Beer is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the world. People have loved beer for years since it was invented in the 5th millennium BC in Iran. 

Have you ever wondered how many Budweisers get lost in mustaches over the year or why beer is yellow? 

In this post, we have covered all the answers you need. So here, you’ll find 17 exciting questions about beer that you were afraid to ask.

1. Why are beer bottles 330ml?

We know that the industry size of the beer glass is 330ml or 500ml, but why? Obviously, 330ml came from the American use of fluid ounces, and 500ml came from Europe as half of a liter. Besides, 330ml is half of a pint.

330ml is the best size because it is a good-sized drink that is small enough to stay flat and cold from the time you drink the glass until the end.

2. Why do beer bottles have long necks?

In beer bottles, everything is made with a purpose. The beer bottles have long necks for a few reasons:

• It makes it easier to drink and to pour a beverage into a glass with fewer bubbles;
• A bottle with a long neck is easier to seal with a cork or something like that;
• The long neck prevents beer from evaporation;
• It’s much easier to form a seal over a small area. Larger areas require more force to be sealed. Thus, closures for wide-mouth vessels are costly for beer manufacturers.

3. Why is most beer sold in brown glass bottles?

Brown (or any other dark glass) blocks out the sun rays that can spoil the beer. Light penetrates the beer and changes the flavor; that’s why manufacturers sell beer in dark bottles.

Usually, beer lasts from 3 to 6 months in a fridge in a sealed bottle.

4. Why do they put the lime in Corona beer?

Corona beer is typically served with a lime slice wedged on the top of the bottle. Throughout history, salt and citrus have been used to keep food fresh and bug-free. 

Picture an old western saloon with lots of bugs that strive to dive into your beer bottle. This is why you put a slice of lime on the bottle top to keep it from flies and other insects. 

Do you know that beer was first invented to help purify the water? That’s why keeping it clean from the bugs was a considerable concern.

5. Why is beer yellow in color?

Since beer is mainly made from hops and grains, it has a yellow color, just like ripe grains. However, as the yeast ferments the sugars in the grains, the color of the beer can change during the brewing process and chemical reactions. 

Beer contains way more grains than hops, so the green color of the hops does not influence beer color in the end.

6. Does beer color determine the taste?

Beer color says almost anything about its taste. Usually, the light beer features grainy flavors, like biscuit, bread, and toast. While copper and amber beer are more likely to showcase slight toffee and caramel flavors. 

Clearly, dark or black beer color tells about coffee and cocoa flavors. However, beer color can be misleading. 

Below we have shared the beer flavor wheel to better understand beer flavors depending on the color.

Beer flavor wheel. Source: Edible OKC

7. Does light ruin beer?

Light can cause the beer to spoil. That’s why beer is often stored in green or brown glass bottles to help filter the sun rays. Aluminum cans and kegs block the sunlight completely. 

Light can harm beer because UV rays from the sunlight cause a chemical reaction with the essential oil of the hops. This process creates chemical compounds that give the beer a smell similar to a skunk.

8. What is IPA?

IPA or India Pale Ale combines numerous types of beer with herbal, citrus, and fruity flavors. The final product mainly depends on the hops used, but IPA could be bitter and contain a high alcohol level. 

IPA is also considered the first introduction to the world of craft beer. It would help if you tried various IPA beers to find out what is the best for your tastebuds.

9. What is dark beer? 

The difference between light and dark beer is caused by the grain that is used to brew beer. Most beer is created using wheat, barley, and oats. 

Usually, these grains are roasted at various temperatures to get different tastes. The more grains are roasted, the darker beer you’ll get in the end.

10. Is Guinness dark beer?

Guinness is not dark and not even a brown beer. Instead, Guinness is a deep dark red beer that the company gets by roasting malted barley during the beer preparation process.

11. Why is beer bitter?

The alpha acids from the hops are the main reason why beer is bitter. 

To reduce beer’s bitterness, the time the hops are boiling should be cut down. The most bitter sorts of beer are IPA (India Pale Ale), Imperial IPA, and American Pale Ale.

12. How long is the beer fermentation process?

Beer fermentation time varies and depends on many factors, such as the gravity of the brew, whether you’re making an ale or a lager, the yeast you use, and what style you’re brewing. 

New brewers usually can’t wait to try their beer, so one-week fermentation in a primary and one week in a secondary fermentation could be enough. 

However, most recipes also suggest 4-6 weeks of bottle conditioning before drinking. You may find that you like beer with longer or shorter fermentation time.

13. How much beer is consumed in the world per day?

In 2018, overall U.S. beer consumption per adult over age 21 was around 28.2 gallons (or 106 liters) per year. 

Thus, the average adult in America is drinking about 10 ounces (or 200ml) of beer per day, or roughly one six-pack per week.

14. Which country drinks beer the most?

Romania drinks the most beer, with 100 liters per capita in a year. Among the other countries that consume the most beer per year are:

• Romania. 100.3 liters per capita.
• Germany. 99.0 liters per capita.
• Poland. 97.7 liters per capita.
• Namibia. 95.5 liters per capita.
• Ireland. 92.9 liters per capita.
• Spain. 88.8 liters per capita.
• Croatia. 85.5 liters per capita.
• Latvia. 81.4 liters per capita.

15. What is a lager?

Lager is a perfect beer for newcomers because it is made with bottom-fermenting yeast with a lower tolerance to alcohol. 

Lager features a light, crisp, mellow taste. Among the best American lagers are Budweiser, Miller High Life, Coors, and Yuengling.

16. What beer is the best? What is the most popular beer?

Due to Statista, Budweiser was the most consumed beer in the United States in 2020. It is worth 14.65 billion dollars. 

The second most popular beer is Heineken. The third one is Stella Artois. After them goes Bud Light and Corona.

17. Is beer always carbonated?

Years ago, ancient beer was not carbonated, but it was a little bubbly after fermentation if you drink it fresh. 

However, these days thanks to pressurizing in glass bottles and metal kegs, carbonation has increased. 

Conclusion

This article has learned why Corona beer is served with lime, why beer is bitter, and what IPA is. I hope you enjoyed reading this article with interesting facts about beer. What other exciting things do you know about beer? Feel free to share in the comments section below.