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Fermentation
Fermentation
Ethanol is created from the fermentation of starch, sugar, and other carbohydrates. These chemicals can be found in crops such as sugarcane, grains, or corn.
Many different crops can be fermented and result in different alcoholic beverages based on the crop that is fermented with unique names and tastes.
For example, beer is usually made from grains, wine is from grapes, and rum is usually from sugarcane.
Fermentation is the process by which large organic molecules are broken down into simpler molecules through microorganisms. It is usually associated with the conversion of sugars and starches into alcohol by enzymes found inside yeast.
During Fermentation, starch is converted to simple sugars such as sucrose and glucose. Those sugars are then converted to alcohol and carbon dioxide.
Ethanol can also be created through reacting ethylene with water and an acid catalyst.
Ethylene, not ethanol, is found naturally in petroleum, natural gas, and plants.
Fermentation was actually one of the first chemical reactions observed by humans.
As fruit rotted it created a tasty juice that past humans called "wine".
Brewing Beer
Brewing Beer
Step 1. Malting: Soak barley grains in water until they begin to sprout (germinate). Then take the grains and place them in a kiln to quickly dry them, creating malt.
Step 2. Mashing: Mix dried malt with water and heat until the starch in the malt converts and is released into the mixture as simple sugars. Remove malt which leaves behind a liquid known as wort and pronounced as wert.
Step 3. Boiling: Boil the wort for a period of time. At this point some brewers add hops, which are blossoms of the hop plant that have been dried. The hops give the beer a certain flavor and smell that is common in beers.
Step 4. Fermentation: First you have to let the wort cool, after which, add yeast which will begin fermenting the beer. Place the brew inside a tank over several months to let the flavor of the brew develop as the beer grow old. The organisms inside of the yeast will eat the sugar in the beer and release alcohol and carbon dioxide as waste.
Step 5. Clarify: After the beer has fermented for the desired time, strain the rest of the yeast out of the mixture and obtain a mug to consume your new alcoholic beverage.
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