s.) - Martiner, Martinský zdroj
• Minipivovar M.K. Unipol Trnava
• Steiger (Eduard Rada s.r.o.) - Steiger, Sitňan, Hell, Kachelmann
• Pivovar Stein a.s. - Stein, Pressburger, Premium Pils, Dominik
• Minipivovar Svätý Jur

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).

Main article: List of breweries in England

Main article: List of breweries in Scotland

Beer in Mexico has a long history. Mesoamerican cultures knew of fermented alcoholic drinks, 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.

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.

With almost 90% of the Colombia market, Bavaria is the most popular Colombian beer.

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".

• Lankov, Andrei (2007). North of the DMZ: Essays on Daily Life in North Korea. Jefferson: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5141-8.