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 | Malt: The basic ingredient of beer. Malt determines any beer's
essential character. The color, body, flavor, and strength of the beer will be influenced
by your choice in malts. Malt is a cereal grain of barley or wheat that is soaked in water
until germination. Partially sprouted grain is then dried in a kiln and roasted. |
| Hops: Hops are non-pollinated flowers from the female hop vine. Hops
distinguish a beer's aroma and flavor, and also have preservative qualities. The acidic
levels of hops are diverse and impart delicate variations in bitterness and aroma. The
bitterness of hops is measured in alpha and beta acid gradations. There
are over 100 types of hop flowers. Brewers love experimenting with hops. |
| Yeast: Yeast is a mycota species that, although usually acquired in the
dormant state, becomes active when introduced in the brewing process. Yeast is a living
organism that multiplies and eats complex sugar molecules and breaks them down
into simple sugars, alcohol, and carbon dioxide. |
You may have seen brewer's yeast at the local health food store, it is often used as a
supplement in protein shakes and health drinks because of its high concentration of the B
vitamin complex.
Yeast also has an impact on the essence and character of homebrew. Ale yeast is
typically a top-fermenting yeast that thrives at 70°F, while lager yeast is known as
bottom-fermenting and thrives around a much cooler 45°. Steam beer uses lager yeast at
ale temperatures and exemplifies the impact yeast has on a beer's flavor. Get friendly
with your saccharomyces, they are important catalysts in making great beer.
| Fermentation: Fermentation is a chemical reaction induced by living
ferments (yeast). It is an anaerobic conversion of sugar into carbon dioxide and alcohol. |
| Ale: A classification of beer styles, ales are made with top-fermenting
yeast. The brewing takes place under warmer conditions than lager. Pale, brown, red,
amber, bitter, stout, porter, and lambic are a few examples of the many types of ale. |
| Lager: A lager is a beer that is fermented at cool temperatures,
typically below 55°F. Lager has a longer fermentation cycle than ale. The lager process
inhibits the production of esters and creates smooth, clean, and crisp beer. Pilsners and
bocks are lagers. |
| Stout: Stout is a style of ale. Ingredients usually include pale malt,
caramel malt, and different types of roasted unmalted barley. It is characterized by its
dark color, strong flavor, and a rich creamy head. |
| Pilsner: Pilsner is a style of lager made famous in the 1800's in
Pilsen. This Bohemian treat is highly hopped with a pale golden color. |
| Bock: Bock is a style of lager that has a high alcohol content and is
brewed to celebrate special events like holidays, harvests, springtime, and Friday. |
  
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