There are countless beer enthusiasts across the globe who take great pleasure in the refreshing taste and mild alcoholic content of their favorite beverage. Among the various types of beer or beer-like drinks sold worldwide, malt liquor is quite popular. Although beer and malt liquor may appear similar, they are not identical and have some subtle differences.
Beer is a widely consumed alcoholic beverage, ranking as the third most popular drink after water and coffee/tea. It is made by fermenting barley using yeast, with the primary ingredients being barley, yeast, hops, and water. Beer has a long history, dating back to ancient Sumerians, and the process of making beer is called brewing, typically done in a brewery. Malted barley is first converted into sugars and then fermented using yeast, with hops added for flavor.
Key Takeaways
- Malt liquor is a type of beer with an alcohol by volume content of 5-8.5%, and its ingredients include sugar, corn, and sometimes rice, which contribute to a sweeter taste and higher alcohol content than beer.
- Beer has a lower alcohol content than malt liquor (less than 5% compared to 5-8.5% for malt liquor), and its brewing process differs slightly from that of malt liquor.
- Malt liquor is generally considered cheaper and of lower quality than beer by many beer enthusiasts and is typically sold in larger bottles (40 ounces) compared to beer (12 ounces).
