The Science Behind Beer BY JAKE M C RAE
Many of us like to enjoy a nice cold beer from time to time. But have you ever wondered about what goes into making this popular beverage? In this article I will cover the basics of how beer is made, mostly focusing on the process of homebrewing, though it is usually a similar process industrially, just usually done with more efficient equipment and perhaps more refined techniques. Also note that this article is not meant to be a how-to guide for homebrewing beer, rather it is intended to give you an idea of the science and the process behind beer. Additionally, beer comes in many types and not all of the processes are exactly the same, so I will cover the most general process in
this discussion. I’ll also try to highlight some of the specific terms used throughout the process. Also, a big part of this process is making sure every tool used is sanitized. If the beer has any unwanted elements during the fermentation process, it may become infected, and the batch will be ruined (1). There are several pieces of equipment and ingredients required to brew, and there are varying degrees of specialization when it comes to equipment. Most fundamentally, as a homebrewer, one would need: grain (barley, wheat, oats and/or rye), yeast, hops, water, a large glass jug or fermentation tank, a couple of large pots, a strainer, an airlock, plastic tubing with some adapters, and
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