The difference between industrial beer and craft beer

Beer is the oldest alcoholic beverage of mankind and the second most consumed beverage in the world after tea. Beer was introduced into China at the beginning of the twentieth century and is an exotic wine. Beer is translated into Chinese “beer” according to English Beer, called “beer”, which is still in use today.

Beer is a low-alcohol liquor full of carbon dioxide, which is made of malt, hops and water as the main raw materials and fermented by yeast.

How to simply distinguish craft beer from industrial beer?

difference one : different raw materials

Craft beer is brewed using malt, hops, yeast and water without any artificial additives. Craft beer has very strict quality requirements on the selection of materials. Most of them do not consider cost when brewing. They are flexible in the selection of varieties, and they can constantly break the rules and try the matching between different raw materials and beers. In order to pursue cost, industrial beers use more raw materials such as rice, corn and starch to replace malt, or directly use syrup to achieve the set wort sugar content.

The second difference is that the output is different

Craft beer limits annual production in pursuit of beer flavor and personality.

Industrial beer, large output, industrialized production.

Difference three, the formula is different

Craft beer has a variety of recipes, barley malt and wheat malt with different roasting degrees, and a wide variety of hops and yeast are combined to brew beer with a variety of flavors. There are fragrant wheat beer, heavy stout, amber beer and fruit beer, etc. There are nearly 100 styles of craft beer around the world, divided by type.

The fourth difference is that the fermentation process is different

The fermentation process of craft beer and industrial beer is also different. Usually, craft beer adopts Ales process (Ales, upper fermentation process), and industrial beer adopts Lager process (Larges, lower fermentation process). The main difference is the location of the yeast during fermentation and the fermentation temperature. as the picture shows:

Craft beer: Most of them are ale process. The yeast works at the top of the fermentation tank and floats above the liquor. The fermentation temperature is generally controlled at 10-20°C. Fermenters are usually small and are not filtered and sterilized after fermentation.

Industrial beer: mostly lager process, the yeast works at the bottom of the fermentation tank and sinks under the liquor, and the fermentation temperature is generally controlled below 10°C. The fermentation tank is larger, and filtration and pasteurization are usually used after fermentation to increase the shelf life of the beer.

Difference five, different fermentation time

In addition to the differences in the fermentation process between craft beer and industrial beer, the fermentation time is also very different.

Craft beer: Because you don’t need to worry too much about the cost, the fermentation time is often not given special attention, and the time cost will not be considered too much. The most traditional craft beer can be fermented for up to 2 months, so that the beer is fully fermented, the wort is more concentrated, and the flavor is stronger.

Industrial beer: For industrial beer, time is money, so the fermentation time of industrial beer is usually only about 7 days, so the fermentation is not particularly sufficient, resulting in a lower concentration of wort and a lighter flavor.

Difference six, different flavors and tastes

Because the raw materials and production process are different from industrial beer, the flavor and taste of craft beer are richer. Some have a mellow aroma of wheat, some are full of floral and fruity aromas, some have caramel flavors, some are as bitter as coffee, and… Infinite flavors can all be presented in beer. Everyone can find their favorite beer.

The taste of industrial beer is relatively simple, and it can basically be called “water beer”.

Difference seven, different nutritional value

Craft beer: Craft beer has a strong aroma, high content of wort, thick and full taste, and higher nutritional value. A true “liquid bread”.

Industrial beer: In order to unify the taste of the finished product, the brewing process and style of industrial beer are usually single, and the fermentation time is very short, so industrial beer has the characteristics of light taste, more bubbles, low wort concentration, low hop content and low alcohol content. , with little nutritional value.

The difference is eight, the storage time is different

Craft beer: Most craft beer is not filtered and sterilized, so craft beer cannot be stored for a long time. Most craft beers have a short shelf life, and some have a shelf life of only a few days or tens of days.

Industrial beer: In the later stage of fermentation, industrial beer is often filtered and pasteurized, and has a long shelf life. The general shelf life of industrial beer is 1-2 years, and some can even reach decades.

The difference is nine, the drinking method is different

Craft beer: Usually the taste is thicker and thicker, and the alcohol content is high. Different styles of beer can be paired with different meals. Whether it’s a sip or a booze, there’s something for everyone.

Industrial beer: usually lighter in taste and low in alcohol, suitable for gulps. It is called a carbonated beverage with a hop flavor by the craft brewing community.

By comparison, friends may understand that craft beer crushes industrial beer in every aspect. If you are investigating a craft beer equipment project, you can consult our customer service or call the service hotline, China Vdo Machinery (JINAN) Co., Ltd will provide you with excellent service!