Editing Beer (section)

== Measurement ==

{{Main|Beer measurement}}

Beer is measured and assessed by colour, by strength and by bitterness. The strength of modern beer is usually around 4% to 6%, measured as [[alcohol by volume]] (ABV).<ref name="BBC News 2010">{{cite news |title=World's strongest beer reclaimed |website=[[BBC News]] |date=16 February 2010 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8517607.stm |access-date=5 August 2015}}</ref> The perceived [[bitter (taste)|bitterness]] is measured by the International Bitterness Units scale (IBU), defined in co-operation between the [[American Society of Brewing Chemists]] and the [[European Brewery Convention]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.europeanbreweryconvention.org/EBCmain/commiteesgroups/index.php |title=The Analysis Committee |access-date=5 August 2009 |author=European Brewery Convention |quote=The EBC Analysis Committee also works closely together with the 'American Society of Brewing Chemists' (ASBC) to establish so-called 'International methods' with world-wide recognition of applicability. A partnership declaration between EBC and ASBC has been signed. The integration of the IOB methods of analysis and EBC methods is nearing completion. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519041640/http://www.europeanbreweryconvention.org/EBCmain/commiteesgroups/index.php|archive-date=19 May 2009}}</ref> The international scale was a development of the European Bitterness Units scale, often abbreviated as EBU, and the bitterness values should be identical.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lehighvalleyhomebrewers.org/glossary.html |title=Beer and Brewing Glossary|access-date=5 August 2009 |author=Lehigh Valley Homebrewers |year=2007 |quote=IBUs (International Bittering Units) – The accepted worldwide standard for measuring bitterness in beer, also known as EBU, based on the estimated alpha acid percentage of the hops used and the length of time they are boiled. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924090107/http://www.lehighvalleyhomebrewers.org/glossary.html |archive-date=24 September 2008}}</ref>

=== Colour ===

[[File:Paulaner.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Paulaner Brewery|Paulaner]] [[dunkel]]&nbsp;– a dark lager]]

Beer colour is determined by the malt.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=5PVTAAAAMAAJ&q=The+color+of+beer+is+first+of+all+determined+by+the+malt+type. Google Books] Fritz Ullmann, ''Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry'' Vol A-11 pp455, VCH (1985), {{ISBN|3-527-20103-3}}</ref> The most common colour is a pale amber produced from using pale malts. ''Pale lager'' and ''pale ale'' are terms used for beers made from malt dried and roasted with the fuel [[Coke (fuel)|coke]]. Coke was first used for roasting malt in 1642, but it was not until around 1703 that the term ''pale ale'' was used.<ref>[http://www.ratebeer.com/Beer-News/Article-579.htm British Bitter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203045718/http://ratebeer.com/Beer-News/Article-579.htm |date=3 February 2010 }} "A beer style or a way of life?", RateBeer (January 2006). Retrieved 30 September 2008.</ref><ref>Martyn Cornell, ''Beer: The Story of the Pint'', Headline (2004), {{ISBN|0-7553-1165-5}}</ref>

In terms of sales volume, most of today's beer is based on the pale lager brewed in 1842 in the city of [[Plzeň]] in the present-day [[Czech beer|Czech Republic]].<ref>[http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-000262.html BeerHunter] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712053442/http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-000262.html |date=12 July 2010 }} Michael Jackson, "A Czech-style classic from Belgium", Beer Hunter Online (7 September 1999). Retrieved 20 September 2008.</ref> The modern pale lager is light in colour due to use of coke for kilning, which gives off heat with little smoke.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qO76CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA18 |page=18 |title=The Beer Wench's Guide to Beer: An Unpretentious Guide to Craft Beer |first=Ashley |last=Routson |publisher=[[Voyageur Press]] |date=2015 |isbn=978-0-7603-4730-0 }}</ref>

