The brewer’s selection of malt and hops will influence how bitter or sweet the beer tastes. But, in the end, it is all about how the beer tastes to you. We taste bitterness on different areas of the tongue, so it’s important to consider how all the elements in a beer interact.
Malt is the primary ingredient in most beers, and it provides all the “food” that yeast consumes to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide. The resulting sugars also create the body of the beer, and they add flavor.
Other ingredients, such as fruit, spices, citrus, or coffee, can enhance the flavors in a beer. But the four main ingredients in all beers are water, malt, hops, and yeast.
The most common styles of beer are pale ale, lager, stout, and dark ale. However, beers can be made from a variety of grains (like wheat, rye, and corn), and the use of varying strains of yeast and brewing methods produce many other varieties of beer.
Incorporating beer into cooking is a fun and delicious way to elevate dishes with rich flavor profiles. From using beer as a natural meat tenderizer to adding beer-braised pot roasts to your repertoire, the possibilities are endless.
