Beer is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from water and a variety of grains, such as barley, hops and yeast. It’s considered a healthy drink, but too much alcohol can be harmful. The recommended daily limit is two drinks. Consuming more than this can increase the risk of liver and kidney damage, as well as impaired speech and judgment.
Beer comes in a variety of styles, depending on the ingredients and brewing process. Some beers are more fizzy than others, and some have a sour taste of lactic acid. Others have a funky note from brettanomyces.
There are many different types of beer, but the basic ingredients are the same. Water, malted barley and hops are the primary ingredients. These ingredients are then mixed with warm water to create a mixture known as a mash. After the mash is filtered, the liquid is called wort. Wort is a fermentable liquid that contains sugars, which yeast then feeds on. During the fermentation, yeast breaks down the sugars to release alcohol.
Once the wort is finished fermenting, it is transferred to conditioning tanks. This can take a few days or several weeks, depending on the style of the beer. Before it is shipped, the beer is filtered to remove any leftover solids.
There are a number of other factors that affect the flavor of a beer. A good brewer will use technology to adjust the brewing water, so that the final beer has the desired flavour.