Water Flashcards
Discusses the importance of water quality and composition in brewing. (10 cards)
What is the main component of beer, by volume?
Water
What are the non-water components of beer?
Alcohol and the components that give beer its aroma, taste and mouthfeel.
What do minerals become when dissolved in water?
Ions
How may ions impact the brewing process?
Can impact the efficiency of the brewing process, as well as the flavor of the final product.
What does a brewer have to do if the mineral content of the water is not suitable for brewing?
Make adjustments to the water before using it.
What are the potential downsides of using carbonates or bicarbonates in brewing?
Can have a negative effect on the brewing equipment by causing scale on the heating surfaces.
Which types of beers can benefit from having a moderate amount of carbonate or bicarbonate in the water?
Beers made using dark malts or highly kilned malts.
What impact on style can high levels of sulfate ions have on a beer?
Can bring out hoppiness in beer.
Although high levels can also create sulfury off-flavors, so balance is needed.
What traditional brewing city is famous for having higher levels of sulfate ions, which helped to make their hop-driven pale ales famous?
Burton upon Trent in the UK.
Think Bass Pale ale, among many others.
What does the water in London, UK, Munich, Germany and Dublin, Ireland have in common?
All have higher levels of carbonates/bicarbonates, which tend to benefit the production of beers with highly kilned and dark roasted malts.
Porters, Munich dunkel, Irish stout.
