Difference Between Beer and Malt Liquor

By: | Updated: Jul-24, 2021
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Alcoholic beverages are the ones that are made from the fermentation of grain or fruit. There are many types of alcoholic beverages available today and they can be divided into beer, wine, and malt liquor.

Since alcohol is one of the main ingredients, it has been used for thousands of years. The history of alcohol begins in ancient Egypt and the discovery of fermentation dates back to 2000 BC. It was first discovered by the Romans who brewed beer to cure headaches and as a tonic for the poor. The Romans then discovered how to make beer and it became popular as a drink. Today, beer is produced in more than 140 countries and is the most popular alcoholic beverage.

Malt liquor, also known as “rum”, has also been popular for a long time. It was first discovered by the English and French who made it out of potatoes or corn. It was also used to cure headaches and as a tonic for the poor. Later, the British also started making it out of barley and hops. Malt liquor was later used to fight against depression in England and became popular with soldiers during World War I.

The taste of malt liquor is very similar to beer, but there are some differences between them. This article will be discussing the differences between beer and malt liquor, their ingredients, the history of each drink, and the taste of each drink.

Summary Table

Beer

Malt Liquor

A drink made from malted barley, hops, and yeast A specific type of beer that is made from the main ingredient used in brewing beer
Lower alcohol percentage Higher alcohol percentage
Has a bitter and malty taste Sweeter in taste

Definitions

Difference Between Beer and Malt Liquor

What is beer?

Beer is a drink made from malted barley, hops, and yeast. It is produced by fermenting malt and/or starch (either in large or small quantities) to create an alcoholic beverage that can be consumed on its own or as part of a mixed drink. The term beer comes from the German word bier, which means “to foam”. It is brewed in large quantities to be sold for consumption on its own or as part of a mixed drink. Beer can be categorized into many different types, such as:

  1. Lager Beer

Lager Beer is a style of beer brewed using cold temperatures to produce a clearer and more refreshing taste. The term lager is German for “storage” or “to store”. This type of beer has a long shelf life and is meant to be stored and consumed over a long period of time.

  1. Porter Beer

Porter beer is another type of beer that uses dark roasted malts in the brewing process to give it a very dark color and more intense flavor. This type of beer was once thought to be the most consumed beer in the world, but its popularity has been surpassed by lager beer.

  1. Wheat Beer

Wheat Beer is another type of beer that uses wheat as a primary ingredient in the brewing process. The reason for this is because wheat contains higher amounts of protein and nutrients than barley, which is used in most other types of beer.

  1. Brown Ale Beer

Brown Ale is a type of beer that uses brown malts and dark roasted grains to give it a dark color and intense flavor. This type of beer is often brewed with an addition of chocolate malt, which gives it the rich brown color.

  1. Bock Beer

Bock beer is a type of beer that uses lager yeast in the brewing process to give it a clear, crisp taste. The word bock means “strong” or “mighty” in German, and this is reflected in the strong flavor of this type of beer.

What is malt liquor?

Malt liquor is a specific type of beer that is made from the main ingredient used in brewing beer. Rum, whiskey, and wine are other ingredients that can be used in making malt liquor. The main ingredient is made from malted barley, which is then fermented into beer. Other ingredients may include wheat, rye, corn syrup and other sugars.

Some malt liquor types include:

  1. Black and Tan: This is a traditional drink that consists of equal parts of Guinness and Bass Ale.
  2. Old Style Lager: A beer with 5-7% alcohol content, this is the original style of beer brewed in the United States.
  3. Cream Ale: Also known as Blonde Ale, this is a type of beer that has a light color and high carbonation.

Beer Vs. Malt Liquor

While beer and malt liquor may be very similar in taste, there are some differences between them. Now, let’s take a look at the differences between beer and malt liquor.

  1. Ingredients

Beer is made from malted barley, hops, yeast, and water. Malt liquor is usually made from corn syrup, sugar syrup, alcohol (usually 40%), high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), water, yeast or bacteria (optional), flavorings, caramel color, or sodium benzoate.

  1. Alcohol percentage

Usually, beer has an alcohol percentage of 4.5% by weight. On the other hand, malt liquor has an alcohol percentage of between 8-40%. The higher the alcohol percentage, the stronger the taste.

  1. Calories

Beer is lower in calories than malt liquor. On average, beer has 80 calories per 12 oz serving and malt liquor has 150-200 calories per 12 oz serving. Although both are alcoholic beverages, in general, beer is more nutritious than malt liquor because it is made from natural ingredients.

  1. Taste

Beer has a more malty taste while malt liquor has a more sweet taste. The malty taste of beer can be very hard to describe, but it is a taste that is found in a lot of different types of food and drinks with a little bit of bitterness.

There are many different types of malt liquor, but they usually have a similar sweet taste. The sweetness comes from the corn syrup and HFCS in the drink. Some malt liquors have artificial sweeteners in them to make the drink taste sweeter.

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