Beer Knowledge

Question 0

Define Beer

Answer 0

Beer is any fermented beverage made with a cereal grain.

Question 1

Beer Categories

Answer 1

1. Ale (Major Classification)
2. Lager (Major Classification)
3. Hybrid Beers
4. Specialty Beers

Question 2

Ingredients of Beer

Answer 2

1. Grain (mostly malted barley)
2. Hops (grown in many different varieties)
3. Yeast (responsible for fermentation; based on style-specific strains)
4. Water (accounts for up to 95% of beers content)

Question 3

What 5 contributions does GRAIN provide to beer?

Answer 3

1. Color: The color of the grains used to make a beer directly affects the color of the beer itself.
2. Flavor: The flavor of the beer is primarily that of malted barley, although hops and yeast characteristics play a secondary role.
3. Maltose: Term used for fermentable sugars derived from malted grain. Yeast converts these sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
4. Proteins: Proteins in the grain help to form and hold the head (foam) on the beer.
5. Dextrin: The grain components that help create “mouthfeel” (the feeling of fullness or viscosity) in the beer.

Question 4

What 4 attributes does HOPS provide beer?

Answer 4

1. Bitterness: essential to the flavor balance of the beer; it offsets the sweetness of the malt.
2. Flavor: hops have flavor that’s distinctly different from bitterness, and it adds to the overall complexity of the beer.
3. Aroma: the piquant aroma of hops, which mirrors their flavor, is derived from essential oils in the hops.
4. Stability: hops help provide the beer with stability and shelf life; their beta acids stave off bacterial contamination.