Beer Brewing - this is how it's made

Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source (commonly cereal grains) 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.


The basic ingredients of beer are water, a starch source, yeast to produce the fermentation and a flavouring such as hops. A secondary starch source (an adjunct) may be used. Less widely used starch sources include millet, sorghum  and cassava  root in Africa, potato in Brazil, and agave in Mexico, among others. Descriptions of various beer recipes can be found in Sumerian  writings, some of the oldest known writing of any sort. Brewing takes place in a brewery by a brewer, and the brewing industry is part of most western economies.

There are several steps in the brewing process, which include:

1. malting
2. milling
3. mashing
4. lautering
5. boiling
6. fermenting
7. conditioning
8. filtering
9. packaging

There are three main fermentation methods:

• warm
• cool
• wild or spontaneous

Fermentation may take place in open or closed vessels. Secondary fermentation is an additional fermentation after the first or primary fermentation. For the secondary fermentation, the beer is transferred to a second fermenter, so that it is no longer exposed to the dead yeast and other debris. This prevents the formation of unwanted flavors and harmful compounds such as acetylaldehydes, which are commonly blamed for hangovers.

All beers are brewed using a process based on a simple formula. Key to the process is malted grain - mainly barley, though other cereals, such as wheat or rice, may be added. Malt is made by allowing a grain to germinate, after which it is then dried in a kiln and sometimes roasted. The germination process creates a number of enzymes which convert the starch in the grain into sugar. Depending on the amount of roasting, the malt will take on a dark colour and strongly influence the color and flavor of the beer. The malt is crushed to break apart the grain kernels, increase their surface area, and separate the smaller pieces from the husks.

For more details regarding the beer brewing process visit that pages above in the provided order. Later we'll be talking about home brewing beer. But until then this information should keep you busy.