Portal:Beer/Sandbox

The Beer Portal

Introduction

P:Beer

Beer is an alcoholic beverage produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches from cereal grain—most commonly malted barley, although wheat, maize (corn), rice, and oats are also used. The grain is mashed to convert starch in the grain to sugars, which dissolve in water to form wort. Fermentation of the wort by yeast produces ethanol and carbonation in the beer. Beer is one of the oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic drinks in the world, and one of the most popular of all drinks. Most modern beer is brewed with hops, which add bitterness and other flavours and act as a natural preservative and stabilising agent. Other flavouring agents, such as gruit, herbs, or fruits, may be included or used instead of hops. In commercial brewing, natural carbonation is often replaced with forced carbonation.

Beer is distributed in bottles and cans, and is commonly available on draught in pubs and bars. The brewing industry is a global business, consisting of several dominant multinational companies and many thousands of smaller producers ranging from brewpubs to regional breweries. The strength of modern beer is usually around 4% to 6% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Some of the earliest writings mention the production and distribution of beer: the Code of Hammurabi (1750 BC) included laws regulating it, while "The Hymn to Ninkasi", a prayer to the Mesopotamian goddess of beer, contains a recipe for it. Beer forms part of the culture of many nations and is associated with social traditions such as beer festivals, as well as activities like pub games. (Full article...)

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Image 1
Tour of Lonerider Brewing, Raleigh, North Carolina

Craft beer tourism refers to tourism where the primary motivation of travel is to visit a brewery, beer festival, beer related activity or other event that allows attendees to experience all aspects of the craft beer-making, consuming and purchasing process. Travel and tourism constitute one of the largest industries in the world, with Americans spending a total of $1.1 trillion in domestic and international travel in 2018. The beer tourism industry has evolved from the larger culinary and beverage tourism category in which people began planning travels based around experiencing food and drink of different geographies. Informally, vacations centric to the theme of enjoying beer have been dubbed "beercations". (Full article...)
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Assortment of beer bottles

A beer bottle is a bottle designed as a container for beer. Such designs vary greatly in size and shape, but the glass commonly is brown or green to reduce spoilage from light, especially ultraviolet.

The most widely established alternatives to glass containers for beer in retail sales are beverage cans and aluminium bottles; for larger volumes kegs are in common use. (Full article...)
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A glass of lager from Bitburger, a German brewery

Lager (/ˈlɑːɡər/; German: [ˈlaːɡɐ] ) is a style of beer brewed and conditioned at low temperature. Lagers can be pale, amber, or dark. Pale lager is the most widely consumed and commercially available style of beer. The term "lager" comes from the German word for "storage", as the beer was stored before drinking, traditionally in the same cool caves in which it was fermented.

As well as maturation in cold storage, most lagers are distinguished by the use of Saccharomyces pastorianus, a "bottom-fermenting" yeast that ferments at relatively cold temperatures. (Full article...)
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Beer in Tanzania (known as bia in Swahili) have a long history in the country. Beer and alcohol is an integral part of Tanzanian society and local brands hold a strong sense of national pride among the Tanzanian population. There is a considerable amount of brewing and drinking done in the country. Tanzania ranks 6th in Africa for beer consumption and contributes to over 3% of the African consumption. However, over 90% of the national consumption is either homemade or from the informal sector. Bottled beer is expensive for the majority of the population and is almost 6 times more expensive than the maize beers. Nonetheless, beer sales and taxes are a vital part of the Tanzanian economy.

Beer is largely dominated by Tanzania Breweries Limited and East African Breweries Limited under the local company Serengeti Breweries Limited. Both companies have some of the largest revenues in the country and are listed on the stock exchange. Tanzania Breweries Limited is the largest taxpayer in the country and made over 3 trillion Tanzanian shillings in revenue in 2022. (Full article...)
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Ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH₃CH₂OH. It is an alcohol, with its formula also written as C₂H₅OH, C₂H₆O or EtOH, where Et stands for ethyl. Ethanol is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid with a characteristic wine-like odor and pungent taste.
As a psychoactive depressant, it is the active ingredient in alcoholic beverages, and the second most consumed drug globally behind caffeine.

