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A
Abbey Ale
Traditionally brewed by Belgian abbeys, it was used during their fasting as "liquid bread".

A.A.U.
See alpha acid unit.

Acidification
The process of getting a mixture's pH below 7.0 pH.

Acrospire
The barley embryo which grows inside the husk during germination.

Adjunct
Starches such as corn, rice, and sugar, which dilute the flavor and character of the malt and act as fermentable sugars.

Aerate
A means of adding oxygen to your wort.

Aerobic
Requiring oxygen.

Aftertaste
The combination of flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel after swallowing beer.

Airlock
A one way valve that allows co2 to escape but no air to get in during fermentation.

Albumins
When heated, this group of water soluble protiens tend to coagulate.

Alcohol
What the yeast turns the fermentable sugars into. May cause a person to feel different. Some may argue that alcohol is the basis behind all good beers. I happen to disagree.

Alcohol by Volume
A measure of the amount of alcohol in beer; used as a primary measure in Canada. The measure of the amount of space the alcohol in a beer takes up as a percentage of total space.

Alcohol by Weight
A measure of the amount of alcohol in beer; used as a primary measure in the U.S. The measure of the amount of weight the alcohol in a beer has as a percentage of total weight.

Ale
A beer style. A style made with a top-fermenting yeast. They are generally hearty, robust, and fruity.

Ale Yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Performs well at temperatures between 55-70 degrees F. Also referred to as "top-fermenting yeast". Top-fermenting yeast is anaerobic and always forms a sediment on the bottom.

Alpha Acid
The bittering property of the hop flower. Measured as a percentage of the total weight of the hop cone.

Alpha Acid Content
The percentage of alpha acids in the hops.

Alpha Acid Unit
A.A.U.. Measures the bitterness level in hops. Simple rule of thumb is the numerical value = the percentage of alpha acid.

Alpha Amylase
One of the diastatic enzymes that convert starches to fermentable sugars. Known as the "liquefying" enzyme. Converts soluble starch to dextrin.

Altbier
A traditional style of beer brewed mainly in Dusseldorf. The German word alt means old and refers to the traditional method of top fermentation. Alt beers are dark, copper colored, brewed from dark malts, well hopped.

American Ale
An American version of traditional ale, brewed with North American hops. See ale.

American Malt Liquor
U.S. beers which exceed the alcohol level, defined by law, for lager or beer.

Amylase
Any enzyme that breaks the bonds that hold starch molecules together.

Amylopectins
The branched chain fraction of starch. Barley contains approximately 73 percent amylopectin and 27 percent amylose.

Amylose
See starch.

Amyloses
The straight-chain fraction of starch. Barley contains approximately 27 percent amylose and 73 percent amylopectin.

Anaerobic
Requiring no oxygen.

Appley
An ester produced from yeast's interaction with the malt.

Aroma
The smell of beer associated with malt and grain character.

Aroma Hops
Hop varieties that are chosen for their aroma contribution to the beer. Noble hops are classified as aroma hops.

Attenuation
The drop in specific gravity that takes place as the wort ferments.

Autolysis
A process in which starving yeast cells feed on each other by excreting enzymes; causes a rubbery stench in beer.

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