One of life’s small pleasures is heading to your favorite bar for happy hour and enjoying a beer with friends. When you order a brew, you know it contains alcohol, but have you ever thought about how much is actually in the glass? Compared to other alcoholic beverages, beer typically contains less alcohol, but it varies widely by the type of beer and brewing process. 

Understanding Beer’s Alcohol Content

All alcohol is created by the process of fermentation, in which yeast metabolizes sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Generally speaking, the longer the fermentation process, the more alcohol the final product contains.

Because beer is not fermented nearly as long as wine or liquor, it typically contains much less alcohol than those drinks. On average, beer is 4-6% alcohol, although there are some specialty brews that contain significantly higher levels. 

How Alcohol Content Is Measured

The next time you order a bottle of beer at happy hour, check the label. Chances are, it will list the beer’s alcohol by volume, or ABV. Brewers measure ABV by using a hydrometer during the brewing process. The hydrometer measures the density of the beer before and after fermentation.

Using the typical brewing process, it’s nearly impossible for beer to be higher than 10% alcohol. This is because the yeast used to ferment the beer becomes inactive when the alcohol content reaches 10%. Liquors like whiskey and vodka must go through a distillation process to remove water from the fermented mixture in order to achieve higher levels of alcohol. 

Why Alcohol Content Matters

The alcohol content of your favorite drink not only influences the effect of the drink on your body, but it also changes the flavor and mouthfeel. The higher the alcohol content, the stronger the flavor, and the more the drink “burns.”

Most commercial beers are well-balanced, meaning that you don’t taste the alcohol. When you’re ordering at happy hour, remember that darker beers, including IPAs, tend to have more alcohol than pale ales and “light” beers.

For your next happy hour get together, grab a beer and some pizza at Papa Rocco’s, one of the most popular bars in Gulf Shores, AL. This restaurant is known for its oysters and pizza, plus the kitchen stays open all night. Stop by with friends and family to enjoy nightly live music. Call (251) 948-7262 to learn about specials, and keep up with the latest bar and restaurant updates on Facebook.