Though it’s undeniably one of the most popular beverages in the world, some people take their interest in this drink more seriously than others. Considering that there are so many different varieties of beer with varying flavors, colors, and carbonation profiles, it’s not hard to understand why people would be fascinated with it. It is delicious when enjoyed by itself and it can also be greatly enhanced by pairing it with the right foods. Though some types are more popular than others, many prefer to constantly taste new micro brews, which is why there are beer of the month clubs that allow you to try new ones each month.
Of course, if you really want to take your knowledge of this popular beverage to the next level, it helps to understand how it is brewed. Many people are aware of the different ingredients involved, such as water, Hops, and barley, but beyond that they don’t have a very clear idea of how the brewing process goes. Essentially, it involves taking malted barley and placing it into hot water which will allow the sugars to come out. The next part of the process of making beer is mixing those sugars with Hops.
After taking the mixture of malt sugars and Hops and allowing it to cool, yeast is added. This allows fermentation to take place, which is a crucial part of the process. Basically, the yeast goes to work on the malted sugars, and ethyl alcohol and CO2 are released as a result. This is the main fermentation process, and when it’s done the solution just needs a little bit of added sugar to allow for the carbonation. It’s at this point that the solution is considered beer and it is ready to be bottled or kegged.
Though the process sounds very simple, it’s actually a lot more complicated and requires careful control and measurements. Breweries have got the process down to a science, and that is how they are able to consistently deliver their beer the same way. Knowing this process helps you to realize why people are so fascinated with the beverage, and it also helps you to appreciate the subtle differences in each brew.