Have you ever wondered, while sipping your favorite beer, what makes a classic lager so appealing to you, or why a characterful IPA might be your absolute favorite? The answer lies in the science of brewing, which is also an art, with numerous excellent beer styles and flavor profiles that showcase its results.

In our article, we will delve not only into what you should know about brewing but also into the techniques that lead to the unique characters and flavors that end up in your glass. Join us!

What Exactly is Beer and Brewing?

According to the Hungarian Food Code, beer is a carbon-dioxide-rich, typically alcoholic beverage made by mashing malt and adjuncts with water, flavored with hops, and fermented with brewer’s yeast.

While numerous legends surround the origins of beer, written records indicate that active beer trade was already happening in Mesopotamia as far back as 4000 BC. Moreover, by the second millennium BC, a professional glossary on brewing had already been compiled.

Whether the beverages referred to as “beer” in ancient times can be considered beer in today’s sense is a valid question. For instance, in 736 AD, a special barley brew was referred to as beer in Geisenfeld, Bavaria, and in the 10th century, a concoction made from a herb called “gruit” was also called beer. One thing is certain: by the Middle Ages, brewing was already a regular practice in monasteries. Monks were allowed to drink it legally during fasting periods, and some sources suggest that they were the ones who first combined hops with beer.

How Much Beer Do We Actually Drink?

The popularity of beer remains unbroken today. Would you have guessed that global beer consumption in 2021 reached 185 million kiloliters? To help visualize this number, that’s more than 74,000 Olympic swimming pools’ worth of beer! 🙂

In the European Union, production of alcoholic beer increased by 7% in 2022 compared to 2021, amounting to nearly 34.3 billion liters produced by 9,860 breweries. Additionally, the largest Hungarian breweries collectively sold 6.453 million hectoliters of beer in 2022. Despite the market expansion and mass production by major beer brands, the demand for artisanal and craft brewery specialties continues to grow.

The Essential Ingredients of Beer

Beyond the basics of beer-making math, the most critical question is: what makes a truly great beer, and how is it crafted?

Malt, hops, yeast, and water form a seemingly simple formula that actually contains a multitude of methods, tricks, and the potential for exciting results. The four main phases of brewing—mashing, lautering, hop boiling, and fermentation—are crucial steps in creating exceptional beers. In addition to the core ingredients, special additions like honey or various herbs can lend the beer a uniquely extraordinary flavor profile.

An iconic yet intriguing player among the ingredients is hops, as it is added in varying amounts to different types of beers. Many beers, such as bitter ales or Pilsners, owe their distinct, bitter taste to their characteristic hop profile.

The Brewing Process

Let’s look at the essential stages of brewing step by step.

• The main ingredient in beer is malt, typically made from barley. However, as we’ve discussed in several of our articles, it can also be wheat, oats, rye, other grains, or even a mix of these.

The type of malt used significantly influences the beer’s color, ranging from nearly transparent pale yellow to amber and even to dark, coffee-like shades. This results in different beer styles appearing as light, medium, dark, or even black variations. 

• During mashing, malt undergoes both physical and chemical transformations. It’s not only mixed with water and heated, but the diastase enzyme also facilitates the conversion of starches into sugars.

In addition to the quality of the raw ingredients (measured in part by the Balling degree), the key factors in mashing are temperature, duration, and pH level. These elements significantly influence the beer’s alcohol content, body, and other character traits.

• The mash is then transferred to a lauter tun, where mash filtration separates the wort from the solids. During a process known as sparging, any remaining valuable substances are extracted from the mash. The wort is then transferred to a brew kettle, where it is flavored with hops during the hop boiling process.

• After hop boiling, the unwanted hop debris (also known as trub or precipitated protein flakes) is collected and settled at the bottom of a whirlpool tank designed for this purpose, making it easier to remove. Nowadays, several methods exist for this process, with centrifugation being a common choice. 
• During the subsequent cooling process, speed is crucial since preventing unwanted contamination is only ensured if the wort is cooled at the right rate and to the appropriate temperature.
• Finally, fermentation takes place, during which the selection and addition of yeast type, depending on the fermentation process, kickstarts a multi-week fermentation period. During this time, the conversion of sugars into alcohol occurs along with the formation of carbonation

Types of Beer Fermentation

Choosing the fermentation type is crucial to the final result. As we’ve discussed in several of our articles, there are three types of fermentation, which also provide important distinctions among beer styles:

• Bottom-Fermented Beers: These are the most widely spread, maturing at lower temperatures (5-8°C) for a longer period. They are maltier, more carbonated, and typically have a lower alcohol content. This category includes lagers.
• Top-Fermented Beers: These mature at higher temperatures (16-21°C) for a shorter duration and are rich in spicy and fruity notes with a higher alcohol content. This category includes popular ales.
• Spontaneously Fermented Beers: These are traditionally made without added yeast and are less common today. Lambic is an example, primarily produced in certain regions of Belgium.

