http://articles.brewmybeer.com/rss.xml A blog about brewmybeer.com daily 365 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://articles.brewmybeer.com/?a=35813 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Many of us have spent the weekends watching football or playing pool and one thing that can typically be found in our hand is beer. Beer is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages on the market. They come in a huge variety of brands and types, from dark ale, to beer that has reduced calories and carbs. It is an extremely versatile drink that is served from barbeques, to even the fanciest weddings and there are few adults who have not sipped a frosty brew at least one time in their lives.<br /><br />What's interesting is that despite all the people who drink it, if you were to ask them what the ingredients were, most would not be able to tell you. So for all you beer lovers out there, here's some beer trivia for you about what it's made from and why.<br /><br />The primary beer ingredients are yeast, malted barley, hops, and water. Starches are also used because they help to ferment the sugars that increase the alcohol content. They also contribute to the flavor and body of the brew.<br /><br />Malted barley is used because it contains a large amount of amylase. It also helps to convert starch to sugar, thanks to an enzyme it contains. The term &quot;malt&quot;, refers to the process of letting grains soak in water. This will prompt the grain to actually start to grow. Once the grain begins to germinate, it is then dried. Other grains such as rice, oats and rye can also be used.<br /><br />Water is the main ingredient in beer. Because water varies from region to region, the water from a specific region can determine the kind of beer that will be produced. An example is that regions that have hard water will produce darker beer.<br /><br />Yeast is another ingredient that is used in beer. This is the ingredient that causes fermentation. There are various types of yeast that are used, particularly the ale and lager varieties. The next time you order one of these types of beer, you will know where the terms come from.<br /><br />Hops are another ingredient and they contribute a bitter taste to beer. The balance between the bitterness and the sweetness depends on it. It also contributes to the beer's rich scent. It may interest you to know that hops have been used in beer since the 17th century, which makes beer not just a beverage but a part of history as well.<br /><br />You may wonder how with all of these different ingredients, that beer maintains such a clear color. This is because clarifying agents have been added to it and they range from Irish moss to fish bladders. For those drinkers who are vegetarians, it may be important to take the time to discover which clarifying agent was used in the beer that you drink.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Beer Brewing kits at <a href="http://www.brewmybeer.com/">http://www.brewmybeer.com</a></p> 2006-09-23T17:34-04:00 http://articles.brewmybeer.com/?a=35812 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>When you think of brewing you probably think of brewing a good cup of coffee. Brewing can also be the process of making alcoholic beverages as well. Beer is one of these beverages that brewing is used for and fermentation is used to make beer. <br /><br />Brewing can be traced back to ancient Egyptian times. The fermentation process was discovered accidentally by the Sumerians. No one knows exactly how this occurred however as it was not written down. It is thought that it may have had something to do with the making of bread since many of the ingredients are the same and if left without cooking, or completely cooking the bread mixture can ferment. They were able to repeat the process and continue to create the drink, which they obviously enjoyed the first time it happened. The beer of this era could not be stored and did not have any foam. Beer was thought to contain a spirit or god because drinking the mixture seemed to possess the person who drank it.<br /><br />Unlike wine where fruit juices are a big part of the ingredients, beer's major ingredients are malt and hops. Add to this yeast, sugars, and water and in the right combinations and with the right processes you will get beer. The first process to undergo is mashing. Mashing is where crushed malt and hot liquor are combined and kept at a constant temperature for about an hour so that the enzymes convert the starches into a fermentable sugar. The mash would be similar in consistency to cream of wheat or oatmeal.<br /><br />Water is then filtered through the mixture to dissolve any remaining sugars. This is called sparging. The liquid that is heavy with sugar is known as wort. Boiling is now required to remove excess water, remove microorganisms, remove any sweetness, and develop bitterness. The wort is collected in containers called fermenting vessels. <br /><br />The next step is fermentation; during this process yeast converts simple sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide plus a wide range of flavors. Every yeast has its own flavor profile so this explains why each beer company has its own distinct flavor. <br /><br />Packaging is the last step. At this stage the beer contains alcohol but not a lot of carbon dioxide. In order to fix this there are not a lot of options, the most common one used is forced carbonation by adding it directly to the keg or bottle. Casks for real ale, kegs for brewery carbonate beer, and cans or bottles for take away sales. During packaging you must be careful to not oxidize the beer or it will become stale. It depends on the person as to whether or not the beer is aged.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Home Beer Brewing at <a href="http://www.brewmybeer.com/">http://www.brewmybeer.com</a></p> 2006-09-23T17:31-04:00