Dark beers are usually brewed from a pale malt or lager malt base with a small proportion of darker malt added to achieve the desired shade. Other colourants—such as caramel—are also widely used to darken beers. Very dark beers, such as [[stout]], use dark or patent malts that have been roasted longer. Some have roasted unmalted barley.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=gtKOyU9ci1MC&dq=roasted+malts+color+beer&pg=PA320 Google Books] Costas Katsigris, Chris Thomas, ''The Bar and Beverage Book'' pp320, John Wiley and Sons (2006), {{ISBN|0-471-64799-3}}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=QDpi_6VnhegC&dq=roasted+malts+color+beer&pg=PA228 Google Books] J. Scott Smith, Y. H. Hui, ''Food Processing: Principles and Applications'' pp228, Blackwell Publishing (2004), {{ISBN|0-8138-1942-3}}</ref>

=== Strength ===

{{See also|Beer measurement#Strength}}

Beer ranges from less than 3% [[alcohol by volume]] (abv) to around 14% abv, though this strength can be increased to around 20% by re-pitching with champagne yeast,<ref name=Mill/> and to 55% ABV by the freeze-distilling process.<ref name=End/> The alcohol content of beer varies by local practice or beer style.<ref>{{cite book |first=Ron |last=Pattinson |date=6 July 2007 |title=European Beer Statistics: Beer production by strength |publisher=European Beer Guide |url=http://www.europeanbeerguide.net/eustats.htm#gravity |access-date=23 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223173711/http://www.europeanbeerguide.net/eustats.htm|archive-date=23 December 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[pale lager]]s that most consumers are familiar with fall in the range of 4–6%, with a typical ABVof 5%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bendbrewfest.com/index.php?page=glossary |title=Fourth Annual Bend Brew Fest |publisher=Bendbrewfest.com |access-date=28 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929085617/http://bendbrewfest.com/index.php?page=glossary |archive-date=29 September 2007}}</ref> The customary strength of British ales is quite low, with many [[session beer]]s being around 4% abv.<ref>{{cite book|date=6 January 2004 |title=Beer Facts 2003 |publisher=The Brewers of Europe |url=http://www.brewersofeurope.org/docs/publications/beerfacts2003.pdf |access-date=23 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227092024/http://www.brewersofeurope.org/docs/publications/beerfacts2003.pdf |archive-date=27 February 2008 }}</ref> In Belgium, some beers, such as [[Belgian beer#Table beer|table beer]] are of such low alcohol content (1%–4%) that they are served instead of [[soft drink]]s in some schools.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Andrew |last=Osborn|date=21 June 2001 |title=School dinner? Mine's a lager, please |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/international/story/0,3604,510202,00.html |access-date=23 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221181424/http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0%2C3604%2C510202%2C00.html |archive-date=21 December 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> The weakest beers are described as [[dealcoholized beer|'alcohol-free']], typically containing 0.05% ABV; this compares to low alcohol beers which may contain 1.2% ABV or less, and conventional beers which average 4.4% ABV.<ref name="DrinkAware">{{cite web |title=What are 'alcohol-free' and 'low alcohol' beers? |url=https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/information-about-alcohol/alcohol-and-the-facts/difference-between-alcoholic-and-alcohol-free-beers |website=DrinkAware |access-date=22 November 2024}}</ref>

