What You Need to Know
Beer is produced through steeping a sugar source in water and then fermenting with yeast. Brewing has taken place since around the 6th millennium BC, and archeological evidence suggests that this technique was used in ancient Egypt. Descriptions of various beer recipes can be found in Sumerian writings, some of the oldest known writing of any sort. Brewing is done in a brewery by a brewer, and the brewing industry is part of most western economies. In 19th century Britain, technological discoveries and improvements such as Burtonisation and the Burton Union system significantly changed beer brewing.
Steps
- 1.
British Porter (England): Dark malt roasting creates characteristic chocolate/coffee notes
- 2.
Belgian Lambic (Belgium): Spontaneous fermentation creates complex sour flavors
- 3.
German Hefeweizen (Germany): Special yeast strains produce banana/clove esters
The Science
Primary Reaction
Fermentation