Beer, sake, Spirits Flashcards
What is one of the oldest known alcoholic beverages?
Beer
Beer predates wine and is only surpassed in age by mead.
What significant societal transition is linked to the discovery of fermentation of grain?
Transition from a nomadic society to a settled agricultural society during the Neolithic Revolution.
What is the first aim of the brewing process?
To derive the wort, a sugar-rich liquid, from malted grain.
What raw ingredients are typically required for brewing beer?
- Water
- Yeast
- Hops
- Starch source
What is the purpose of hops in beer brewing?
To provide flavor and bitterness, and to inhibit bacterial growth.
What does the Bavarian Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot) codify?
The three ingredients authorized for beer production: barley, hops, and water.
What enzyme is produced during the germination of barley?
Amylase.
What does amylase do in the brewing process?
Converts the starchy carbohydrates of the grain into fermentable sugars maltose and dextrin.
What is ‘green malt’?
Malted barley that has begun to sprout.
What happens during the mashing process?
Sugar is converted and extracted from the malt.
What is wort?
A liquid rich in flavor, sugar, and color extracted from the malt.
What is the purpose of boiling the wort?
To stabilize and sterilize the brew, darken the color, and evaporate excess water.
What distinguishes lagers from ales in the brewing process?
Lagers are fermented at lower temperatures with bottom-fermenting yeast, whereas ales are fermented at warmer temperatures with top-fermenting yeast.
What type of yeast is used for top-fermenting ales?
Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
What type of yeast is used for bottom-fermenting lagers?
Saccharomyces pastorianus.
What is unique about lambic beers?
They are spontaneously fermented with native wild yeasts.
What is Gueuze?
A style produced by mixing one-year-old lambics with beers aged for two to three years.
What is the typical alcohol content of beer?
4% to 6%.
At what temperature should lagers be served?
48–52 degrees Fahrenheit (9–11 degrees Celsius).
What is sake commonly defined as?
An alcoholic beverage produced from fermented rice.
What process relies on the combined activities of yeast and koji-kin in sake production?
Multiple parallel fermentation (MPF).
What is the purpose of milling rice in sake production?
To remove some of the protein-laden outer husk of the rice grain.
What is shinpaku in sake production?
The pure starchy heart of the rice grain.
What is the sake meter value (nihonshu-do)?
A scale indicating the sake’s specific gravity, with negative values indicating sweetness and positive values indicating dryness.
What is Junmai in Tokutei Meisho-shu?
Sake with a maximum of 70% of rice grain remaining.
What is the principle behind distillation?
Alcohol has a lower boiling point than water.
What is the difference between pot still and continuous still?
Pot stills use direct heat; continuous stills use steam for a purer distillation.
What do congeners in spirits contribute to?
Flavors (or off-flavors) of a spirit.
What is the ABV range for liqueurs?
15% to 30%.
What is the typical ABV for spirits such as vodka and gin?
40% to 50%.
What does ABV stand for?
Alcohol by Volume
At what temperature is the alcoholic content of beverages stated in the EU and US?
20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit)
What is the proof of American spirits in relation to ABV?
American proof is twice the percentage of alcohol by volume
What is the typical ABV range for liqueurs?
15% to 30%
What is the ABV range for spirits such as vodka and gin?
40% to 50%
What is the ABV of some cask-strength whiskies?
Over 60% ABV
What is vodka primarily distilled from?
Potatoes, rye, grapes, beets, molasses
What is the minimum ABV for vodka in the EU?
37.5%
Name one quality Russian vodka producer.
Stolichnaya or Ikon
What is the best-selling premium vodka in the US?
Grey Goose
Fill in the blank: Gin is essentially _______ vodka.
flavored
What are the primary botanicals used to flavor gin?
Juniper berries
What is the oldest known distillation of whiskey attributed to?
St. Patrick in the fifth century
What is the minimum percentage of corn required for bourbon whiskey?
51%
What is the name of the rebellion related to whiskey taxation in the US?
Whiskey Rebellion of 1794
What type of whiskey is produced from a minimum of 51% rye?
Rye whiskey
What is the legal minimum aging period for Scotch whisky?
Three years
What are the five legal categories of Scotch whisky established in 2009?
- Single malt Scotch whisky
- Single grain Scotch whisky
- Blended malt Scotch whisky
- Blended grain Scotch whisky
- Blended Scotch whisky
What type of cask is typically used to age Scotch whisky?
Used casks
What is the primary flavoring agent in genever?
Juniper and malt
What is the primary difference between Irish whiskey and Scotch whisky?
Irish whiskey is typically lighter and less smoky
What is brandy distilled from?
Wine
Fill in the blank: The spirit of whiskey is derived from the Gaelic _______.
uisgebeatha
Which country is known for producing the finest brandy?
France
What is the aging requirement for Canadian rye whiskies?
Three years
What is the minimum ABV for Scotch whisky?
40% ABV
What type of whiskey must be filtered with maple charcoal before aging in Tennessee?
Tennessee whiskey
What is the unique characteristic of Old Tom gin?
Lightly sweetened
What style of whisky is produced on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia?
