The Chemistry of Brewing and Beer

• Beer is a fermented malt beverage that is enjoyed by all worldwide.

What's in my Beer?

Traditionally beer consists of four primary ingredients, these are -

• Barley; cereal grain, source of starch. Other grains can be used.

• Hops; flower of a climbing vine, provides bitter flavouring.

• Yeast; fungus, unicellular, converts sugars to alcohol by anaerobic respiration. Different types of yeast are used for beer (S. Cerevisiae) and lager (S. Uvarum).

• Water; 80-90% of beer itself. Can affect flavour by varying pH, mineral content or water hardness.