Beer and Its Manufacturing Process

Beer is a potable, brewed and fermented alcoholic beverages obtain from the malted barley or other starchy cereals flavored with hopes. The alcoholic contents of beer is low as compared to other alcoholic beverages. The alcoholic content of beer ranges from 3.5% to 8% by volume. Any cereals containing starch can be used in beer making process, like wheat, rice, maize etc but popularly barley is used because it content high amount of starch then other cereals. So, the fermentation process is faster and easier in it. The ingredients that are used in beer making are:

• Barley
• Yeast
• Water
• Sugar

Hops (Hops are small green corn shape flowers from the hop plant which gives better taste and flavor to the beer)

Beer Making Process:

• Brewing: The clean barley grain are allowed to sprout, known as "Malted Barley" then is crushed and mixed with warm water. The solution which is obtain from mixing of water and crushed barley is known as "Wort". This wort is then cooled at 16 degree celcius which takes 10-12 hours.
• Fermentation: The yeast named "Brewer's Yeast" is added to the wort for fermentation. The yeast breakdown the sugar in the malt and produce alcohol and co2 gas. This process takes 10-12 days.
• Clarifying: After the fermentation the clarification of beer is done by adding the finning from the Sturgeon Fish. It will clarify and brighten the beer by sedimentation.
• Maturing/Aging: The beer is added with sugar & hops and then left in the wooden cask or oak barrel for 3-4 months. The beer gets its flavour from the wooden cask in which it is being matured.
• Racking: This is the process of running off the beer from one cask to another cask so as to leave the sediments behind.
• Filteration: After racking, the beer is stored in refrigerated wooden cask for 6 months. It is then filtered, bottled, labeled and then sold in the market.

There are different types of beer found in market. There are all together 7 types of beer. They are:

1. Lager Beer: The word lager means to store. These beers are stored in refrigerated wooden cask during the aging period.
2. Pilsner Beer: These beers are bottom fermented and light color beer then other beers. They are derived from Czech origin.
3. Porter Beer: These beer has heavy malt flavor as it is roasted well. It has a mild hop flavor which got its name from the porters in London which were known to flavor the beer.
4. Ale beer: These beers are slightly cloudly and hoppy to taste. It has a moderate alcoholic content of 3.5% to 6% by volume.
5. Stout Beer: These beer is dark in color and very dry (lack of sweetness). It is fairly better in taste due to the strong hoppy flavor.
6. Draught Beer: These beers are filled in strilized vats and it is allowed to mature in the wooden cask before it is sold for consumption. These beers are sold from a draft jar or can be obtain in a can also.
7. Bock Beer: It is a fuller bodied, smooth and somewhat sweet in taste. It is usually dark in color and may have alcoholic content upto 8% by volume.