Somm1 - Spirits & Beers Flashcards
Spirits and Beers
What is a wort?
The sugar-rich liquid that results from mashing cereal grains or malted barley; unfermented beer.
Spirits and Beers
What are hops?
A green cone-like flower that,when added to beer, adds flavor and bitterness, and has both preservative and antiseptic qualities that prohibits bacterial growth.
Spirits and Beers
Explain the barley malting process.
Barley is steeped in water for approximately two days to promote germination of the grain. The enzyme amylase is produced, This malt is then roasted with hot air in a kiln to halt further growth.
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What type of yeast is associated with ale?
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (Top-fermenting yeast at warmer temperatures).
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What type of yeast is associated with lager?
Saccharomyces pastorianus (Bottom - fermenting yeast at cooler temperatures)
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What is a Lambic beer?
Unique specialty of Belgium; spontaneously fermented in open-top containers with native wild yeasts, such as Brettanomyces lambicus.
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Describe ale style vs. lager style.
Ales are fruity and richly flavored. Lagers are cleaner and more delicately flavored.
Spirits and Beers
What are the five legal categories of scotch?
Single malt Scotch whiskey, single grain Scotch whiskey, blended Malt Scotch whiskey, blended grain Scotch whiskey, and blended Scotch whiskey.
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What are the six regions of Scotch?
Highlands, lowlands, Speyside Islay, Campbeltown, and the islands.
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What are some notable Highland distillaries?
Oban, Glenmorangie, Dalwhinnie, and Dalmore.
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Name some notable Lowlands Scotch distilleries.
Glenkinchie, Auchentoshan, and blandnoch. Lowland scotch is the lightest and least smokey.
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Name some notable Speyside distilleries.
Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, and the Macallan. Speyside scotch is usually lighter and fruitier in style.
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What are the 3 distilleries of Campbeltown?
Glen Scotia, Glengyle, and Springbank.
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Name the Scotch producing islands of Scotland.
Skye, Jura, Mull, Arran, and Orkney. Highland park and Talisker are notable distilleries. Pronounced peatiness and toasted seaweed character is prominent in island Scotch.
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What are some notable Islay distilleries.
Ardbeg, Lagavulin, and Laphroaig. Islay Scotch is generally most peaty and smokey in style.
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What is a Bourbon?
Pot still Whiskey. 51% corn minimum. Aged in new, charred American white oak.
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What is Canadian whiskey?
Pot still whiskey from blended Cereal grains. Aged 3 years minimum.
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What is Irish whiskey?
Irish pot still whiskey from a barley base. Aged 3 years in barrels. Triple distilled (most), no peat, smooth.
Spirits and Beers
What are the main categories of white spirits?
Gin, Vodka, Rum, Eaux-de-Vie, Grappa, and Marc Brandy.
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What are the main categories of brown spirits?
Whiskey, Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados, and Brandy.
Spirits and Beers
What are the main categories of Whiskeys?
Bourbon, Tennessee, Canadian, Scotch, and Irish.
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Which spirits can be both white and brown spirits?
Tequila, Rum, and increasingly Grappa.
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What is Vodka?
Column still white spirit from grains/potatoes/corn. Neutral base - can be flavored with mixers, herbs, spices, etc.
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What is a Gin?
Column still white spirit distilled from grains/malt with predominant juniper flavor. Also common flavors include: coriander, orange peel, anise, and Cassia. Originally known as Dutch “Genever.”
Spirits and Beers
What is Tequila/Mezcal?
A column still white spirit from the “heart” of blue agave. A tequila is a Mezcal that is made in Tequila, Mexico. Aging terms include: Silver, Reposado, Anejo, etc.
Spirits and Beers
What is an Eaux-de-Vie?
Column still white spirit from fruit (AKA fruit brandy). Includes Pomace brandies and Pisco.
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What is light rum?
Column still white spirit from sugar cane juice/molassas/dunder. Color comes from caramel (OR small amount of super-premium rums are aged in barrels).
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What are the main categories of pot still spirits?
Scotch, Cognac, Armagnac, Irish, Bourbon and Canadian.
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True or False: The term “Single-Malt Scotch whiskey” signifies a malted barley whiskey from a single batch from a single distillery.
False. A Single-Malt Scotch may contain whiskey from several barrels/batches from a SINGLE distillery.
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What are the 6 defined regions of Cognac?
Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois, and Bois Ordinaires.
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What is the primary grape of Cognac?
Ugni Blanc.
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What is Cognac?
A brandy from Ugni Blanc grape based wines in Cognac, France. Distilled twice, Aged 2 years minimum in French oak casks. Aging terms: 3-5 star, VS, VSOP, XO.
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What are the grapes of Armagnac?
Ugni Blanc, Baco Blanc, Folle Blanc, and Colombard.
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What is Armagnac?
Brandy from a wine blend in Armagnac, France. Column distilled once. Minimum 1 year aging in French oak casks.
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What is Calvados?
An Eau-de-Vie distilled from a blend of apple and pear cider; produced in the Normandy Region of France.
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What are the notable Calvados appellations?
Calvados Pays d’Auge AOC
Spirits and Beers
What is the importance of amylase in grain fermentation?
Amylase is an enzyme that is produced in the mashing process which primarily assists in the hydrolysis of unfermentable starches to fermentable simple sugars like fructose and dextrose.
Spirits and Beers
How does the kilning process affect beer style?
The length and degree of roasting will determine beer style. Heavy roasted black malts will be used for porter styles whereas pale malts, dried at low temperatures will be used for pale ales.
Spirits and Beers
What does the term sour mash signify?
A brewing practice that uses mash from an older batch to initiate fermentation of a current batch. This also promotes continuity between batches.
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What is Sake?
A fermented rice beverage;
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What are the components of Sake?
Water
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What are the different types of Sake?
Junmai
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What is “Junmai?”
Pure rice wine; no adding of distilled alcohol.
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What is “Honjozo?”
At least 30% of rice polished away; a small amount of distilled alcohol is added.
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What is “Nigori?”
Milky, unfiltered, usually off-dry.
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What is “Ginjo?”
At least 40% of rice polished away; with or without alcohol added.
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What is “Daiginjo?”
At least 50% of rice polished away; with or without added alcohol.
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What is “Koji-kin?”
A mold (Aspergillus Oryzae). Used to create the Koji, crucial to brewing sake.
