Impress your friends.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Ascorbic Acid
Also known as Vitamin C.
Additives
Additives are chemicals that are used to ensure complete fermentation, improve clarity, or head retention or adjust brewing water to more faithfully reproduce various recipes. The macro-brewers use this little trick, that's not for us.
Adjuncts
Adjuncts are added to increase fermentable sugars, and hence alcoholic content. They include corn sugar, rice syrup, and honey. We don't do the adjunct thing, not our style.
Airlock
An airlock is a device that allows the carbon dioxide reduced during fermentation to escape, while preventing outside air from contaminating the fermenting beverage.
Ale
An ale is a beer that has been fermented with a top fermenting, or ale yeast. Ales are easier for the homebrewer to use than lagers, because they are fermented at room temperature.
All malt
An all malt beer is one that gets all of its sugars from malt, and uses no adjuncts.
Alpha acids
Alpha acids are the chemicals found in hops that are responsible for their Bittering characteristics.
American lagers
American lagers are light in color with little malt or hop character. They tend to be dry and fairly high in carbonation
American Light beers
American Light beers are similar to American lagers, but they contain less alcohol and calories.
Australian beers
Australian beers tend to be light colored lagers with an aggressive hop character. They also tend to be more malty than American lagers.
B
Balance
Balance is the way that the different characteristics of a beverage work together. A beverage is said to be balanced when no one flavor overpowers another without reason.
Bar Bottles
"Bar bottles" are glass bottles that DO NOT have threaded tops. They require a bottle cap opener and are used extensively in homebrewing beer. Also, in some situations, bar bottles are usually made stronger than twist-off bottles because of their longer life cycle.
Barley
Barley is a grain that is used as the basis for most beers.
Barley Wines
Very alcoholic beers. Some are as strong as wine. Many have a sherry like flavor. These beers take longer to brew and age because of their high strength. Because of this strength, these beers, also keep for an extended time, often for years.
Beer
Beer is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting the extract of malted barley.
Beer yeasts
Beer yeasts include ales and lagers. They differ from other types of yeast, such as those used to make wine.
Belgian beers
Belgian beers include a large number of different styles. Many Belgian beers use fruit, wheat, herbs, or exotic yeast strains to produce extremely complex, flavorful beers.
Beta acids
Beta acids are the chemicals found in hops that are responsible for their flavor and aroma.
Bittering hops
Bittering hops are hops that are used to add bitterness to a beer They are often chosen for their high Alpha acid content.
Bitterness
Bitterness is one of the four basic taste sensations, it is sharp and is experienced on the back of the tongue and in beer it is derived from hops, and dark grains.
Bitters
An English style of ale that is amber in color and medium in alcohol content with a pronounced hop bitterness.
Bocks
Bocks are German beers. They include several styles that vary in color from light to dark. As a group Bocks are high in alcohol and rich in flavor.
Body
Body is a perception of the "thickness" of a beverage.
Bottle Caper
A bottle caper is a simple hand-held or bench mounted device that caps bottles
Bottle caps
Just like the caps you find on top of your favorite commercial beverages, but uncrimped, and ready to use.
Bottles
Bottles are a convenient place to put homebrew
Bottling
Bottling is The process of putting your homebrew into bottles.
Bottling Bucket
A bottling bucket is a bucket with a spigot to allow for easy bottling.
Bottom fermenting
Bottom fermenting yeasts are also referred to as lagers. They are called bottom fermenting yeasts because the yeast sits at the bottom of the containers while it ferments.
Brewpot
A brewpot is any pot that is suitable for cooking wort or must.
Brown & Mild Ales
Brown and mild ales are amber to brown in color and are low in alcohol and hop bitterness.
Burton Water Salts
Burton Water Salts are added to brewing water to simulate the mineral content of the water in Burton-on-Trent, a famous brewing region of Great Britain.
C
Calcium Carbonate
Calcium Carbonate is found in hard water. It can negatively affect Yeast growth and hop utilization.
Campden Tablets
(see Sodium Metabisulfite) They are formed from the powder.
Canadian Beers
Canadian beers are similar in style to familiar American beers, but with a bit more flavor and body.
Caps
see bottle caps
Carragheen
[Pronounced: (cara - geen)] See Irish Moss.
