Beer

“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer.” 
― Abraham Lincoln

History of BEER

The beer we drink today has a very interesting and long history. The earliest time tracked on the making of beer can be traced back to approximately six thousand years to the Sumarians of ancient Mesopotamia. Sumarians discovered a fermentation process when apiece of bread was left in water for a period of time and began to ferment. They found the mixture to be appealing and repeated this process labeling it as "Divine" and offered it to their Gods.
In the history of beer in North America, North America owes it coming along from the Old World. As people migrated from Europe to America they brought with them their recipes and techniques for beer. Many factors have influenced the beer of North America such as social, economic and environmental factors that have played a part in North American beer and beer making. The first recollection of beer in North America came in 1587 in what was then known as the New World where it was brewed in Sir Walter Raleigh's colony in Virginia. In 1612, the first commercial brewery opened in New Amsterdam now known as Manhattan. Beer became the mainstays of the ordinary person diet for centuries (Raley, 1998). Beer has become now a mainstay in today's beverage of choice.

The Process of Beer Production

Brewing beer is really a very simple process, a unique mix of art and science that consists of a number of key steps. Brewing begins with malted barley that is milled and mixed with hot water to form a mash. During mashing, the malt starches are converted to sugars. The sugar rich water is then strained through the bottom of the mash and is now called wort. The wort then goes to the brew kettle where it is brought to a boil. During this stage, hops are added at different times during the boil for either bitterness or aroma. The wort is then cooled and aerated, and brewers' yeast is added for fermentation. The yeast produces alcohol and carbon dioxide and other byproducts from the sweet wort. After fermentation the "green beer" undergoes maturation. The last step in the brewing process is filtration, and then carbonation. Next the beer is moved to a holding tank where it stays until it is bottled or kegged.