Beer has a long history dating back 6,000 years to the Middle Ages. It is made from water, yeast, hops and malted grains through a brewing process involving mixing, fermenting, and bottling. Germany established early beer purity laws in 1516, while later industrialization improved production. Today, beer remains very popular globally and festivals like Oktoberfest celebrate its cultural significance, though overconsumption can carry health risks and should be enjoyed responsibly.
2. Introduction
The word "beer" comes from the Latin word
„bibere”, meaning „to drink”.
Beer is made from water, yeast, hops and
malted grains (typically barley).
3. Beer is the 3rd most popular
drink in the world
5. The oldest proven
records of brewing date
back 6,000 years ago to
the Middle East.
Archaeologists speculate
that beer was instrumental in the formation of
civilizations.
7. The Middle Ages
Monks in northern Europe
Hops
„bride’s ale”
Royal license
8. The German Beer Purity Law
The advent of beer as we know it came in
1516 when the Duke of Bavaria, Wilhelm IV,
proclaimed the German Beer Purity Law.
The law remained in effect until 1988, when
European Union rules came into effect.
Brewers in Hamburg
9. The Industrial Revolution
Steam engine
The process of artificial cooling.
Louis Pasteur - „Studies Concerning Beer”.
Christian Hansen – reproduce single cell of
yeast
11. Step 1: Mixing
• Clean and sanitise all equipment that will come into contact with beer
before mixing
• Use boiling water to kill any bacteria
• Place beer mix in hot water for 15 minutes
• Pour beer mix into fermenter
• Add brewing sugar
• Add 2 litres boiling water
• Add approximately 20 litres cold water and stir
• Check that temperature is under 25°C
• Sprinkle yeast on surface of wort
• Seal immediately and insert airlock
• TakeOriginalGravity using hydromete
12. Step 2: Brewing
Airlock should start bubbling after a few hours
During fermentation, the yeast breaks down the sugar in the wort and
turns it into alcohol.This is called primary fermentation
Temperature control is vital at this stage
The rate of bubbling will slow down during fermentation
Fermentation usually takes around 4 – 7 days
Use hydrometer to check Specific Gravity during primary fermentation
If hydrometer reading is around 1006-1010 and remains constant over
24 hours, primary fermentation is complete
13. Step 3: Bottling
Bottles should be rinsed with cooled boiled water before first use
and sanitised before subsequent use – PET bottles will melt if boiling
water is used.
Add carbonation drops or sugar to each bottle (this is called
“priming”)
Connect little bottler to spigot and use it to fill bottles
Continue filling bottles until fermenter is almost empty
Discard sediment at bottom of fermenter
Secondary fermentation takes place in bottle
14. Step 4: Enjoy
Beer is usually ready to drink after
2-3 weeks of secondary
fermentation
It is best to let beer condition in
the bottle for at least three
months before drinking
Beer will improve with age up to
about 18 months
Bottles should be stored upright
away from direct sunlight
If ordinary lemonade plastic
bottles are used, beer will slowly
lose carbonation and go flat
15. Safety
Glass bottles can explode
Care should be taken around
boiling water
A full 23 litre fermenter is
heavy, do not attempt to move
it when full
Estimation of beer strength is
not accurate, avoid driving or
operating machinery after
homebrew
17. Oktoberfest
Established in Munich on October 12, 1810
as an official beer festival.
2 week festival from late September to
first weekend in October.
5+ million people attend every year.
18.
19. Excessive consumption of
alcohol can lead to:
Blurred vision
Reduced motor skills
Risk-taking
Offensive behaviour or acts
of vandalism
Long term health issues
including liver and brain damage
20. Responsible Drinking
• For men:
No more than 4 standard
drinks* a day on average; and
No more than 6 standard
drinks on any one day.
• For women:
No more than 2 standard drinks
a day on average; and
No more than 4 standard drinks
on any one day.
* 1 pot ordinary strength beer = 1 standard
drink