A drink every once in a while can be a great way to stave off heart disease, and what better way than with a refreshing malt beverage?
Whether you’re a malt drinks connoisseur or a newbie, this guide has everything you need to truly understand this unique liquor.
Plus, find the varieties that look most delicious to you!
What is Malt Liquor?
Malt liquor, of which beer is one type, is a high-alcohol content fizzy beverage that tends to appear in a crisp pale autumnal tone or a warm amber hue. It is composed of malted barley along with adjuncts.
Adjuncts are unmalted grains added to the malt composition. These can be in the form of sugar, corn, or even rice.
The primary difference between traditional beer and malt liquor is the use of hops. While beer uses ample helpings of hops to give beer its traditional flavorings, malt liquor uses much fewer hops, if any at all.
Sweet Flavor
With fewer hops, the sugar in malt liquor really shines. There is more sugar in malt liquor to account for the higher alcohol content than regular beer. This, in combination with fewer hops, means a sweet, fruity, fizzy beverage that is perfect for the pallet.
Higher Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
Typically, a malt liquor’s ABV will be between 6 and 9 percent. This is between 1 and 5 percent more than the average beer.
Fermentation Process: Making Malt Liquor
For brewing malt liquor, the process begins similarly to making beer. Barley or another grain is the first ingredient.
In the malting process, which is the first step, the enzymes in the barley are isolated through heating and drying. Then you mash and steep the grains so that the enzymes release sugars.
This liquid that remains is wort, which gets boiled with hops as well as adjuncts to increase the ABV.
The final step involves straining and fermenting the wort in yeast. This process takes a few weeks to complete.
How Much is Malt Liquor?
Malt liquor is affordable to purchase and to make.
This is despite its typical high alcohol content and sweet, refreshingly fizzy flavor.
Top Types of Malt Drinks
Find your perfect match with malt drink options and suggestions that delight and inspire.
Non-Alcoholic Malt
Delectable varieties of non-alcoholic drink malt beverages like Maltina offer classic malt liquor flavors with nourishing vitamins and minerals. These products offer all the flavor packed into classic malt beverages, minus the alcohol content.
Alcoholic Malt
These refreshing drinks are perfect for a night out, with a crisp, sweet flavor and high alcohol content.
Malted liquors can be found with nearly double the alcohol content of traditional beers, making it a unique and powerful drink selection.
Your Tailored Guide to Malt Liquor
Malt liquor can be a delicious alternative to your usual mixed drink. Use this guide to help you learn about the composition, flavorings, alcohol content, and types of malt drinks.
Find out if a tasty malt concoction could be your next drink craving or future fave.
Read our blog for more of the best updates and ultimate guides on classic or brand-new food and drink selections.
