Hoppy Hour

So many brews to choose from, including beer without the buzz

- Leila El Shennawy

EVERY FALL, THE mayor of Munich taps the first keg of Oktoberfest from inside the city's oldest beer tent, the Schottenhamel-Festhalle. Surrounded by a cheering crowd and a brass band, the mayor proudly proclaims "O'zapft is!" (It has been tapped!)

Germany's most famous Oktoberfest draws millions of beer drinkers every fall. No surprise, given that beer is the world's most-consumed beverage after water and tea. It is also one of the oldest, having been first brewed in ancient Mesopotamia (most of which is now Iraq) around 12,000 years ago: from barley and yeast. Beer back then was not the same refreshing end to the workday that it is today. Instead, it was thick and porridge-like, flavored with date syrup instead of hops. It wasn't until the Middle Ages that Catholic monks added hops to beer (which they sold to generate income), perhaps making them the earliest craft brewers.