Ethanol is naturally produced by the fermentation process of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration. Historically it was used as a general anesthetic, and has modern medical applications as an antiseptic, disinfectant, solvent for some medications, and antidote for methanol poisoning and ethylene glycol poisoning. It is used as a chemical solvent and in the synthesis of organic compounds, and as a fuel source for lamps, stoves, and internal combustion engines. Ethanol also can be dehydrated to make ethylene, an important chemical feedstock. As of 2023, world production of ethanol fuel was 112.0 gigalitres (2.96×10¹⁰ US gallons), coming mostly from the U.S. (51%) and Brazil (26%). (Full article...)
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Typical polish lager, called Piwo jasne lekkie

Beer in Poland has been brewed for well over a thousand years and has a significant history of tradition and commercial beer production. Poland is Europe's third largest beer producer, producing 36.9 million hectolitres, coming after the United Kingdom with 49.5 million hl and neighboring Germany with 103 million hl.

Following the Second World War, most breweries were nationalized by the Communist Government of the Polish People's Republic. After the collapse of communism and return to capitalism, the market economy returned, international beer companies moved in and a period of consolidation followed. Three companies now control 80% of the Polish beer market (according to data at the end of 2014). At the end of 2013, there were 97 breweries in Poland, including microbreweries and contracted breweries. (Full article...)
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A hydrometer floating in a test jar of wort, where the specific gravity reading is approximately 1.050

The principal factors that characterize beer are bitterness, the variety of flavours present in the beverage and their intensity, alcohol content, and colour. Standards for those characteristics allow a more objective and uniform determination to be made on the overall qualities of any beer. (Full article...)
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In brewing, attenuation refers to the conversion of sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide by the fermentation process; the greater the attenuation, the more sugar has been converted into alcohol. A more attenuated beer is drier and more alcoholic than a less attenuated beer made from the same wort.

Attenuation can be quantified by comparing the specific gravity — the density of a solution, relative to pure water — of the extract before and after fermentation, quantities termed the original and final gravities. Specific gravity can be measured by buoyancy, with a hydrometer. The higher the specific gravity of a solution, the higher the hydrometer floats. (Full article...)
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Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, Munich

The Hofbräuhaus am Platzl is a beer hall in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, originally built in 1589 by Bavarian Duke Maximilian I as an extension of the Staatliches Hofbräuhaus in München brewery. The general public was admitted in 1828 by Ludwig I. The building was completely remodeled in 1897 by Max Littmann when the brewery moved to the suburbs. All of the rooms except the historic beer hall ("Schwemme") were destroyed in the World War II bombings. The reopening of the Festival Hall in 1958 marked the end of the post-war restoration work. (Full article...)
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Bottled lambic beers

Lambic (English: /ˈlæmbɪk/ LAM-bik, French: [lɑ̃bik] ; Dutch: lambiek [lɑmˈbik] ) is a type of beer brewed in the Pajottenland region of Belgium southwest of Brussels since the 13th century. Types of lambic beer include gueuze, kriek lambic, and framboise. Lambic differs from most other beers in that it is fermented through exposure to wild yeasts and bacteria native to the Zenne valley, as opposed to exposure to carefully cultivated strains of brewer's yeast. This process gives the beer its distinctive flavour: dry, vinous, and cidery, often with a tart aftertaste. (Full article...)
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Köstritzer Schwarzbier
Schwarzbier (German: [ˈʃvaʁt͡sˌbiːɐ̯] lit. 'black beer') is a dark lager that originated in Germany. It has an opaque, black colour with hints of chocolate or coffee flavours, and is generally around 5% ABV. It is similar to stout in that it is made from roasted malt, which gives it its dark colour. (Full article...)
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Brown ale in a glass

Brown ale is a style of beer with a dark amber or brown colour. The term was first used by London brewers in the late 17th century to describe a lightly hopped ale brewed from 100% brown malt. Brown ale is a type of Ale. (Full article...)
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Cask ale handpumps

Beer has been brewed in England for thousands of years. As a beer brewing country, it is known for top fermented cask beer (also called real ale) which finishes maturing in the cellar of the pub rather than at the brewery and is served with only natural carbonation.

