Are you curious about the process of brewing beer? Or perhaps you’re interested in getting into the industry? Whichever it is, the beer brewing process is fundamental to truly appreciating the drink in all its beauty!
Many say that brewing beer is more of a craft than a process. It goes through several stages before becoming the drink we know and see today. Moreover, it requires detail to get the perfect taste.
It sounds complicated, so we’ll sum it up for you. Here is what you need to know to answer, “How is beer made?”
Starts With a Grain
Most beers, if not all, start off as raw grains. Barley is the most common choice for beer, but some manufacturers also use wheat, oats, rye, and more.
Compared to other grains, barley is usually the foundation of most beers. That’s because it has the components needed for a rich, flavorful brew.
Storage in the Malt House
After picking the grains, they have to make a quick detour before heading to the brewery. The place it stays at is called a malt house.
There, the grains turn into malts using processes such as steeping, germinating, and drying. The malt goes through a grist mill to help expose the starches in the next process.
Mashing Process
When the malts are ready, the first step to beer brewing starts with mashing. During this process, the malt turns into a porridge-like mixture.
Mashing is what allows the malt’s enzymes to break down starches and convert them into sugars. It’s considered a vital part of making beer because it kicks off the path to making alcohol.
Lautering the Mash
The mash is later separated through a process called lautering. Here, it turns into a sugary liquid known as wort.
Brewers set aside the sweet wort after running it through a filter. The remains go through recirculation and then sparging, where they get rinsed off.
Developing the Recipe
The boiling process of the beer is when brewers develop the recipe. Different components are added to the boiling beer to give life to the types of beer familiar to you.
It’s a combination of different malts, hops, and yeast. It goes together at varying temperatures to reach the perfect brew.
Wort Fermentation
After boiling, brewers cool the wort and pump them into fermentation tanks. Then, the yeast turns it into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Note that the kind of yeast used and the temperature it ferments in determines whether the drink becomes ale or lager beer.
When the beer is ready, it’s chilled and left to settle. Some beers have to go through filtering to stabilize their flavor before finishing up.
Packaging the Final Product
The last step is to package the final product into bottles, cans, kegs, and more. You can even put them into a zipper beer bottle koozie!
Once packed, the beer will be ready to leave the brewery and into pubs and stores nationwide.
Learn About How Brewing Beer Works Today!
Brewing beer is more complex than it seems. It consists of several processes, usually using natural products.
The process alone helps you realize it’s a genuine craft. So, you will likely appreciate the flavors and benefits of beer even more.
Check out our other blog posts for more health and lifestyle tips.
