The Quality of Raw Materials

As everyone knows, beer production requires water, hops, malt, and yeast. These four ingredients are essential for brewing beer. In this article, you’ll learn everything there is to know about these four key ingredients.

The beer-making process

During beer production, the various ingredients are not simply mixed together but are also processed in a way that partially alters the structure of the raw materials. The beer production process involves several stages, from the individual raw materials to the finished beer. Here you will find the different stages of beer production.

The quality of the raw materials

According to the famous Bavarian Beer Purity Law, beer may only be produced using hops, malt, water, and yeast. In other countries, this rule is applied somewhat less strictly depending on the type of beer, and other ingredients are added during the brewing process.

During beer production, it is important to use only the finest raw materials. This is, in fact, the only way to guarantee the high quality and distinctive aroma of the beer.

“Malt is the soul, hops the spice, yeast the spirit, and water the body of beer.” – Prof. Dr. Anton Piendl, Weihenstephan 1990

Water, an ingredient in beer

Water is the main component of beer. In fact, beer is more than 90% water. For this reason, great importance is placed on its quality. Brewers use water of the highest quality for the production process, which exceeds that of standard drinking water.

The water must be fresh, low in calcium, and of impeccable purity. Many breweries rely on their own springs or wells to ensure the best possible water quality. The water used for fermentation also affects the final product. The degree of hardness is crucial here. Soft water is therefore often used for light beers, while harder water is preferred for dark beers.

Malt for beer production

No malt, no beer. Malt is responsible for the color and richness of the flavor. Malt is a product made from grains that have been soaked, germinated, and dried. Brewing malt is generally made from barley. Barley is perfect for brewing because it contains a lot of starch that can be converted into fermentable sugars.

Different varieties of malt can be produced by varying the duration and temperature of the grain roasting process. Depending on the type of beer being brewed, different varieties of malt are also combined. This allows for the production of light, dark, or black beers. In addition to barley, other grains such as wheat, rye, corn, rice, oats, emmer, or spelt can be used, as well as ingredients like chestnuts or dates.

Hops for Beer Production

Hops are responsible for beer’s characteristic aroma. Hop plants can grow to a height of about eight meters. For production, the cones—called “hops”—from the unfertilized female plant are used. These contain aromatic, bitter, and tannic substances that give beer its flavor.

In addition, hops influence foam formation and preservation. Hops allow beer to be preserved naturally and contain essential oils that are beneficial for our body and mind. These have a relaxing effect and stimulate digestion.

Yeast, an essential ingredient in beer production

Yeast is the
most important ingredient for the fermentation

of beer. Only with yeast can the sugar in the malt

be converted into carbon dioxide and alcohol

during the fermentation process. Yeasts are microscopic fungi

that exist in various strains almost everywhere in the air.

Not all yeast strains convert the sugar in the wort into alcohol with the same efficiency, and the ideal temperatures for fermentation also vary. There are many different yeast
strains,
and each imparts a distinct taste and character
to the beer
. When selecting yeast, a distinction is made between top-fermenting and bottom-fermenting yeasts

. During open fermentation, top-fermenting yeast

floats to the surface, while bottom-fermenting
yeast
settles at the bottom of the fermentation tanks.

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