The main ingredient in traditional beer is malted barley, which serves as the primary source of fermentable sugars needed to produce alcohol. The malting process involves soaking barley grains in water, allowing them to germinate, and then drying them to halt the germination. This creates enzymes that convert the starches in the barley into sugars during brewing. Besides malted barley, traditional beer also includes hops for flavor and aroma, yeast for fermentation, and water. The combination of these ingredients, along with various brewing techniques, leads to the wide variety of beer styles enjoyed around the world.