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What is in beer? The ingredients behind your favourite pint

Badger pint and bottle of Blandford Fly beer 31st January 2025

Beer, one of the world’s oldest and most popular beverages, is a staple in pubs and homes across the UK. But have you ever wondered what’s actually in that frothy pint?

 

Here’s a closer look at the key ingredients that make up this beloved drink.

 

Four essentials beer ingredients

Most traditional beers are crafted from four primary ingredients: water, malted barley, hops, and yeast. Each plays a crucial role in creating the flavours, aromas, and textures that beer enthusiasts cherish.

1. Water in beer

Water makes up a large percentage of beer and significantly impacts its taste. Brewers often select specific water sources for their mineral content, which can influence the beer’s flavour.

 

At the Badger Brewery in Blandford, we use pure Dorset water. This is naturally filtered through the Cretaceous chalk downs, making the water high quality and high in calcium. It is this combination which makes our locally sourced water perfect for brewing.

2. Malted barley in beer

Malted barley, or malt, is the backbone of beer. The grains are soaked, germinated, and then dried to create a base that provides the sugars needed for fermentation.

 

The Badger Brewery uses a combination of malts to craft signature flavours, from the full-bodied, biscuity taste of the Fursty Ferret to the roasted and rich Master Stoat. Depending on the roasting process, malt can impart a range of flavours, from sweet and biscuity to rich and chocolatey.

3. Hops in beer

Hops are the flowers of the Humulus lupulus plant. They add bitterness to balance the sweetness of the malt and provide distinctive aromas and flavours, such as citrus, pine, or spice.

 

The Badger Brewery is known for its careful selection of hops, blending traditional British varieties with modern international hops to create unique, well-balanced beers. Hops also act as a natural preservative, extending the beer’s shelf life.

4. Yeast in beer

Yeast is the magic ingredient that turns sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide through fermentation. Different strains of yeast contribute unique characteristics to the beer.

 

Carefully selected by our Head Brewer, our unique yeast gives clarity, brightness and clean flavours to our Badger and Outland beers.

 

Modern beer twists

While the classic quartet forms the foundation of beer, many modern brewers experiment with additional ingredients to create unique flavours. Fruits, spices, coffee, chocolate, and even oysters(!) have made their way into brewing vats.

 

We’re no stranger to innovation, with offerings like the best-selling Badger Golden Champion which boasts elderflower notes, and Outland Hazy IPA, with refreshing tropical fruit notes.

 

A brief history of beer

Beer has been brewed for thousands of years and while the core ingredients have remained consistent, brewing techniques and flavours have evolved dramatically, reflecting cultural preferences and technological advances. At the Badger Brewery, with over 245 years of brewing heritage, every pint is a testament to our dedication to tradition and innovation.

 

Cheers to knowledge

Understanding what’s in your beer can deepen your appreciation for this time-honoured beverage. Whether you’re sipping a crisp lager or savouring a complex stout, each pint tells a story of tradition, creativity, and craftsmanship.

 

At the Badger Brewery, that story includes a commitment to quality, local ingredients, and a passion for brewing. So, next time you raise a glass, you’ll know a bit more about the liquid gold within.

 

Fancy a taste? Visit our online store where you can buy beer online and explore all the best of the Badger and Outland range. Cheers!

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