The difference between craft beer and ordinary beer

The differences between craft beer and ordinary beer are as follows

First, the brewing raw materials of craft beer and ordinary beer are different.

Beer is a low-alcohol fermented wine containing carbon dioxide that is brewed by yeast fermentation using grains and water as the main raw materials, adding hops (or hop products). Beer can usually be divided into craft beer and industrial beer according to raw materials and fermentation process.

1. Craft beer: brewed using only malt, hops, yeast and water, without adding any artificial additives. Compared with industrial beer, there is more malt content, more hops are added, and the brewed wort is more concentrated. Usually, you don’t need to consider the cost too much when brewing craft beer, and most of them choose the best raw materials for brewing.

2. Industrial beer: It is also brewed using malt, hops, yeast and water, but in order to pursue costs, more raw materials such as rice, corn and starch are used to replace malt. The beer brewed in this way has a very low wort concentration and a bland taste.

Second, the fermentation process is different

The fermentation process of craft beer and industrial beer is also different. Usually craft beer uses the Ales process (Ales, upper fermentation process) , industrial beer uses the Lager process (Larges, lower fermentation process). The main difference between the two is the location of the yeast during the fermentation process and the different fermentation temperatures. As shown in the picture:

1. Craft beer: mostly ale craft, the yeast works at the top of the fermentation tank, floating above the wine liquid, and the fermentation temperature is generally controlled at 10-20°C. Fermentation tanks are usually small and do not undergo filtration or sterilization after fermentation.

2. Industrial beer: mostly lager process. Yeast works at the bottom of the fermentation tank and sinks below the wine liquid. The fermentation temperature is generally controlled below 10°C. The fermentation tank is larger, and filtration and pasteurization are usually used after fermentation to increase the shelf life (shelf life) of the beer.

Third, the fermentation time is different

In addition to the different fermentation processes, craft beer and industrial beer also have very different fermentation times.

1. Craft beer: Because there is no need to care too much about costs, fermentation time is often not paid special attention to, and time costs are not considered too much. The most traditional craft beer fermentation time can be as long as 2 months, so that the beer is fully fermented, the wort concentration is higher, and the flavor is richer.

2. Industrial beer: For industrial beer, time is money, so the fermentation time of industrial beer is usually only about 7 days. In this way, the fermentation will not be particularly sufficient, resulting in low wort concentration and poor flavor. Lighter.

Fourth, different development histories

The fermentation history of craft beer is longer than that of industrial beer. Long before the emergence of industrial beer, craft beer had already appeared.

1. Craft beer: In the beginning, ale (craft beer) was produced by women to protect their families from surviving in harsh environments (such as plague, famine, polluted water sources, etc.). In the Middle Ages, a large number of people died from the plague, and the church took over the production of beer. Due to the surge in market demand for beer and high profits, craft beer has developed rapidly. At that time, many European royal families also established their own royal breweries to brew craft beer. However, with the emergence of refrigeration equipment, industrial beer with stable quality, non-perishable and suitable for transportation became popular. Coupled with the rise of glass products, cloudy ale beer in transparent wine glasses is not very pleasing, and people are becoming more and more fond of lager beer (mostly industrial beer).

2. Industrial beer: In the 1940s, brewers from Bavaria, Germany, brought the beer fermentation process to Pilsen in the Czech Republic, producing the world's earliest golden beer - Pilsner beer (industrial beer). ), with the emergence of refrigeration equipment, beer with stable quality, non-perishable and suitable for large-scale industrial production and transportation became popular all over the world. As transportation improved, it didn't take long for Pilsner beer and the Pilsner brewing method to spread throughout Central Europe.

Afterwards, the popular beer in Europe was brought to the United States by immigrants, and Americans gradually fell in love with this beer. However, because there was less barley in the United States, corn was gradually used instead of barley to brew beer. Later, it evolved into using rice or starch instead of barley to brew beer, forming the American industrial beer now on the market.

Fifth, different styles and nutritional values

1. Craft beer: Craft beer usually adds more types and quantities of malt, yeast and hops, and can be brewed in different styles. There are different types, including fragrant wheat beer, thick dark beer, amber beer, fruit beer, etc. There are nearly 100 styles of craft beer around the world divided by type. These craft beers have rich aroma, high content of wort, thick and full taste, higher nutritional value, and high selling price. The alcohol content of craft beer is mostly over 11 degrees, and some fortified craft beers can reach 20 degrees.

2. Industrial beer: In order to achieve a unified taste of the finished product, industrial beer brewing technology and style are usually single, and the fermentation time is extremely short. Therefore, industrial beer has a light taste, many bubbles, and low wort concentration. It has low hop content and low alcohol content, and its natural nutritional value and selling price are also low.

Sixth, different storage times

1. Craft beer: Most craft beer does not undergo filtration and sterilization, so craft beer is not very durable for storage. Most craft beers have a short shelf life, and some have a shelf life of only a few dozen days.

2. Industrial beer: In the later stages of fermentation, industrial beer is frequently filtered and pasteurized, and has a longer shelf life. Generally, the shelf life of industrial beer is 1-2 years, and some can even last for decades.

Seventh, different drinking methods

1. Craft beer: usually has a thicker taste and high alcohol content, so it is suitable for drinking slowly.

2. Industrial beer: usually has a lighter taste and low alcohol content, and is suitable for drinking in large gulps.