English beer styles include bitter, mild, brown ale and old ale. Stout, porter and India pale ale were also originally brewed in London. Lager increased in popularity from the mid-20th century. Other modern developments include the consolidation of large brewers into multinational corporations; the growth of beer consumerism; and the expansion of microbreweries and bottle-conditioned beers. (Full article...)
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Beer brewed following a 13th-century recipe using gruit herbs

Gruit (pronounced /ˈɡraɪt/; alternatively grut or gruyt) is a herb mixture used for bittering and flavouring beer, popular before the extensive use of hops. The terms gruit and grut ale may also refer to the beverage produced using gruit. Today, however, gruit is a colloquial term applied to a beer produced with hops, that is seasoned with gruit-like herbs. (Full article...)
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A glass of real ale from an English pub

Ale is a style of beer, brewed using a warm fermentation method. In medieval England, the term referred to a drink brewed without hops.

As with most beers, ale typically has a bittering agent to balance the malt and act as a preservative. Ale was originally bittered with gruit, a mixture of herbs or spices boiled in the wort before fermentation, before hops replaced gruit as the bittering agent. In England, however, it was also common to brew ale without adding herbs. (Full article...)

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Three Horses Beer (better known locally as THB) is a pale lager that has been brewed by Star Breweries of Madagascar since 1958. It is the highest-selling beer in Madagascar and has been described as emblematic of the country. THB is sold nationwide and, since 2005, has been exported to such markets as France, Reunion Island, Comoros, and Mayotte. The Malagasy beer is produced at two breweries in Madagascar, the first centrally located in Antsirabe and the other in the northern city of Antsiranana. THB Pilsener, the most common variant of THB, has a light taste and is produced from mostly local barley, corn, and hops. Star Breweries also produces THB Fresh (a shandy with less than 1% alcohol), THB Special (6.2% alcohol), and THB Lite (1% alcohol). Recent investments in Star Brewery infrastructure have allowed a 20% increase in production since 2011.

After advertising alcohol in the media was banned under former President of Madagascar Marc Ravalomanana, Star Breweries has increasingly promoted THB through unconventional means. These have included sponsoring the THB Champions League, Madagascar's national football championship, and holding annual beer festivals. In addition, THB is a regular sponsor of local musicians through major annual festivals and tours. Star Breweries has also hired musicians to perform in music videos created to promote the beer. In 2014 the THB label was significantly redesigned, and in 2015, a new slogan, "THB eo foana e!" ("THB always!"), was promoted alongside the beer's longstanding trademark Soa Ny Fiarahantsika ("The Pleasure of Being Together"). Malagasy musical stars and other public figures regularly promote the beer. (Full article...)

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Charles N. Papazian (born January 23 c. 1949) is an American nuclear engineer, brewer and author. He founded the Association of Brewers and the Great American Beer Festival, and wrote The Complete Joy of Home Brewing (1984). He is the longtime former president (1979–2016) of the Brewers Association. He is also the creator of the National Pie Day, a celebration of pies which is celebrated on January 23, Papazian's birthday. (Full article...)

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Did you know (auto-generated) - load more entries

... that the annual operating cost of the Grain Belt Beer Sign dropped from $48,000 to $7,500 after it was renovated with LED lighting?
... that the Grain Belt Brewery was built with four distinct architectural sections, in homage to the four companies that combined to form it?
... that the patu clubs on the New Zealand threepence were compared to bottles of ginger beer?
... that almost 45 percent of Taiwan's beer purchases come from rechao restaurants?
... that 100 beerhouses were licensed in Brighton (population 40,000) in the first week after the Beerhouse Act 1830 was enacted?
... that weightlifter Wu Tsai-fu drank six huge glasses of beer to help himself urinate for a drug test?