In addition, there are hybrid brewing methods that combine elements of both bottom and top fermentation processes. One example is the production of wheat beers, where characteristics of both fermentation types are blended.

• Fermentation takes place in fermentation vats or tanks, with primary and secondary fermentation as the main stages. During the primary fermentation phase, the beer foams up, which subsides in about 4-7 days, after which the beer settles over a period of 1-2 weeks. The secondary fermentation, known as “lagering,” can last up to 5 months. This process occurs in lagering cellars at approximately 0°C, during which the beer’s final flavor develops.

• Finally, the beer undergoes conditioning to ensure cold stabilization and to minimize any off-flavors. It is then filtered and pasteurized if necessary. Once this process is complete, the finished beer is bottled and ready to be poured into glasses.

The art of beer consumption is not only found in the meticulous selection of ingredients and preparation but also in the subtle details, such as choosing the most suitable glass or mug for a specific type of beer. As we discussed in our article on the topic, this ensures that the various flavor notes and characteristics are showcased to their fullest potential.

The Infinite Variety of Beer Types and Styles

It’s impossible to definitively answer how many beer styles and types exist globally, as new beers are constantly being created. 

However, there are standardized international classifications for categorizing and describing the characteristics of different beer types. One of the most widely used systems is the one developed by the Beer Judge Certification Program BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) This system includes style guidelines and is frequently updated. It is available in a well-structured and understandable format, even in Hungarian, collecting the most characteristic traits of various beer families and styles.

In several of our blog posts, such as our article on craft beer types, we regularly attempt to help navigate the world of lagers, IPAs, porters, Belgian ales, and other beer marvels. However, it’s important to note that the boundaries between different beer types and styles are not as rigid as one might think. We’ve discussed this in our article about craft beer varieties as well.

The Joys and Challenges of Homebrewing

Alongside the rise of craft beers, homebrewing has also gained increasing popularity. While the brewing process at home involves the same sequential phases discussed earlier, there are some specific considerations to keep in mind.

It’s useful to know that specialized homebrew shops offer not only the necessary equipment but also prepared malt, sparing you from the adventurous task of crushing barley at home. It’s crucial to pay attention to seemingly minor details, such as using the right kind of water. Proper sterilization of equipment and achieving rapid cooling can also be challenging at home. Fortunately, the latter can be managed with special copper coil chillers, which are available for a relatively modest cost.

Achieving the desired carbonation level may require some additional home tricks (or sugar), but if you remain persistent, success is almost guaranteed. However, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the regulations on homebrewing before getting started, as these include requirements for reporting and potential tax obligations.

And if you want to dive into brewing just for the experience, try out our Brew Studionkat! Here, you can brew your own beer just the way you like it. It’s an unforgettable experience that you can share with friends or colleagues!

Craft vs. Industrial Brewing

We can confidently say that the emergence and rise of craft beers have ushered in a new era in the beer world, even in our country. As we discussed in our interview with quality beer culture pioneer Bart Dani, the widespread adoption of previously unknown, excitingly flavored beers has reflected not only the boom in craft brewing but also the fact that large-scale breweries have started producing beer styles that were previously unavailable on store shelves.

Since industrial beer production often involves massive batches, cheaper ingredients, and a focus on strong marketing rather than quality, the growing popularity of craft beers is a welcome alternative. They offer a completely different quality to discerning audiences.

And if your thirst for knowledge is as unquenchable as your thirst for beer… 🙂

Then come visit us at Élesztőház! We proudly embrace Bart Dani’s Főzdefeszt slogan, “Good beer is a democratic fundamental right,” as our own philosophy.

Here, you can not only find and taste the finest beers, but you can also learn a wealth of interesting facts from our knowledgeable bartenders. We take great pleasure in guiding you through the world of beers.