Beer, Sake, Spirits Flashcards
What is the earliest historical evidence of beer-like beverages?
They date back to ancient Mesopotamia (Sumerians, Babylonians) and ancient Egypt, used in religious rites and daily food staples.
Which group refined beer brewing in medieval Europe?
Monasteries played a key role, introducing hops for preservation; Hildegard of Bingen documented hops’ use.
How did the Industrial Revolution affect brewing?
Steam power, refrigeration, and consistent temperature control enabled large-scale, standardized beer production.
Define the modern craft beer movement.
A late 20th-century shift (esp. in the U.S.) toward small artisanal breweries, focus on flavor experimentation (IPAs, barrel-aged stouts, sour beers).
What are the four main beer ingredients?
Water, malted grain (usually barley), hops, and yeast.
Why is water’s mineral content crucial in brewing?
It can alter flavor and mouthfeel (Burton-on-Trent’s high-sulfate water is classic for IPAs).
What does “malt” add to beer?
Malt (barley) provides fermentable sugars and influences color/flavor; specialty malts (roasted, caramel) add complexity.
How do hops affect beer?
Hops give bitterness, flavor, aroma, and act as a preservative. Different hop varieties impart citrus, floral, piney, or spicy notes.
Name the two main yeast classes in beer.
Ale yeast (top-fermenting, warmer temps, fruity esters) and lager yeast (bottom-fermenting, cooler temps, cleaner taste).
Outline the key steps in brewing.
Malting → Mashing (hot water + crushed malt = wort) → Boiling (with hops) → Fermentation (yeast) → Conditioning/Lagering → Packaging.
List some iconic German beer styles.
Pilsner (crisp, hoppy), Weissbier (banana/clove), Bock (strong, malty).
Which Belgian styles are known for complexity?
Trappist ales (fruity, high ABV), Saisons (rustic, spicy), Lambics (spontaneously fermented, sour).
What defines UK beer styles like Bitter or Porter?
Bitters are sessionable, with earthy hops. Porters/Stouts emphasize roasty malt flavors.
Name two classic American beer styles.
American IPA (bold hop aroma/flavor) and Pale Ale (balanced malt-hop). Also popular: Imperial Stouts, barrel-aged experiments.
What is the difference between a Czech Pilsner vs. a German Pils?
Czech Pilsner (softer water, Saaz hops, rounder malt). German Pils (crisper, drier, more bitter).
Explain “SRM” in beer.
It stands for Standard Reference Method – color scale from pale straw to black used to describe beer appearance.
Why swirl or sniff beer before tasting?
Aroma is key: malty notes (bread, caramel, roast), hop aromatics (citrus, pine), yeast esters (fruit), or phenols (clove, pepper).
Suggest a food pairing for an American IPA.
Spicy foods (Indian curry, Thai) or grilled meats. Bold bitterness can cut through heat and richness.
What sets whiskey apart from other spirits?
It’s distilled from grain mash (barley, corn, rye, wheat), then aged in oak casks, imparting specific color and flavor nuances.
How does a pot still differ from a column still?
Pot still is batch-based, retains congeners for more flavorful/spirit-forward products (e.g., single malt Scotch). Column still is continuous, yielding higher-proof lighter spirits (vodka).
Explain Bourbon’s key requirements.
Made in the USA (often Kentucky), at least 51% corn, aged in new charred American oak barrels, no minimum age (straight Bourbon = 2+ yrs).
What is Cognac’s distillation process?
Double distillation in copper pot stills, then aged in French oak (Limousin or Tronçais). Must come from the Cognac AOC region.
Compare rum made from sugarcane juice vs. molasses.
Sugarcane juice (common in Rhum Agricole, cachaça) yields a more vegetal, terroir-driven spirit. Molasses-based rums often taste rounder, heavier, or more caramel-like.
What defines Tequila from other mezcals?
Tequila must be from Blue Weber Agave in specific Mexican regions (Jalisco + others). Mezcal can be made from various agave species across broader areas, often with smoky notes.
