| Beer has been around for thousands of years. In | | | | bitterness to beer. |
| fact, it rivals wine as one of the earliest known | | | | Finally, after the wort stage, the brewers remove all |
| prepared beverages in the world-dating back as early | | | | the solids from the beer and add yeast, the magic |
| as 9000 BC. There's record of its consumption in the | | | | ingredient, into the mix. The yeast fermentation is |
| earliest civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt, and it | | | | usually done in a large fermentation tank, and it can |
| was popular among the Germanic tribes of Europe by | | | | take up to two weeks or more, depending on the |
| 3000 BC. | | | | type of beer being made. During this time, the |
| The drink played a large role in the lives of Europeans | | | | substance gradually becomes the substance we |
| throughout Medieval and early-Modern history. As it | | | | know as beer. After it's done, the yeast is removed, |
| was more safe to drink than the water in the cities, | | | | and the beer is bottled. |
| it became a staple in many homes. More recently, | | | | Types of Beer |
| industrial manufacturing practices have turned beer | | | | There are literally hundreds of types of beer, and |
| into a quarter-trillion-dollar industry, while modern | | | | craft brewers are always coming up with new ones, |
| techniques have contributed to an explosion in craft | | | | but here are the popular essentials: |
| brewing. | | | | · Ale: Ales are sweet, full-bodied, |
| How Beer is Made | | | | top-fermented beers that contain no hops. Due to |
| Most types of beer are made of four essential | | | | the brewing process, ales typically have a higher |
| ingredients: | | | | alcohol content than other types of beers, and |
| · water, | | | | they're known for the wide range of flavor subtleties |
| · hops, the flower of the hop vine, a | | | | that can be produced. As such, there are many |
| member of the hemp family; | | | | types of ales. |
| · specially prepared barley, a wheat-like seed | | | | · Stout: A stout is a dark beer made with |
| grain that grows throughout the world; | | | | malts and usually containing a brown-ish coloring. The |
| · and yeast, the microorganism that, during | | | | alcohol content is relatively low, and the flavor is |
| the fermentation process, creates the alcohol and | | | | often quite dry. |
| the carbon dioxide (i.e., the bubbles) in beer. | | | | · Lager: Lagers are long-fermenting brews |
| The specifics of the brewing process are too | | | | with an amber to dark-amber coloring. As the lager |
| complex to get into, but there are essentially three | | | | formula provides the basis for the brews of many of |
| steps. First, there's the mash process, in which the | | | | the largest beer-making companies in the world |
| barley is broken down into its constituent parts, | | | | (including the American behemoths), its flavor is quite |
| which are then prepared for fermentation. Second, | | | | familiar to most people. |
| there's the wort process, which is also called the boil. | | | | Wheat beers: Wheat beers are brewed with a large |
| This is when the brewer adds the hops, which add | | | | amount of wheat in addition to the barley. |
