Photo Credit: מתן שגב
Many of us assume (with plenty of evidence to back it up), that the United States and the UK are the countries that drink the most beer. It’s no wonder that we think that: just look at the sheer number of breweries and microbreweries, bars and pubs, and beer distributors in both of these countries - to say nothing of the aisles and aisles of beer varieties at your local grocery or package store - that we’re among the leading beer drinkers in the world.
Just looking at the sheer amount of advertisements on TV and the internet, at sports events and more, and it’d be excusable if you thought that Americans and British folks were drinking a whole lot more beer than well, everybody else (except for maybe Germans; we can’t discount Oktoberfest, after all). But recent statistics from NationMaster, showing the top countries for beer consumption are pretty surprising, as neither the United States nor the UK even made the top five.
The top country for beer consumption per capita, as of last year, is actually Equatorial Guinea, a small,coastal African Nation just where the North and South Atlantic Ocean meet. As it turns out, Africans are quite fond of their brew, and enjoy a thriving beer culture, with second and third place going to Seychelles and Gabon. Rounding out the top five were Eastern European nations Czech Republic and Lithuania. The rest of the top ten was taken by the following countries: Poland, Austria, Romania and Nieue, with Germany holding strong at number ten.
While the numbers might be a little surprising at first, it’s really not that shocking to find that other countries really, really love their beer, too. After all, beer is a beverage with a deep history and has cultural and societal significance for many people spanning across the globe. People have been drinking beer for centuries. And while Western nations such as the U.S. and UK might feel they have a monopoly on the frosty beverage, judging from the sheer amount of variety on offer, the truth is that beer is a universal, cultural phenomenon that can’t really be claimed.
That being said, you’d be forgiven to assume that the United States and the UK have certainly seen their share of innovation when it comes to beer manufacturing and consumption in the past ten years or so. With so many breweries and microbreweries emerging in both nations, both in large cities and smaller towns, customers are spoiled for choice when it comes to their beer. At one time, you chose between a lager or a stout, but now, you’ve got your choice of craft beers - choose an IPA, often brewed with various fruit flavorings and different hops; sour gose, brewed with sea salt; heady and decadent stouts with interesting additions, lagers, cervezas, and much, much more. It’s nearly impossible to pick a “favorite” ale when there are literally thousands available to anyone person who happens to be out looking for a six pack.
Beer trends come and go, but one thing is universal: people around the world love their brews, regardless of country, culture, or variety.
