Did you know that drinking a moderate amount of beer can actually prolong your life? Researchers found that people who drink beer moderately live longer than non-drinkers. Although drinking too much alcohol can negatively affect your health, studies suggest that moderate amounts of beer can add years to your life. It can lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of diabetes, and strengthen your heart. Here’s what you need to know about the various components of beer. Its benefits are numerous.
Malted barley
The malted barley that goes into making beer provides the essential qualities that make it a great drink. The malting process helps to boost an enzyme in barley that converts starch into simple sugar. These sugars are used to feed the yeast that produces alcohol. Here’s how malted barley works to make beer. You may be interested in learning more about this ancient grain. Listed below are some of its most important benefits.
While the malt is the primary ingredient of the brew, adjuncts are substances other than malted barley. They provide beneficial properties to the finished product such as lowering the concentration of soluble nitrogen in the wort and decreasing the amount of polyphenolic tannins in the wort. While malted barley provides the greatest benefits to the finished product, adjuncts can also have negative effects such as reducing the fermentability of the beer and increasing the viscosity of the wort.
Hops
The aromas produced by hops in beer are a result of the various essential oils found in the plant. While the beta acids in hops produce the overall aroma, the essential oils in hops are what really create the flavor and aroma of beer. Some of the most common hop oils are myrcene, humulene, and caryophyllene. These compounds add floral, fruity, and citrus notes to beer.
New Zealand and Australia have their own distinctive hops, which are used by brewers to produce unique flavours. Galaxy, for example, is a hop variety grown in Australia, while Nelson Sauvin is a fruity hop similar to Sauvignon Blanc (the grape variety). Czech-grown varieties of hops are known for their aromatic notes rather than bitterness. German hops are known as “noble” hops, and they add character and zest to pilsners and lagers.
Yeast
While there are more than 1,500 species of yeast used in the production of alcohol, two types of yeast are most commonly used. Lager yeast and ale yeast are both used in beer production. However, an applied ecologist from NC State and a brewer, John Sheppard, have come up with a new idea: a “bumblebeer.”
The origin of beer yeast goes back to the centuries-old relationship between flowers and pollinators. Yeast lives in flower nectar and travels via pollinators. This natural system of transport allowed scientists to create a fermentation method that makes use of this unique feature. Yeast in beer is one of the most commonly used ingredients in breweries, and its importance cannot be overstated. Here are some interesting facts about yeast:
Carbon dioxide
Brewers are running low on carbon dioxide, the gas that makes soft drinks and beer fizzy. Before the swine flu pandemic, we took the supply chain for granted. But with an unexpected shortage of carbon dioxide, the Dorchester Brewing Company learned it would receive only about a quarter of its regular supply of CO2. The brewery plans to cut its costs and look for other ways to increase CO2 production to make up for lost sales.
The amount of carbon dioxide in beer is determined by titration, in which the amount of acid present in the sample is calculated and compared to its normal concentration. This method is simpler than the previous ones, and the error is less than 0*5%. It also doesn’t require a meter of water to make a measurement. It is also faster and easier than previous methods, which are more complicated. We’ll be able to calculate the level of CO2 in beer in just a few steps and find out the amount of carbon dioxide a beer contains.
Health benefits
Studies have shown that drinking beer reduces the risk of developing strokes. Alcohol has other benefits as well. Studies conducted by Canadian and American researchers have shown that drinking beer lowers the risk of atherosclerosis and cataracts by up to 50%. Alcohol contains polyphenols, the same compounds that protect against cancer. They also lower the risk of coronary heart disease. However, these effects diminish with overconsumption. So if you want to enjoy the many health benefits of beer, make sure to drink the right amount.
Moderate drinking may decrease the risk of blood clots. It increases HDL cholesterol, which is good for your heart. It lowers your LDL cholesterol, which is bad for your health. Blood clots can travel to the neck and brain, causing Ischemic Strokes. Drinking beer in moderation has been shown to decrease this risk by as much as 45%. And there are more than 100 studies indicating that moderate drinking can help lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.