The Organic Flavour Components of Beer

Different Beer Types

Originating in the Middle Ages or later, the majority of beers that are drunk today are considered to be recent inventions. There are several-dozen beer styles currently in acceptance (though many new brews still fight for a chance to be accepted), and we are going to look at the different families into which beers are divided.

Flavour, strength, appearance of the head and colour of the beer are all relevant in determining the characteristics of a beer style. These characteristics are influenced by the quantities and types of the ingredients used in the brew, as well as the brewing processing conditions.

General classifications of beer style families are split by the town of manufacture and the colour of the resultant brew, however chemistry-wise this is very unrevealing; hence, the following classifications attempt to subjectively sort beers by their flavour characteristics.

The Difference Between Lager and Ale

To a drinker, the look, smell and taste determine the differences between a lager and an ale. Whereas ales have a fruity ‘estery’ taste, lagers are described as more ‘crisp’.

However, the main differences between the two styles of beer come down to the brewing process. In ‘Stages of Brewing Beer‘ we discussed the two different types of yeast that can be used in the beer-making process: top or bottom-fermenting yeast.

When brewing ales, top-fermenting yeasts are used and the barrels are kept at the cellar temperature (warm). Top fermentation means that the ethanol concentration can reach up to 12%, a much higher concentration than the bottom-fermenting yeast would allow.

Conversely, lagers use bottom-fermenting yeasts and ferment at cold temperatures, which would make the top-fermenting yeast stop working. After fermentation the beer is ‘lagered’; this is the period of time after the yeast has been added when the beer is left in the cold for several weeks in order to age. The slow process of fermentation at cold temperatures is what results in the ‘clean’ taste.

Bitter ales: For bitter ales, a moderate colour is seen. The bitterness can stretch from moderately high to very intense, whereas the maltiness is generally low for this style.

Bitter lagers: The malty flavour in many lagers is not very noticeable, as the dominating flavours in the brew are bitter.

Malty ales: This family of beer styles incorporates ales that have the dominant flavour of maltiness; the maltiness is a product of heat treatments (where the Maillard reaction occurs during browning, as we will see later), which also results in most malty ales having a dark colour (due to compounds called melanoidins).

Phenolic ales: This class of beer is described as having the flavour of cloves (due to the presence of 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol), and is usually characteristic of wheat-based and barley-based ales. The phenolic flavour is considered to be an off-flavour in other beer styles.

Speciality beers: The speciality beer family encompasses all beers with flavours not usually found in beers such as spices, smoky flavours, and fruit beers among others.

Overall, there are many different types of ales and lagers, allowing beer drinkers to pick and choose the brews that they find most pleasant tasting.

Does Beer Contain Any Nutritional Value?

A popular question! Research has shown that in small amounts, beer can have slight nutritional and also health benefits. Studies evaluating the relative benefits of wine, for which the health benefits are already well understood, versus beer, suggest that moderate consumption is also associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease. From a nutritional standpoint, beer contains more protein and B vitamins than wine and the antioxidant content is equivalent to that of wine, but the specific antioxidants are different (because hops and grapes contain different antioxidants). However, these nutrients exist in small amounts, especially compared with the large amount of carbohydrates in beer (a pint of beer, 568 mL, contains around 150-180 calories). A heavy intake of beer (typically >500 mL per day) is often associated with bigger waists, which has been explained by the liver metabolising (or ‘burning’) the alcohol in beer, rather than our body fat (especially in the belly). Although not everyone agrees! However, it is generally advised not to drink beer or any other alcoholic beverage for health benefits, while over-consumption wipes out any positive health benefits and increases the risk of liver cancer, cirrhosis, alcoholism, and obesity.

Different countries have different labelling requirements for alcoholic beverages. In 2018, in the U.K., The Royal Society for Public Health called for a change in alcoholic drinks labelling, citing a public “awareness vacuum” on how alcohol affects health. Their research indicated that 81% of the public wanted to see drinking guidelines on labels, like those on food items which clearly show a low, medium or high content of fat, saturated fat, sugars and salt. So, more generally, do you agree with this principle, and would you like to see your foods and beverages more clearly labelled?