Brewer's Terminology Shortlist

Everywhere in the world there are brewers.  Not all of them speak the same language

nor whistle the same tunes.  But, they all know the ins and outs of brewing beer,

experimentation, and achieving their goals.

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Here are is a very short list of common terminology that may help you understand

a little more about what we (Gunner & Chef) talk about on the show.

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ABV = Percentage of Alcohol By Volume

IBU = International Bitterness/Bittering Units

OG = Original Gravity. A reading to ascertain potential alcohol percentage before pitching.

FG = Final Gravity. Specific gravity ratio of the density of beer to the density of water at the end of fermentation, often taken with a hydrometer (or saccharometer)

SRM = Standard Reference Method (a measure of lightness/darkness in beer)

EBC = European Brewery Convention

Pitching = the process of carefully adding yeast to the wort to reduce stress on the yeast and maximize alcohol production

volCO2 = Volume of Carbonation

Nitro = Nitrogen infused beer simulates a creamier mouthfeel with lower carbonation

Imperial = strong beer with higher ABV produced using more ingredients. The practice began in England during the late 1800s.

Notes = Distinguishable Flavors

Mash = hydrated barley, malt enzymes, grain starches, & fermentable sugars. This is the “hot stage” which produces Wort.

Wort = liquid extracted from the mash containing the sugars which the yeast will ferment to produce CO2 and alcohol

Malt = Extracted sugars and other compounds found in grains such as barley

Yeast = living unicellular fungi which consumes sugars to produce carbon dioxide, alcohol, and flavor

Hops = Humulus Lupulus (Cannabaceae) flowers containing yellow glands of Lupulin resin, alpha compounds, and essential oils responsible for aroma, flavor, and bitterness, balancing the sweetness of malt. Hops can be added to both the mash and wort.

Alpha(AA) = Alpha acids (α acids) of Lupulin isomerized in boiling wort.

Head = Beer bubbles that rise to the top of the glass, usually measured in "fingers"

Fingers = a visual estimate of the thickness/body based on the beer head/foam

Nose = Olfactory Scent/Smells perceived from the glass after a pour

Body = the fullness of viscosity, thickness, flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel

Mouthfeel = the textural attributes of beer as it is consumed

Lace (or Legs) = Residue from beer head as it clings to the inside of the glass

Color = The overall color/darkness/lightness based on SRM/EBC

Burnt = When the particulates in a mash or wort get scorched due to high watt density, temperature, and other factors.

Hop Burn = extreme astringency in aftertaste typically associated with hops, most often in "Hazy" IPAs

Bugged = a bad batch of beer due to improperly sanitized equipment, poor ingredients, bacteria, mildew, etc.

Dry Hopping = adding dry hop pellets to fermented beer for extra aroma and flavor.

Detailed info here:
https://brewhaequipment.com/blogs/how-to-brew-beer/120040129-preventing-scorched-wort-and-burnt-flavor-in-your-beer
https://www.craftbeer.com/craft-beer-muses/defining-gravity
https://www.motherearthbrewco.com/nitro
https://beermaverick.com/highest-alpha-acid-aa-hops

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Gunner & Chef recommend the Beer and Brewing website for a comprehensive and huge list of jargon/terminology:

https://beerandbrewing.com

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