Carboy
Carboys are five gallon glass vessels that are commonly used in water coolers, but are useful to the homebrewer as fermenters and for aging their brews.
Cherries
These plump red globes from the genus of trees prunus can be used to create unique brews. Their tart taste can enhance the flavor of a brown ale or dark beer considerably. The pits will add flavor to beers when they are added during the final boiling phase of the wort . This boiling of the pits sometimes brings about a nutty almond like flavor. Pure cherry extract can be substituted for the real thing when the fruit is not available.
Cider
Cider is a (sometimes) alcoholic beverage made from apples.
Citric Acid
Citric acid is a fruit acid that is used to improve the acid balance of wine.
CO2
CO2 stands for carbon dioxide, a gas that is present naturally in our atmosphere, and is released by during fermentation.
CO2 Tanks
CO2 is used under pressure to force beer from its keg without oxidizing it. A CO2 tank holds pressurized CO2 until it is needed.
Corker
A corker is used to insert corks into wine bottles.
Corks
Corks are used to seal wine bottles.
Corn Sugar
Corn sugar can be used in place of some of the malt in beers to lighten the body it is also used as type of sugar refined from corn, thus the name. We don’t use corn sugar at all, but if you are a fan, plenty of the mass-produced beers use them all the time.
Crystal Malt
Crystal malt is malted barley that has been heated until the sugars inside caramelize, giving it a sweet flavor. Because of this attribute, Crystal malt is sometimes known as Caramel Malt
D
Diacityl
Diacityl is produced by the action of yeast during fermentation. It tastes like butterscotch.
Dry Malt
Dry malt is malt extract that has had all of the water removed from it until nothing but a powder substance remains.
Dunkel
A German word for dark, as in Dunkel Wizen or dark wheat.
E
E.S.B.
(see Extra Special Bitters)
Equipment
devices that facilitate brewing beverages.
Equipment Kits
Equipment kits contain all of the equipment needed to complete a certain task.
Esters
Esters are a group of chemicals that occur in various fruit, and as a result of fermentation. They provide flavors such as banana and butterscotch.
Estery
Having the flavor of esters.
European Lager
When malt extract kits called Lager or European Lager they are generally referring to the pale colored clean finishing crisp tasting characteristics of those beers.
Extra Special Bitters
Often called E.S.B. by brewers. Extra special bitters are more alcoholic and are known for complex flavors when compared to standard bitters.
Extracts
Extracts contain the concentrated essence of an ingredient.
F
Fermentable
Refers to the characteristics of mixtures that make it possible for yeasts to activate chemical reactions and convert sugars to alcohol and carbon dioxide.
Fermentation Vessel
See fermenter.
Fermenter
A vessel in which fermentation occurs. It should be closed and sterile.
Finishing hops
Finishing hops are less bitter and more aromatic than Bittering hops. They have a high Beta acid content and produce a pleasant flavor.
Flavor grains
Flavor grains are used in beers in small amounts to add color and flavor to beer. They are easy to use and do not require mashing.
Flavor hops
See finishing hops.
Flavored Extracts
Provide the flavor of fruits and herbs for brewers in an easy to use form.
Flowery
A flower-like smell that is often associated with finishing hops.
Fruit
Fruit is the basis for wine, and can be added to beer and mead for enhancing the flavor and bouquet. Some examples of fruit you might use would be, Cherries, peaches, raspberries, or grapes.
Fruit Acids
Fruit acids, including citric acid are used to adjust the balance of wine and mead.
Fruit Press
A fruit press is used to extract juice from fruits for use in beverage making.
G
Gelatin
The same as you find in your supermarket, Gelatin is useful to the brewer as a clarifier. It is added at bottling time.
German Style Wheat Beers
These Ale beers are usually pale and lightly hopped to allow the wheat flavor to shine through. They are often sedimented and contain complex flavors due to this condition.
Grain Bag
A grain bag is a either a nylon or muslin (cotton) mesh bag that you can put grains, fruit, or spices into. It works somewhat like a tea bag allowing flavors to be extracted into the mixture while keeping the ingredients from floating loosely into that same mixture.
Grain Mill
A grain mill is used to properly crush grains for use in beer making.
Grains
Grains such as wheat, oats and especially barley are the key ingredient in beer.
Grolsch Style Gaskets
Are used on swing top bottles. They provide a reusable alternative to bottle caps.
