Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - brew

 I. verb  Etymology: Middle English, from Old English breowan; akin to Latin fervere to boil — more at barm  Date: before 12th century  transitive verb  1. to prepare (as beer or ale) by steeping, boiling, and fermentation or by infusion and fermentation  2.  a. to bring about ; foment ~ trouble  b. contrive  3. to prepare (as tea) by infusion in hot water  intransitive verb  1. to ~ beer or ale  2. to be in the process of forming a storm is ~ing  • ~er noun  II. noun  Date: circa 1510  1.  a. a ~ed beverage (as beer)  b. a serving of a ~ed beverage quaff a few ~s  c. something produced by or as if by ~ing  2. the process of ~ing