Types of Alcoholic Drinks
Seriously now, let's talk about alcohol. For teetotalers who are making their foray into the world of alcohol, it can be a very overwhelming jaunt. With so many forms of alcoholic drinks pouring in from all sides, one might not know what to do (read drink). Sure, one hears about beers and wines and tequila shots and rum and cokes - but what is what?! What exactly are these things? Drinking which drink will get you drunk to the point of passing out and which will only induce a slight high? There must be millions of questions like these swarming in your brain right now. Not to worry. Let's take you through the types of alcoholic drinks and it'll be easier for you to know exactly what you are getting into. A little information here and there and who knows, maybe it'll tempt you enough to want to grab a cocktail right after? We'll see.
Alcoholic Drinks and their Types
In this following article we will study three basic categories of alcoholic drinks. They are as follows.
- Beer
- Wines
- Spirits
Beers
Beer is probably synonymous with alcohol. It is widely consumed throughout the world and is a part of several world cultures. Beer is produced by fermenting and brewing different starches of cereals like wheat, corn and rice. But the most popular form of beer is malted barley. To lend beer its characteristic bitter taste, hop cones are added. They also act as preservatives for the beer. The alcoholic content of beer is around 2% to 4%. But in some, it can go up to 20% as well.
The two main types of beers are Lager and Ale. The difference between Lager and Ale beer is the different temperatures at which they are fermented. Ale beers are fermented between temperatures of 60-70 degrees F, whereas Lager beers are fermented between 50-58 degrees F. This leads to different levels of ester compounds which either lend a rounded fruitiness to the drink (ales) or a clean, crisp and angular feel (lager).
There are several other categories of ales and lagers. Some of these are: Brown Ale, Dark Ale, Kolsch, Pale Ale, Mild Ale, Old Ale, Wheat beer and Bock, Dunkel Lager, Dry Lager, Pilsner, Vienna Lager, Marzen, Dopplebock, etc.
Wines
Wines are very popular in several cultures and are used as an accompaniment with many foods. They lend a different flavor to the food if teamed with the right kind. Wines are mostly made from grapes. These grapes are crushed using different types of yeast. The yeast is responsible for converting the sugars from the grapes into alcohol. The fermentation process that is involved in brewing wines is longer. It could be aged for several months or even years. The more it is fermented, the better its flavors run. The alcoholic content of wines is around 9%-16%.
Wines can be divided into two categories Red Wine and White Wine. But that is not the end of it. Wines are not limited to these two categories but run into several forms. The reason being that wines are named after the types of grapes that are used to make them or the region in which they are made. The determining factor of whether a wine is red or white depends on whether the skin of the grape is included in the fermentation process or left out.
The different types of white wines are - Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Semillon, Muscat, Pinot grigio, etc. And the different types of red wines are - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Pinot noir, Zinfandel, etc.
Spirits
Spirits is the term given for those forms of drinks that are unsweetened and distilled. They are made by distillation of an already fermented product that results in the formation of alcohol. The content of alcohol in spirits is 20% and above.
There are countless drinks that fall in the category of spirits and are colloquially referred to as hard drinks. These drinks have a high alcoholic content in them and therefore can hit the person very hard if not consumed with care. The effect of these drinks can be lessened by diluting them with certain mixers like soda, energy drinks, aerated drinks or bottled water. They can also be consumed in their purest form without mixing them with anything.
The more popular types of spirits are as follows.
Whiskey
Whiskey is made by fermenting different cereals such as corn, wheat, barley and rye. The alcoholic content of whiskey is about 40%-50%. The term 'scotch' has become synonymous with whiskey. Scotch Whiskey was originally made in Scotland and is marked as one of the best good quality whiskeys. The types of whiskeys are - American Whiskeys like Tennessee Whiskey, Bourbon Whiskey, Single Malt, Rye Whiskey, etc.
Rum
Rum is a distilled drink that is made from fermenting sugarcane or molasses. It is then stored in oak barrels for over 30 years but sometimes even less. The alcoholic content of rum is 40%-55%. The popular types of rum are Black rum, Dark rum, Aged rum and Amber rum.
Brandy
Brandy is another form of distilled drink that is made from fermenting wine (this wine is made by fermenting grapes). Therefore, brandy is made by fermenting fruit juices. The alcoholic content of brandy is 30%-60%. The types of brandies are Grape brandy, Fruit brandy and Pomace brandy.
Gin
Gin is made by fermenting juniper berries. It comes in a combination of alcohol, water and several flavors. The alcoholic content of gin is 37%-40%. The most popular gin is martini, and other popular drinks include Gin and Tonic, Gimlet and Pink Gin.
Liqueurs
These are made by adding flavors like fruits, herbs, creams and spices. They are usually sweet and have an alcoholic content of 15%-30% but it may even go up to 55%. These are usually consumed in small quantities post dinner. Some popular liqueurs are Chocolate Liqueurs (Lady Godiva), Coffee Liqueurs (Kahlua), Cream Liqueurs (Bailey's, Amaretto, Tia Maria), Fruit liqueurs (Grand Marnier, Cointreau, Curacao), etc.
Tequila
Tequila is made from a plant called the blue agave that is mainly harvested in the Mexican country. The alcoholic content is 35%-40%. It is stored in oak barrels to bring out its flavors. Tequila is usually consumed straight, that is without adding any mixers to it. But it can be had the other way round as well.
The higher the content of alcohol, the stronger the drink. Therefore, one has to be extremely careful in the way they consume alcohol. An occasional drink is usually acceptable, but taking it to the levels of addiction is never appropriate.
Now that you know about the different types of alcoholic drinks, may the experimenting begin! See what you like best and have a jolly time...Cheers!