Gypsum
Gypsum is a mineral that is added to soft water to improve its qualities as brewing water.
H
HBU
Homebrew Bittering Units: This is a standard measure of a hops ability to impart bitterness in beer. 1 HBU = 1% alpha acid x 1 ounce of hops. The higher the number, the more bitter the hop.
Head Retention
Head retention is the ability of a beer to keep its frothy head. This desirable characteristic can be aided by the use of an all malt recipe, or by the use of a heading agent.
Heading agent
Heading agent is used to help a beer retain its foamy head longer.
High Gravity
Reefers to the specific gravity of a beverage, as measured by a hydrometer. High gravity implies high alcohol content.
Hops
Hops are the dried flowers of the hop plant. They are an important ingredient in beer because of their bitter flavor, and preservative qualities.
Honey
A thick sugary substance made by bees. It can be used for making mead and also is used as a flavor additive in beer and wine recipes.
Hop bitterness
The bitter flavor associated with hops. It is related to the Alpha acid content of a beer.
Hop character
The hop flavor as expressed in a beer.
Hop extract
A liquid extract made from hops that allows hop bitterness to be adjusted in finished beer.
Hop Flavor
Hop flavor is the spicy or flowery flavor associated with finishing hops.
Hop oil
Hop oil is an oil based extract of the hop plant that is used to add hop flavor to beer.
Hop pellets
Hop pellets are highly compressed ground fresh hops. They are the most convenient hops to use.
Hop plugs
Hop Plugs are compressed fresh whole hops.
Hopped malt syrup
Hopped malt syrup is malt syrup that has hop extract already added.
Hoppy
A beer with a high hop character is said to be "hoppy"
Hops
Hops are the dried cones of the hop plant, they are an essential ingredient in beer.
Hybrid Mash-Extract Beers
Hybrid Mash-Extract Beers derive their fermentable sugars from both malt extract and mash grains.
Hydrometer
A Hydrometer is used to measure specific gravity.
I
India Pale Ale
India Pale Ale is particularly bitter pale ale, originally brewed to survive the long ocean voyage from Britain to India in the days before refrigeration.
Irish Moss
Irish Moss is a seaweed derivative that is used as a clarifier when making beer or mead. It is added during the final minutes of the boil. Proteins in the wort or must are attracted to the Irish Moss, coagulate, and rise to the top of the brewpot, where they are easily skimmed away.
Isinglass Finings
Isinglass is a clarifier that is made from fish bladders. It is added a bottling time, where it bonds to the yeast and helps it to settle out.
J
Joke
You might crack one of these in a bar or when you've got something funny to say. :- )
K
Keg
A pressurized container for storing and dispensing beverages
Kicker
Is an additional measure of malt syrup that when added to a batch of beer creates a higher dissolved sugar content which leads to a sometimes sweeter and more alcoholic type of beer. Kickers are also sometimes used to enhance certain desired flavor or color characteristics in beers.
L
Lactose
Milk sugar, it is useful because it is not fermentable, and therefore adds sweetness to the fermented brew. It is used in "milk stouts".
Lager
A lager is a beer that is fermented cold, using lager yeast.
Lauter-tun
Used in grain brewing to separate spent grains from the wort.
Light bodied
Light bodied brews are thinner, and drier than those that are full bodied.
Liquid yeast
Liquid yeast is usually a sample of unfiltered beer that may also ship with nutrients. It is favored by some brewers over dried yeast for the increased variety available, as compared to dry yeast.
M
Malt
See malted barley.
Malt extract
Malt extract is the water soluble essence of malted barley.
Malt flavor
Malt Flavor is the flavor that malt provides to beer, it is sweet and thick.
Malted barley
Malted barley has been germinated and then dried. This begins the process that converts the starches present in the grain into fermentable sugars.
Mashing
Mashing converts starch and other chains of sugars into fermentable sugars by using naturally occurring enzymes, and heat.
Mead
A beverage made since before Greek times. Mead consists of three minimum ingredients: Honey, Water, and Yeast This beverage is similar to wine, however, mead's unique flavors and myths surrounding its aphrodisiac qualities make it an intriguing drink.
Mexican beers
Mexican beers are often styled after German beers, but are lighter in character.
Must
The term for unfermented wine or mead.
|
