Alcoholic Beverages: Barley Beers, Pilsener Beer Munich Beer, Ale and Porter
Introduction
Since the beginning of time, man has been aware of alcoholic beverages. Similar to food, the native alcoholic beverages of every region of the world depend on the crops that may flourish in that area’s climate as well as on its inhabitants’ cultures. Alcoholic beverages now have a global character and are produced in remote parts of the world far from their original location.
Barley Beers
The Latin word bibere, which means to drink, is where the term “beer” originates. Brewing is the procedure used to create beer. Ancient Egyptians are known to have brewed beer from barley as far back as 4,000 years ago, but research indicates that they may have learned the skill from inhabitants of the Tigris and Euphrates, the alleged birthplace of human civilisation. However, the use of hops dates back to a few hundred years and is far more recent.
Top-fermented and bottom-fermented beers are the two main categories into which barley beers can be split. The difference is based on whether the yeast settles to the bottom of the brew (beers that are bottom-fermented) or stays on top of the brew (beers that are top-fermented).
Bottom-Fermented Beers
These are sometimes referred to as lager beers because after fermentation, they were “lagered” (from the German lagern Meaning to store) in cold vaults for clarifying and maturity. Saccharomyces uvarum yeast strains are employed in bottom-fermented beers (formerly Saccharomyces carlsbergensis). Lager beers come in a variety of varieties. The three German cities where they first appeared are Pilsener, Dortmund, and Munich. Pilsener beers make up between 70 and 80 percent of all lagers consumed worldwide. In Germany’s Bavarian area, which includes Munich as its city, bottom fermentation was a closely kept secret. According to legend, a monk taught Pilsen how to use the yeasts and the process in 1842. They eventually arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark, three years later. Immigrants from Germany brought bottom brewing to America shortly after.
Pilsner Beer
This pale beer has a medium-strong hop flavour. It contains 3.0-3.8 percent by weight of alcohol. Traditionally, it is aged for two to three months, but modern breweries have drastically shortened the lagering process, which now lasts only around two weeks at many breweries across Europe and beyond. The Pilsener brew’s water is soft and has very few calcium and magnesium ions.
Dortmund Beer
Dortmund beer is a pale beer, but it has fewer hops than Pilsener, making it less harsh. However, it smells better and has more body (i.e., it is thicker). The alcohol concentration is 3.0-3.8 percent as well, and it is traditionally aged for 3–4 months. The water used for brewing is hard and rich in carbonates, sulphates, and chlorides.
Munich Beer
Due to its minimal hopping, this beer has a mildly sweet flavour and is black, fragrant, and full-bodied. The alcohol content may range from 2 to 5%, which is extremely significant. The brewing water has few other ions but is rich in carbonates. Weiss beer: Both steam beer from California, U.S.A., and weiss beer from Germany are bottom-fermented beers that are distinguished by being extremely effervescent.
Top Fermented Beers
The best strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are used to create fermented beers.
Ale
Unlike lager beer, which can be claimed to have its roots in Germany or continental Europe, Ale (Pale ale) is England’s unique brew. Beer in England always refers to ale unless the word “lager” is used specifically. It is a pale, heavily hopped beer with an alcohol concentration of 4.0 to 5.0 percent (w/v), with hops sometimes added during fermentation and other times after. Due to its high ester content, it is therefore quite bitter and has the flavour and scent of wine. Because mild ale is not as heavily hopped as regular Pale ale, it is sweeter. The water of Burton-on-Trent, where the best ales are produced, is gypsum-rich (calcium sulphate). When making ale in locations with less ideal water, the water may be “burtonized” by adding calcium sulphate.
Porter
Made from dark malts, porter is a dark-brown, robustly foaming beer. It is sweeter than ale because it has fewer hops in it. It contains a 5.0% alcohol content, roughly.
Stout
Stout is an extremely black beer with a big body, lots of hops, and a strong malt fragrance. It is made from dark or caramelised malt, with the addition of caramel occasionally. It can be kept for up to six months and has a relatively high alcohol level of 5.0–6.5% (w/v). Fermentation may occasionally take place in the bottle. Some stouts are sweet because they have fewer hops than typical.