noun

1. an alcoholic beverage made from grain, esp. malted barley, fermented by yeast and flavored with hops; esp., such a beverage produced by slow fermentation at a relatively low temperature
2. any of several soft drinks made from extracts of roots and plants ginger beer

Etymology: ME & OE beor, akin to Ger bier; only in WGmc; a monastic (6th c.) borrowing < VL biber, beverage (< L bibere, imbibe): orig. used for the drink made with hops, as distinct from the older drink, ale, then made without