Malt whisky in the style of Scotch.
Which Japanese producer is known for its whisky similar to Scotch?
Suntory.
What is brandy often considered in relation to whiskey?
A lighter-flavored counterpart.
From what source material is brandy produced?
Wine.
What does eau-de-vie translate to in English?
Water of life.
What is the minimum ABV for brandy as defined by the EU?
36%.
How long must brandy be aged in oak to meet EU standards?
A minimum of six months.
What are the two renowned regions of brandy production in southwestern France?
Cognac and Armagnac.
What is the main grape used for Cognac production?
Ugni Blanc.
What type of still is used for distilling Cognac?
Copper Charentais pot still.
What is the first distillation of Cognac called?
Brouillis.
What are the parts of Cognac separated during the second distillation?
Têtes, coeur, secondes, and queues.
What is the minimum aging requirement for VS Cognac?
At least 2 years in cask.
What does the designation XO indicate in Cognac labeling?
At least 10 years in cask.
How is Armagnac primarily distilled?
More frequently from a blend of varieties and often only once in a continuous still.
What is the simplified aging classification for Armagnac introduced in 2013?
VS (1-3 years), VSOP (4-9 years), XO (10+ years).
What is the primary grape used for Armagnac production?
Ugni Blanc.
What is Brandy de Jerez?
A protected designation for brandies produced in Andalucía, Spain.
What type of distillation method is used for Brandy de Jerez?
Copper stills (alquitaras).
What is aguardente?
A type of brandy produced in Portugal.
What is the primary ingredient used in rum production?
Fermented sugarcane or molasses.
What are the four major styles of rum?
- Light rum
- Dark rum
- Demerara rum
- Rhum agricole.
What distinguishes rhum agricole from other rums?
It is produced from sugarcane juice.
What is tequila primarily produced from?
Fermented juice of the cooked piña of the blue agave plant.
What is the minimum percentage of blue agave juice required for mixto tequila?
51%.
What label is given to tequila aged for two months to one year?
Reposado.
What is Calvados?
An eau-de-vie distilled from apple and pear cider.
What are the three delimited appellations of Calvados?
- Calvados AOC
- Calvados Domfrontais AOC
- Calvados Pays d’Auge AOC.
What is the minimum aging requirement for Calvados?
Two years in oak casks.
What spirit is made from black cherries?
Kirschwasser (kirsch).
What is poire Williams?
A spirit derived from Williams (Bartlett) pear perry.
What is the national drink of Tunisia?
Boukha, a fig eau-de-vie.
What is the main distinction between brandies and pomace spirits?
Pomace spirits are produced from pomace, the remnants left after pressing grapes.
What is the main ingredient used to produce tequila?
Blue agave (Agave tequilana)
Tequila is primarily made from the blue agave plant.
What is the aging requirement for Añejo tequila?
At least one year
Añejo tequilas must be aged for a minimum of one year in oak casks.
What labeling category was established in 2006 for tequila aged a minimum of three years?
Extra Añejo
Extra Añejo is a newer category for tequila that requires a minimum aging of three years.
What is the traditional expression of mezcal?
Blanco
Blanco mezcal is the unaged, traditional form of this spirit.
Which state in Mexico is the principal producer of mezcal?
Oaxaca
Oaxaca is the main state where mezcal is produced, but the denomination of origin includes nine states.
What percentage of mezcal is made from the espadín variety of agave?
Close to 90%
The espadín agave (Agave angustifolia) is the most commonly used variety in mezcal production.
Fill in the blank: Mezcal can be categorized into three types: Mezcal, Mezcal Artesanal, and _______.
Mezcal Ancestral
These categories help distinguish between different production methods.
What is the primary flavoring method for bitters?
Maceration, infusion, or percolation of spices, herbs, roots, fruit, or botanicals
Bitters are typically flavored using these methods, making them versatile in cocktails.
What are the two main categories for consuming bitters?
Aperitif and digestif
Bitters can be enjoyed before or after meals, depending on their alcohol content.
Which Italian bitter is known for its strong herbal flavor and is commonly served as a digestif?
Fernet
Fernet-Branca is a well-known producer of this type of bitter.
List three examples of bitter herbal liqueurs.
- Fernet Branca
- Averna
- Campari
These liqueurs are known for their unique flavor profiles and origins.
What is the primary flavor of Cointreau?
Orange
Cointreau is a well-known orange liqueur from France.
What type of base is used for Kahlúa?
Rum
Kahlúa is a coffee liqueur made with a rum base.
True or False: All liqueurs are made with high alcohol content.
False
Some liqueurs, such as Aperol, have lower alcohol content and are used as aperitifs.
What is the main ingredient in Advocaat?
Sweetened egg
Advocaat is a Dutch liqueur made from egg yolks, sugar, and brandy.
Fill in the blank: The primary flavor of Amaretto is _______.
Apricot, almond
Amaretto is known for its sweet, nutty flavor profile.
Which liqueur is known for its flavor of elderflower?
St-Germain
St-Germain is a popular French liqueur flavored with elderflower.