{{anchor|Strongest beer}}
The strength of beers has climbed during the later years of the 20th century. Vetter 33, a 10.5% ABV (33 [[Plato scale|degrees Plato]], hence Vetter "33") [[doppelbock]], was listed in the 1994 ''[[Guinness World Records|Guinness Book of World Records]]'' as the strongest beer at that time,<ref>{{cite book |title=Vetter Brauhaus |publisher=Vetter Brauhaus |url=http://www.brauhaus-vetter.de/|access-date=22 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116135105/http://www.brauhaus-vetter.de/|archive-date=16 January 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=In 1994, the 33 Plato gave it the world's highest gravity. Though the beer can no longer make this claim, it is still one of the world's most renowned strong lagers |publisher =Rate Beer |url=http://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/Beer/Beer-Ratings.asp?BeerID=13030 |access-date=14 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205042743/http://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/Beer/Beer-Ratings.asp?BeerID=13030 |archive-date=5 February 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> though [[Samichlaus]], by the Swiss brewer Hürlimann, had also been listed by the ''Guinness Book of World Records'' as the strongest at 14% ABV.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.schloss-eggenberg.at/site/en_srt_samichlaus.asp?id=87 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928164201/http://www.schloss-eggenberg.at/site/en_srt_samichlaus.asp?id=87 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |title=Schloss Eggenberg |publisher=Schloss-eggenberg.at |access-date=28 September 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-000100.html |title=Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter&nbsp;— Mine's a pint of Santa Claus|publisher=Beerhunter.com|access-date=28 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917204316/http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-000100.html |archive-date=17 September 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/hurlimann-samichlaus/2399/ |title=Hurlimann Samichlaus from Hürlimann (Feldschlösschen), a Doppelbock style beer: An unofficial page for Hurlimann Samichlaus from Hürlimann (Feldschlösschen) in Zürich, Switzerland |publisher=Ratebeer.com |access-date=28 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914100453/http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/hurlimann-samichlaus/2399/ |archive-date=14 September 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Since then, some brewers have used champagne yeasts to increase the alcohol content of their beers. [[Samuel Adams (beer)|Samuel Adams]] reached 20% ABV with ''Millennium'',<ref name=Mill>{{cite news |date=13 February 2002 |title=The 48 proof beer |periodical=Beer Break |publisher=Realbeer |volume=2 |issue=19 |url=http://www.realbeer.com/library/beerbreak/archives/beerbreak20020214.php |access-date=23 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226230401/http://www.realbeer.com/library/beerbreak/archives/beerbreak20020214.php |archive-date=26 December 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> and then surpassed that amount to 25.6% ABV with [[Utopias (beer)|Utopias]]. The strongest beer brewed in Britain was Baz's Super Brew by Parish Brewery, a 23% ABVbeer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beermad.org.uk/brewery/751 |title=Parish: brewery detail from Beermad|publisher=beermad.org.uk|access-date=21 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829183922/http://www.beermad.org.uk/brewery/751|archive-date=29 August 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brewerysouvenirs.co.uk/parishbrewery/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208054934/http://www.brewerysouvenirs.co.uk/parishbrewery/index.htm |archive-date=8 December 2008 |title=Brewery Souvenirs – Parish Brewery |publisher=brewerysouvenirs.co.uk |url-status=usurped |access-date=21 February 2009}}</ref> In September 2011, the Scottish brewery [[BrewDog]] produced Ghost Deer, which, at 28%, they claim to be the world's strongest beer produced by fermentation alone.<ref name="ghostdeer">{{cite web |url=http://www.brewdog.com/blog-article/ghost-deer |title=BrewDog&nbsp;— Ghost Deer |publisher=brewdog.com |access-date=19 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924083057/http://www.brewdog.com/blog-article/ghost-deer |archive-date=24 September 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The product claimed to be the strongest beer made is Schorschbräu's 2011 ''Schorschbock 57'' with 57,5% ABV.