[imagesource: Depositphotos]

The number of breweries popping up worldwide over the past couple of years has left beer drinkers spoiled for choice.

And, while they differ in size, equipment, ethos and intent, one thing unites them. They all turn those simple ingredients – water, malt, hops and yeast – into the drink of champions.

The days are getting longer as summer kicks in, so there’s no time like the present to stock the fridge with a few six-packs to enjoy while the sun goes down on a superb evening.

The end product is the main event, but your favourite brew had to go on quite the journey before it ended up in your hand.

If you’ve ever wanted to get to grips with the mechanics of that journey, you’ve come to the right place, because Wine Enthusiast has delved into the beer brewing process.

The brew day starts by getting all of the ingredients ready starting with the grains. A variety of grains could be used depending on the recipe.

Whole grains are fed through a gristmill that cracks and opens the kernels. It is then taken to the mash tun where it is mixed with hot water and left to stand for a while to steep. While this is happening, sugars in the grain are released, which will later help create alcohol.

The result is a thick substance called mash. The sugary stuff, known as wort, is drained out and transferred into a brew kettle where it is brought to a boil for roughly 90 minutes (the time can vary depending on the beer). During this process, the hops are added at various intervals to extract aroma, flavour, and bitterness.

Rather than spelling it out step by step from that point on, let’s use the infographic below to map out the rest:

Image: Eric DeFreitas

There you have it – all that hard work before you get to sip on the golden nectar.

Of course, there’s more to an excellent beer than how it’s made – it should have an origin, a history, a legacy.

In 1899, in a brewery near Pico de Orizaba, the highest peak in Mexico, a brewer created a light, refreshing beer made from the water closest to the sun.

The story goes that, as the brewer held up the beer, a ray of sun peeped through a hole in the roof onto the transparent bottle and, in honour of the sun, inspired the name Sol.

The sun has always been the heart and soul of Sol and from 2020, Sol brewed at Zoeterwoude brewery in the Netherlands, will be produced using renewable energy from more than 9 750 solar panels on the brewery roof.

That means that the next time you enjoy a Sol, you really will ‘Taste the Sun’.

Cheers to that.

[source:wineenthusiast]