Beer is a fermented beverage made from water, barley or other malted cereal grains, hops, and yeast. It’s a refreshing drink that’s been around for centuries and has many varieties to choose from.
The process of brewing is not complicated but requires a series of steps to make the best tasting beers possible. First, the brewer heats water and malted grains together to create a mash. This mash is then strained to capture the sugary liquid, called wort. This wort is then boiled with hops until the brewer’s desired flavor is achieved.
In the mash, enzymes in the malted grain convert starches into sugar and alcohol. When the mash is cooled, the wort is then added to the fermentation tank where yeast will consume the sugar and turn it into carbon dioxide and alcohol.
Once the fermentation is complete, most beer is allowed to sit for a few weeks or longer before it’s packaged and shipped to stores. Some styles of beer are aged for weeks or even years before they are bottled and sold, a process known as conditioning.
Although beer is a refreshing and calorie-free drink, it should only be consumed in moderation. Excessive drinking can lead to many health problems, including high blood pressure and liver damage.
