Corn beer
Corn beer is a fermented , alcoholic and carbonated drink, the valuable components of which are extracted from corn (among other things) . The sugars obtained from corn starch are essential for the fermentation process of this beer .
The best-known contemporary representative, which is also occasionally consumed in Europe, is the Mexican Corona beer with an alcohol content of 4.5%, which is also made with rice and barley malt , among other things .
The color of the corn beer can vary widely and can take on yellowish, pink or purple tones. The type of corn used for brewing is primarily responsible for the color . For example, to get the typical purple color of the chicha morada , the maiz murado variety is particularly suitable .
history
The production of corn beer has a long tradition in many parts of the world, such as South America or Africa, and was already an integral part of the Inca culture in Peru , for example .
After the discovery of America, corn was also grown in Europe. Maize is particularly characterized by its resistance to persistent drought and heat. There were also higher yields on average and fewer crop failures. After corn could be produced more cheaply in Eastern Europe than the barley used up until then for the brewing process , it also became a substitute for barley malt in beer production in Europe.
The chemical composition of maize, in particular the ratio of nitrogenous and nitrogen-free substances, is much more similar to that of barley malt than that of comparable barley malt substitutes. This can also be seen in the yeast that is produced during the main fermentation process. The yeast of the corn beer behaves in the same way as the yeast obtained from a barley malt wort. As a result, corn beer is more similar to beer made from barley malt in terms of color, taste, shine and shelf life than comparable beers made from other types of grain such as rice , wheat or rye .
Corn beers
- Chibuku - Shake Shake - Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania u. a. (Africa)
- Chicha - Peru (South America)
- Corona - Mexico (North America)
- Hwahwa - Zimbabwe (Africa)
- Sonnäu - Switzerland (Europe)
- Miller - Milwaukee (WI, USA)