CRAFT BEER

What is craft beer?

Craft beer is an alcoholic beverage made traditionally, on a small scale and generally without additives or preservatives. Its production process focuses on quality, flavor, and originality, unlike industrial beers. The basic ingredients are water, malt (usually barley), hops, and yeast, although other ingredients can be added to craft beers to give them a unique touch.

Solo Artesanas: A frothy selection of Spanish craft beers - Mentta Blog

Nutritional properties

• Intense flavor: Thanks to the variety of hops and malts used, craft beers often have more complex and deep flavors.
• Variety: There are many variations depending on the ingredients and fermentation techniques, resulting in beers of all colors and flavors.
• Contains alcohol: The alcohol content varies, but is usually between 4% and 12% alcohol by volume (ABV).
• Distinctive aroma: Many craft beers have unique aromas due to the quality of the ingredients and variety of hops used.
• Benefits of ingredients: Some varieties may have antioxidant properties and be more natural due to their production process.

The best Spanish beers - Mentta Blog

Types of craft beer

Ale: Uses top fermentation yeast, giving it a fruity and spicy flavor.
Lager: Fermented at low temperatures, resulting in lighter and cleaner beers.
Stout: Dark beer, rich in flavors of toasted malt, chocolate, and coffee.
IPA (India Pale Ale): Beer with a high hop content, giving it a bitter and fruity flavor.
Porter: Similar to stout, but smoother, with notes of caramel and chocolate.
Saison: Spicy and fruity in flavor, typically from the region of Belgium.
Blonde Ale: Light and smooth beer, ideal for those looking for a more refreshing option.

How to prepare craft beer?

The process of making craft beer involves several stages:

Mashing: Mixing malt with hot water to extract fermentable sugars.
Boiling: The mixture, called wort, is boiled with hops, which adds flavor and aroma.
Fermentation: The wort is cooled and yeast is added, which converts sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
Maturation: The beer is left to rest for a period of time for the flavors to develop.
Bottling: Finally, the beer is bottled and allowed to ferment one last time, improving its flavor.