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brewdog.com/blog-article/the-battle-to-brew-the-worlds-strongest-ever-beer |title=BrewDog Blog |author=MTC Media |work=BrewDog |access-date=18 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204170417/http://www.brewdog.com/blog-article/the-battle-to-brew-the-worlds-strongest-ever-beer |archive-date=4 February 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.benz-weltweit.de/derbraeuvomberch/index_eng.html |title=Welcome to Schorschbräu – Home of the Strongest Beers on Earth |work=benz-weltweit.de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225145026/http://www.benz-weltweit.de/derbraeuvomberch/index_eng.html |archive-date=25 December 2012}}</ref> It was preceded by ''The End of History'', a 55% [[Belgian ale]],<ref name=End>{{cite web |url=http://news.stv.tv/scotland/north/187819-scots-brewery-releases-worlds-strongest-and-most-expensive-beer/ |title=Scots brewery releases world's strongest and most expensive beer |publisher=news.stv.tv|access-date=24 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723194406/http://news.stv.tv/scotland/north/187819-scots-brewery-releases-worlds-strongest-and-most-expensive-beer/ |archive-date=23 July 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> made by BrewDog in 2010. The same company had previously made ''Sink The Bismarck!'', a 41% ABV [[India pale ale|IPA]],<ref name=Sink>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/7250444/Strongest-beer-in-the-world-Brewdog-produces-41pc-ale.html |title=Strongest beer in the world: Brewdog produces 41pc ale|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |access-date=24 February 2010 |date=16 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218131428/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/7250444/Strongest-beer-in-the-world-Brewdog-produces-41pc-ale.html |archive-date=18 February 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> and ''Tactical Nuclear Penguin'', a 32% ABV [[Imperial stout]]. Each of these beers are made using the [[eisbock]] method of [[fractional freezing]], in which a strong ale is partially frozen and the ice is repeatedly removed, until the desired strength is reached,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8380412.stm |title='World's strongest' beer with 32% strength launched|work=BBC News |access-date=27 November 2009|date=26 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091127053016/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8380412.stm |archive-date=27 November 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brewdog.com/product.php?id=46 |title=Buy Tactical Nuclear Penguin |work=BrewDog Beer|access-date=26 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129120007/http://www.brewdog.com/product.php?id=46 |archive-date=29 November 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> a process that may class the product as [[Distilled drink|spirits]] rather than beer.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/all-we-can-eat/beer/beer-anchors-away.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004165607/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/all-we-can-eat/beer/beer-anchors-away.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 October 2012 |title=All We Can Eat&nbsp;– Beer: Anchors away |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=24 July 2010 }}</ref> The German brewery Schorschbräu's ''Schorschbock'', a 31% ABV eisbock,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/nov/26/worlds-strongest-beer-scottish-brewdog|title=Scottish brewer claims world's strongest beer &#124; Society &#124; guardian.co.uk |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |access-date=27 November 2009 |first=Severin |last=Carrell |date=26 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130153519/http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/nov/26/worlds-strongest-beer-scottish-brewdog |archive-date=30 November 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schorschbraeu.de/schorschbraeu/site/ |title=Willkommen beim Schorschbräu&nbsp;– Die handwerkliche Kleinbrauerei im Fränkischen Seenland |publisher=schorschbraeu.de |access-date=26 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217014231/http://www.schorschbraeu.de/schorschbraeu/site/ |archive-date=17 December 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ratebeer.com/beer/schorschbrau-schorschbock-31/97069/|title=Schorschbräu Schorschbock 31% from Kleinbrauerei Schorschbräu&nbsp;– Ratebeer|publisher=ratebeer.com|access-date=26 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207083823/http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/schorschbrau-schorschbock-31/97069/|archive-date=7 December 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Hair of the Dog Brewing Company|Hair of the Dog]]'s ''Dave'', a 29% abv [[barley wine]] made in 1994, used the same fractional freezing method.<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/hair-of-the-dog-dave/23897/|title=Hair of the Dog Dave from Hair of the Dog Brewing Company|publisher=ratebeer.com|access-date=4 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129144911/http://ratebeer.com/beer/hair-of-the-dog-dave/23897/|archive-date=29 January 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> A 60% ABV [[beer cocktail|blend of beer with whiskey]] was jokingly claimed as the strongest beer by a Dutch brewery in July 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66S3SR20100729 |title=Brewer claims world's strongest beer |work=Reuters |access-date=8 September 2010 |first=Ben |last=Berkowitz |date=29 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906063036/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66S3SR20100729 |archive-date=6 September 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brouwerijhetkoelschip.nl/cms/ |title=Welkom bij Brouwerij Het Koelschip |publisher=brouwerijhetkoelschip.nl |access-date=8 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100803063820/http://www.brouwerijhetkoelschip.nl/cms/|archive-date=3 August 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>