What is Beer?
What is beer?
Beer is a popular alcoholic beverage made from barley, water, hops and yeast. It has been enjoyed throughout history and across the globe, and can be found in most grocery stores as well as many craft breweries.
The ingredients that make up beer vary from brew to brew but are generally the same. These include a starch source like malt or grain, a yeast to ferment the sugars into alcohol, and a flavoring to enhance the taste.
Grains or Malt:
Although beer is 90% water, the grains used in its brewing process are what determine its color, aroma, and flavor. The most common grains include barley, wheat, rice, corn and oats. The malting process metabolizes the grains’ sugars, which feed the yeast that makes the beer alcoholic.
Yeast:
The next major ingredient is yeast, which is the microorganisms that convert the sugars in the malt into ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide. There are hundreds of different yeast strains, each suited to the type of beer being made.
Yeasts also can be a vital part of beer’s unique flavor, determining the characteristics of each style. Some brewers use only one yeast strain to make all of their beers, whereas others choose to mix and match various strains in order to create different flavors.
Another important ingredient is water, which varies in mineral content depending on its location and origin. Typically, a brewer will use filtered water to ensure that the beer tastes fresh and pure.