Beer is an alcoholic drink that is made by mixing malted barley with hot water, creating a mashed oatmeal-like substance. The next step is to drain the wort, which is a sugary liquid-like substance. Once the wort has been extracted, it’s boiled together with the hops for the bitter flavor of the beer, and for the aroma. Afterwards, the yeast is added with the mixture and will be allowed to ferment. The yeast is the ingredient responsible for converting sugar into ethanol and carbon dioxide. The ethanol component of the beer is the alcohol, while the carbon dioxide is what makes the beer bubble.
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Types of Beer
- Lager: This is produced when the yeast ferments at a low temperature and does not float at the surface. It is usually transparent in color and heavily carbonated.
- Amber: This is produced by warm fermentation. It’s usually reddish in color and heavier compared to the lager.
- Stout: This is a darker and thicker type of beer. It’s made using roasted malt and barley, hops, water, and yeast.
- Dry beer: This is originally developed in Japan. In this type of beer, almost all the sugar is converted into alcohol, brought about by a longer fermentation process, resulting in a crisp taste with no bitter after-taste.
Flavors to Look For
There are basically four flavors to look for in beer. Each ingredient will give a distinct flavor and aroma. The hop is the one that gives a bitter taste to this alcoholic drink. The malt adds some sweetness and tames the bitterness of the hop. The yeast, on the other hand, gives the sourness or tart flavor while the booze, as the name implies, is the alcoholic content of the beer. So each flavoring will balance the taste of a beer, and each brand has a distinct taste.
How to Drink
You don’t just down a glass of beer. First, smell the beer. Then, swish it around your mouth so every part of your tongue and the insides of your mouth can taste the distinct flavor. Tasting it is very subjective.
The Pour
Bartenders follow a few steps when pouring beer into a tall glass. First is to briefly pour downside of the glass, then move the stream to the center of the glass. Stop when the glass is full, and the drink is ready to be enjoyed.
Nutritional Benefits
When taken in moderation, beer can provide you with potassium, calcium, phosphorous, B-vitamins, and other trace minerals that are needed for a healthy body. Beer can also be a good source of fibre because it’s made from barley. So, remember to drink moderately and enjoy the healthy benefits of beer.