ABSTRACT
Beer is an expression of the human spirit. This chapter explores the basics of beer's stylistic diversity and how humans' knowledge of the factors influencing authentic differentiation can be useful in beer formulation, brewhouse management, and beer evaluation, tempering government regulation, presenting beer competition guidelines, and elevating the image of beer in the marketplace. All beer types evolve from the combination of and relationships among: ingredients, processing, packaging, marketing, and culture. The basic elements are summarized. Most beer is made from four essential ingredient types: water, fermentable carbohydrates such as barley malt, starch, and sugar adjuncts together with free amino nitrogen (FAN), hops, and yeast. There are hundreds of processing variables that can influence the perceived flavor, aroma, appearance, mouthfeel, balance, and overall character of beer. The packaging process can introduce varying levels of oxygen into the final beer, thus influencing flavor stability.
