In the United States, alcoholic beverage processing is big business. With a high amount of automation in the process as well as massive demand, it is one of those industries that can prove to be wildly profitable. It is for this reason that many beverage companies like Coors and Budweiser are top-selling companies in the New York Stock Exchange. What brought these companies to the level they are now is an early audacity in their formative years to challenge the rules and break the mold while still using the same old processes that have been around for generations. The science of brewing is composed of several steps that must be followed while using specialized equipment to achieve the final result.
The Process
All beer comes from grain. The type of grain used, as well as where it was harvested from, is what determines many things such as texture, color, and especially taste. The beverage processing scheme for beer comes in three steps: mashing, boiling, and fermentation. These steps are carried out in special containers called fermentation bins, in which you mix ingredients before delivering the finished product.
Mashing
The process of mashing involves using hot water to extract soluble materials from the harvested grain to create wort. Wort contains a high amount of sugar, a necessary product in the fermentation process to carbonate the final product. This provides most of the flavor in beer. The heating process itself is slow in order to stimulate enzymes that convert the starch in the grain into sugar. It is subsequently followed by a filtration process that removes any solids remaining in the wort before it is transferred to a boiling pot for the next step.
Boiling
During the boiling process, hops are added. This adds a bitterness and distinct aroma to the brew. Flavoring hops are added afterwards. This step is also meant to sanitize the wort and make it suitable for the brewing yeast, the third essential element in beverage processing.
Fermentation
After the temperature has cooled to a suitable level so that the yeast remains active, the brewing process continues with fermentation, the longest step in brewing. During this time, the yeast and sugar react together to create carbon dioxide, carbonating the beverage to produce the distinctive foam on the top. The length of time spent fermenting is key to figuring out how the brew will taste and look. Fermentation typically occurs in enclosed vats where the materials in the brewing process can mix in isolation. After enough time has passed, the finished product is removed and packaged in traditionally glass bottles, which do a better job of preserving the flavor and holding temperature.
Beverage processing is an intricate science that requires time and experimentation to create a beer that is pleasing to you and your customers. By mastering these steps, you will have an excellent product that will be enjoyed by the masses.
