What is the ruling on drinking beer? And likewise, what about similar drinks?

If beer is free of intoxicants, then there is no harm in drinking it. However, if it contains an intoxicating substance, then drinking it is forbidden. This applies to all intoxicants, based on the words of Allah the Almighty: (O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone altars [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may succeed. Satan only wants to cause animosity and hatred between you through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist?) (Al-Ma'idah/90-91), and the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "Every intoxicant is khamr, and every intoxicant is forbidden." The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, cursed khamr, its drinker, its pourer, and anyone who deals with it. One must beware of all intoxicants and repent to Allah for anything one has done of them.