How Much Water Is In Beer You Drink?

Have you ever wondered what makes your Beer exceptional? Any guesses? Is it the malt, hops, or yeast? But, those who vouch for any of these are in for a disappointment. Yes, it’s neither. The secret ingredient here is water. Surprising. Let’s delve into it. Water, popularly called “liquor” in the brewing process of Beer, is the most critical element. Water provides Beer with its characteristic taste, texture, and quality.

But how much water in Beer? You might be astonished to learn that your Beer comprises 90-95% water. Yes! It is a significant amount. Brewers worldwide play with water chemistry to add that extra spark to your Beer. The quality, quantity, and water source finally decide whether Beer is bitter, soft, or harsh.

Isn’t it interesting? If your curiosity is spiked, then you are here for a treat. In this article, you will see why water is so essential for the beer brewing process, how to measure the amount of water in Beer, and what contents determine the Beer’s texture and palatability. So, keep scrolling.

Table of Contents

How Important is Water in Beer Production?

Water is a silent player in Beer Production. A good Brewer knows how much water is in Beer and how it balances the taste. Brewing water determines three pivotal factors.

water in beer

First is the pH of the Beer, which decides how Beer affects your palate.

Second is the seasoning of the Beer. The sulfate-chloride ratio is responsible for it.

Third, the chlorine or other contaminants in water disturb the entire flavor of the Beer.

This clarifies the importance of how much water does it take to make Beer. A good beer is all about the water balance. The source of water and the ions present in it significantly influence the final product. A perfectly brewed beer is also top-notch for culinary geniuses. They use it to prepare perfect brats. Additionally, consider the duration of boiling brats in Beer to attain an ideal flavor.

If you are in the brewing industry or a beer lover, wait before you take out your reading glasses.

2 Ways To Measure Water Content In Beer

Now we understand that water is Beer’s actual “hero.” How much water does it take to make Beer? Beer us see how we can measure the water content in Beer. There are a couple of ways, including both with and without the use of equipment, that aid in measuring the water content in Beer. Here, we are going to discuss two of the most popular methods-

Using ABv

ABv is a technical way to find how much water is in Beer. Beer is an equipment-based method. The equipment used is a hydrometer, which measures the gravity of your Beer. Beer ease, you can correlate it with a thermometer. A hydrometer similarly reads gravity measurements as temperature readings in a thermometer.

Following are the steps that you can follow if you are measuring water in Beer using ABv for the first time:

Before adding the yeast, take a sample of the cooled wort in a test.
Insert the hydrometer. Then, note down the original gravity(as per the reading on the hydrometer).
Then, pour the sample back into the fermenter. ( Note- follow strict sanitization protocols).
Let the fermentation process complete.
Before bottling up your final product, take a sample in the test tube.
Measure the final gravity reading.
Calculate the ABv score.

Formula to calculate ABv score:

(Original Gravity- Final Gravity)* 131 = ABv%

But how do you measure water content from the AB score?

Water%= 100-ABv

A vital tip: Note the bottom reading of the hydrometer meniscus. If you find any difficulty, remember how you use a thermometer, and you will get the idea.

Another thing is that you need not worry about the bulky calculations. If you are a maths genius, then it’s okay. Do it. Otherwise, if you and numbers are not the best friends, plenty of online calculators are available that would love to do the job for you.

See Also: What Are Draft Beers?

Using Beer Bottle Size

Beer Bottle provides the easiest way to help you analyze how much water is in Beer. You are a beer person; you must have plenty of empty beer bottles at your place. So, why not use these bottles to measure the water content?

The measurement depends on the size of the available bottle. The most commonly available bottles in the US are 12 oz and 32 Oz bottles of Corona Extra. These bottles contain 95% water.

beer bottles

Keeping Corona bottles as standard, you can use the following formula to gauge the proportion of water-

Water Oz in Beer= Size of Bottle *95%

Using the given calculation, the water oz in a 12 and 32 Oz bottle will be 11.4Oz and 30.4Oz respectively. The alcohol content is relatively low. These results are perks for those who look for low-alcohol beer choices. Now, can you calculate how much water is in Bud Light?

How Does Water Content Affect Beer?

Water makes up 90-95% of Beer’ Beer’ customers. The proportion speaks for itself. But let’s enlighten you with facts about how vital the contents of water are in beer production-

pH Chemistry

pH is an important parameter that determines the taste of the Beer. Balancing pH at every level of the brewing process is crucial. It is around 5.6 at the mash stage and falls to 4-4.5 during fermentation.

ph chemistry

Water quality balances the brewing process’s pH, ultimately ascertaining the taste. For instance, a sour beer has a pH of 2. Substances like gypsum, Epson, and baking soda alter the pH of water.

Role Of Ions

Calcium, magnesium, chloride, sulfates, and sodium formulate the beer quality directly or indirectly. Each constituent plays a different role.

Calcium regulates the mash acidity, reduces haze, and decreases wort color. Magnesium governs the enzyme activity in the brewing process. Mg+2 also polishes the taste of the final Beer. Similarly, sodium provides the Beer with its mouthfeel quality.

role of icons

It adds alkalinity to the brewed Beer. If your beer tastes hard, you can blame sodium for ruining your pleasure. Likewise, a balance between chloride and sulfate ions indicates that the final product is malt-forward or hop-forward.

Besides the percentage of water in Beer, another crucial factor determining the Beer experience is the brewing process. Be it alcoholic or non-alcoholic Beer, Beer’s essence lies in the steps that brew it.

Source Of Water To Make Beer

The article talks about how much water is in beer since the start. When Beer’s principal constituent is water, the source from which brewers pool water also demands attention. So, let’s quickly have a look at the primary sources of water:

underground and surface water

Municipal Water: Most breweries rely on municipal water supply as their primary source. Municipal corporations in the United States treat and make the water suitable for drinking. The processes involved impact the quality and quantity of water.
Underground sources: Wells are used to draw water from underground sources. The quality of the water depends on the geology of the underground aquifers. The constituents remain constant if the aquifer is isolated from surface sources such as lakes and pools. The underground source is rich in minerals.
Surface source: Water from lakes, pools, rivers, and dams belongs to this category. The brewers must consider the alterations brought by rainwater to the composition and temperature of surface sources. Contrary to underground water, surface water is short in mineral content.

Besides these three primary sources, some big breweries also own private wells. The source of water plays a vital role in rendering the texture of the final Beer.

FAQs

How much water makes Beer?

90-95% water makes up Beer.

Does drinking beer count as water intake?

Drinking Beer instead of Beer will cause dehydration.

How many beers in a day is okay?

For men, two beers or less in a day, and for women, one Beer or less is suitable.

What is the water level in Beer?

The water level in Beer is 90-95%.

Conclusion

Beer brewing is an art. How much water is in Beer? It is a typical beer that pops into the mind of every beer lover. A good, crisp beer is all you need to burst the stress. The water is the undisputed champion in the brewing process. Water determines its quality and flavour by constituting a majority of 90-95 per cent of Beer.

Water is also crucial when it comes to priming sugar. If you are a first-time brewer, consider how much water is required for priming sugar. The ion composition and the water source are also key players. The region regulates the consistency, ion composition, etc. Undoubtedly, “How much water does beer have?” is a quest that resolves the mystery of beer brewing.

Kendall Jones

Kendall Jones: Seattle journalist, freelance writer, and top contributor to Washington Beer Blog. Published 5,400+ stories on beer and brewing.