What is beer?

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What is Beer?

→ Study Guide + Script

📘 STUDY GUIDE: “What is Beer?”

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Definition (Pro-Level Clarity)

Beer is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from four primary ingredients:

• Water

  
  
  
  

• Malted grain (usually barley)

  
  
  
  

• Hops

  
  
  
  

• Yeast

  
  
  
  

Yeast consumes the sugars from the malted grain, producing alcohol and carbon dioxide. Hops add bitterness and aroma, balancing the sweetness of the malt.

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Beer Types (2 Main Families)

1. Ales – Fermented with top-fermenting yeast at warmer temps (~60–75°F)

   
   
   
   

   • Faster fermentation, fruitier flavors.

     
     
     
     

   • Examples: IPA, Pale Ale, Stout, Saison

     
     
     
     

2. Lagers – Fermented with bottom-fermenting yeast at cooler temps (~45–55°F)

   
   
   
   

   • Slower fermentation, clean/crisp flavors.

     
     
     
     

   • Examples: Pilsner, Helles, Bock

     
     
     
     

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Flavor Factors

• Malt = sweetness, bread, caramel, chocolate

  
  
  
  

• Hops = bitterness, citrus, pine, floral

  
  
  
  

• Yeast = fruity esters, spicy phenols

  
  
  
  

• Water = mouthfeel + minerality

  
  
  
  

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Fun Fact for Bartenders

Beer is often referred to as “liquid bread” — it’s one of the oldest fermented drinks known to humanity, predating recorded history.

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At Stadium XV

• Serve beer cold unless it’s a specialty style (like imperial stout).

  
  
  
  

• Always pour to release CO₂ and form a 1–1.5” head.

  
  
  
  

• Clean glassware = better foam retention and presentation.

  
  
  
  

• Know what beers are on draft, bottle, and their styles.

  
  
  
  

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Sources

• VinePair: “What Is Beer?”

  
  
  
  

• Imbibe: “Ales vs. Lagers”

  
  
  
  

• The Oxford Companion to Beer