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General images

The following are images from various beer- and brewing-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1A can of Juicy Ass IPA from Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery in Barrie, Ontario, Canada (from Craft beer)
Image 2Mexican craft beer from Tequixquiac in Zumpango Region (from Craft beer)
Image 3Steamworks Brewing, Vancouver (from Craft beer)
Image 4D. G. Yuengling & Son is the oldest operating brewing company in the US, established in 1829. It is also the largest craft brewer and the 6th largest brewing company. (from Craft beer)
Image 5Craft brewing at Allagash in Portland, Maine (from Craft beer)
Image 6A beer sommelier tapping a barrel for a taste at Nebraska Brewing Company (from Craft beer)
Image 7World beer consumption per capita (from History of beer)
Image 8Alulu beer receipt recording a purchase of "best" beer from a brewer, c. 2050 BCE, from the Sumerian city of Umma in ancient Iraq. (from History of beer)
Image 9Gambrinus – king of beer (from History of beer)
Image 10Traditional fermenting building (center) and modern fermenting building (left) in Pilsner Urquell Brewery (Czech Republic) (from History of beer)
Image 11Põhjala Brewery, Estonia (from Craft beer)
Image 12Irish Craft Beer Festival, 2015 (from Craft beer)
Image 13A yard of ale at Jolly Brewery, Taiwan (from Craft beer)
Image 14Modern closed fermentation vessels (from Brewing)
Image 15Dogo Beer from Minakuchi-shuzō microbrewery in Matsuyama, Japan (from Craft beer)
Image 16Castaña, a smoked beer with chestnuts from Cerex in Extremadura, Spain (from Craft beer)
Image 17Bergenhus microbrewery, Bergen, Norway (from Craft beer)
Image 18Zoigl beers from the communal brewhouses of Oberpfalz in Germany (from Craft beer)
Image 19Conditioning tanks at Anchor Brewing Company (from Brewing)
Image 20The Caledonian Brewery, founded in 1869, Edinburgh, Scotland (from History of beer)
Image 21Cask ales with gravity dispense at a beer festival (from Brewing)
Image 22Bill Urquhart at Litchborough Brewery (from Craft beer)
Image 23Microbreweries, regional breweries, and brew pubs per capita (from Craft beer)
Image 24Spontaneous fermentation at Timmermans in Belgium (from Brewing)
Image 25Hop cone grown in a hop field, Hallertau, Germany (from Brewing)
Image 26Great Leap Brewing operates a chain of brewpubs in China (from Craft beer)
Image 27Diatomaceous earth, used to create a filtration bed (from Brewing)
Image 28Smoked beer from the Schlenkerla brewpub in Bamberg, Germany (from Craft beer)
Image 29A 16th-century brewery (from Brewing)
Image 30Malted barley before kilning or roasting (from Brewing)
Image 31Spent grain, a brewing by-product (from Brewing)
Image 32A selection of French craft beers (from Craft beer)
Image 33A funerary model of a bakery and brewery, from the Eleventh dynasty of Egypt, c. 2009–1998 BCE (from History of beer)
Image 34A mash tun at the Bass Museum in Burton-upon-Trent (from Brewing)
Image 35Casks of real ale from British microbreweries at a beer festival (from Craft beer)
Image 36The Alulu beer receipt records a purchase of "best" beer from a brewer, c. 2050 BC, from the Sumerian city of Umma in Mesopotamia (ancient Iraq). (from Brewing)
Image 37A growler of beer from Flounder Brewing, a nanobrewery in New Jersey, US (from Craft beer)
Image 38Rock mortars in Raqefet Cave, used to make beer during the Stone Age. (from History of beer)
Image 39Yeast ring used by Swedish homebrewers in the 19th century to preserve the yeast between brewing sessions. (from History of beer)
Image 40Robohop, a session IPA from Cervisiam in Oslo, Norway (from Craft beer)
Image 41A 16th-century brewery (from History of beer)
Image 42A hydrometer measures beer's specific gravity (from History of beer)
Image 43Brew kettles at Brasserie La Choulette in France (from Brewing)
Image 44Pasteur Street Brewing, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (from Craft beer)
Image 45Lauter tun (from Brewing)
Image 46Open vessels showing fermentation taking place (from Brewing)
Image 47A replica of ancient Egyptian beer, brewed from emmer wheat by the Courage brewery in 1996 (from History of beer)
Image 48Bottling beer in a modern facility, 1945, Australia (from History of beer)
Image 49Philistine pottery beer jug (from History of beer)