Hops: Hops are the flowers of the hop plant, and contribute bitter or floral flavors and aromas in beer. The first use of hops in flavoring beer is documented in the 11th century, but it didn’t become widely known throughout Europe until the 16th (actually relatively recently in beer’s long history). When a beer is described as being “hoppy,” it generally refers to bitterness imparted by hops. Specific styles of beer are known for specific types of hops – for example, Czech Saaz hops are often associated with Pilsner, while Northern Brewer hops are a hallmark of California Common (Steam) beer.
Yeast: Yeast are the magic fungi that turn sugar into alcohol, making possible the miracle of beer. There are two basic kinds of brewing yeast: ale and lager. Ale yeast is known as “top fermenting,” because it ferments at room temperature and forms a foam at the top of the fermenting beer. Lager yeast is characterized as “bottom fermenting,” because the beer is fermented at cold temperatures and the yeast tends to sink to the bottom of the fermenter. These two different yeasts provide the two basic styles of beer: ales and lagers. The fermentation process also produces esters and phenols, which provide for many of the fruity or spicy (respectively) flavors you might taste in a beer - especially a Belgian (note that beer can also have fruit added to it for an authentically fruity taste). Different yeasts will produce wildly different flavored beer, which is why breweries often guard their yeast strains carefully.
This should provide a basic understanding of beeriness. While other adjuncts (generally spices or fruits) can be added to beers, the beverage as we know it is really just these four simple ingredients. When you drink a beer, you're not only enjoying a tasty, refreshing, mildly intoxicating liquid, you're enjoying a tasty, refreshing, mildly intoxicating liquid that has been a staple of civilization for thousands of years. And that's pretty cool.
Article comments
1 - MaryAnna "Chubby"
Ha, that's great. I love beer, and love to learn more about it!
I have to say I have taken to drinking strictly Samuel Adams, as they use all natural ingredients. And since I'm not going to make my own, that's as good as I can get.
2 - Gray Hunter
Great, you beat me to beer articles. I used to brew my own. Greatest hobby a person can have.
3 - Phillip Winn
I can understand the appeal of brewing your own beer -- if you live in a place that doesn't sell it in bottles. :-)
Great primer!
4 - greektrappist
The "Great beer guide" you recommend is a pocket guide convenient for beer travelers. Jackson's "Great Beers of Belgium" is his masterpiece.
The art of brewing easy, you need passion to have your own quality beer.
5 - Gray Hunter
Even in places where you can buy it in bottles (12 ounces or 16 ounces or 22 ounces) making your own is still the best.
There was this dunkelweisen I once made ... still haven't found anything like it. And, yes, I've been trying. Very, very, very hard.
In fact, I think I'm going to go try right now.
6 - Nick Jurkowski
You guys are right about homebrewing - it's the best hobby you can have. I've got a Saison fermenting right now, because I can't keep my apartment under 75 F...
Thanks for the note about the book I recommended - truth be told, I haven't read either of them. I mostly learned from Papazian's Complete Joy of Homebrewing and Ray Daniels' "Designing Great Beers," which is an invaluable resource, in my opinion. I didn't specifically recommend those because it wasn't specifically a homebrewing article. Figures I'd pick the wrong book...
7 - Phillip Winn
I've updated the Amazon selection for you.
8 - Cindy
Who knew so much went into beer. My brother used to brew it in college and we have visited several microbreweries in Wisconsin. Hot commodity up there, they love their beer.