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Beer is the world's most widely consumed and probably the
oldest of alcoholic beverages; it is the third most popular drink
overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and
fermentation of starches, mainly derived from cereal
grains—most commonly malted barley, although wheat, maize
(corn), and rice are widely used. Most beer is flavored with hops,
which add bitterness and act as a natural preservative, though
other flavorings such as herbs or fruit may occasionally be
included. Some of humanity's earliest known writings refer to the
production and distribution of beer: the Code of Hammurabi included
laws regulating beer and beer parlors, and "The Hymn to Ninkasi", a
prayer to the Mesopotamian goddess of beer, served as both a prayer
and as a method of remembering the recipe for beer in a culture
with few literate people. Today, the brewing industry is a global
business, consisting of several dominant multinational companies
and many thousands of smaller producers ranging from brewpubs to
regional breweries.