Malt beverage is in American term for alcoholic and non-alcoholic fermented beverages, in which the primary ingredient is barley, which has been allowed to sprout ("malt") slightly before it is processed. By far, the most predominant malt beverage is beer, others include ale and similar brews. A non-alcoholic beverage brewed in this fashion is technically not "beer." Such a beverage may be prepared by either removing alcohol from the finished product or by using a slightly altered brewing process which yields very little alcohol (technically less than 0.5% by weight). This article needs cleanup. ... In its strictest sense fermentation (scientifically called zymosis) is the energy-yielding anaerobic metabolic breakdown of a nutrient molecule, such as glucose, without net oxidation. ... The word drink is primarily a verb, meaning to ingest liquids, see Drinking. ... Binomial name Hordeum vulgare L. Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is a major food and animal feed crop, a member of the grass family Poaceae. ... Malted barley Malting is a process applied to cereal grains, in which the grains are made to germinate and then quickly dried before the plant develops. ... Beer, generally, is an alcoholic beverage produced through the fermentation of sugars suspended in an aqueous medium, and which is not distilled after fermentation. ... Ale is an ancient word for a fermented alcoholic beverage obtained chiefly from malted barley. ...

The term "malt beverage" is often used by trade associations of groups of beer wholesalers ("The _____ Malt Beverage Association") to avoid any negative connotations associated with beer. Additionally, the term is applied to many other flavored beverages prepared from malted grains to which natural or artificial flavors have been added to make them taste similar to wines, fruits, colas, ciders, or other beverages. This subcategory has been called "malternative," as in Smirnoff Ice or "maltini" as in 3SUM, which also has energy components like caffeine. Marketing of such products in the United States has increased markedly in recent years. Smirnoff is a famous vodka distillery founded in Moscow. ... 3SUM is a malt beverage infused with the energy components caffeine, ginseng, and taurine. ... Flash point N/A RTECS number EV6475000 Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references Caffeine, sometimes called theine when found in tea, is a xanthine alkaloid found in the leaves and beans of the coffee...

In most jurisdictions, these products are regulated in a way identical to beer, which allows a retailer with a beer license to sell a seemingly wider product line, and also generally avoids the steeper taxes and stricter regulations associated with distilled spirits. (In Texas, such beverages must be referred to as "flavored beers" rather than "Malt Beverages"). Official language(s) None. ...