Beer myths, facts & FAQs
There’s no shortage of beer misconceptions, pseudo-science and half-truths floating around. From pint units to frozen beer and craft beer definitions, we’re clearing things up once and for all with expert-backed answers to the most common beer questions.
How many units in a pint of beer?
A unit of alcohol is equal to 10ml (or 8g) of pure alcohol. Because beer varies in strength and serving size, units give us a consistent way to measure alcohol intake.
How many units in a pint of lager?
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A pint (568ml) of 4% beer contains 2.3 units
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A 330ml bottle of 5% beer contains 1.6 units
So:
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6 pints of 4% beer = 14 units
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6 medium glasses of wine = 14 units
Despite wine being stronger (around 13% ABV), the smaller serving size balances things out.
How many units in a pint of Guinness or Moretti?
As a guide:
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Guinness (4.2%) ≈ 2.4 units per pint
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Birra Moretti (4.6%) ≈ 2.6 units per pint
Exact values vary slightly by batch and dispense method.
How many pints are in a litre?
In short, 1 litre = 1.8 pints but if you want to know more, then read how many pints in a litre for a full explainer.
What is craft beer?
Funnily enough, there’s no official or clear definition for ‘craft beer’ although there is one for ‘craft brewer’, even though we don’t say that ‘craft beer is brewed by craft brewers’. A craft brewer is ‘small, traditional and independent'. But even Heineken started out that way.
Perhaps a definition isn’t necessary: craft beers are immediately recognisable by their taste and appearance. The craft beer revolution lives in the heart of the beer drinker and that is where the battle has long been fought!
Read more about the craft beer revolution.
Can I drink a beer that has been frozen?
If a beer freezes all the way through the bottle or can, it may well also be damaged. If this happens it could become unsealed, then it will lose carbonation and end up being flat. If the can has burst (which is quite likely), your beer might even explode. This is because liquids expand when frozen, the added pressure can cause a rupture.
“Chill haze” will also make your beer look very unappealing. Put simply, "Chill haze" is due to the haze-producing proteins residing in beer that bind to each other. When they get cold, they become visible enough to reflect light, this can appear to look anything like an opaque sheen to chunky floating bits.
In other words, beer with chill haze? It may look bad but sure, drink it.
Can you freeze beer?
No! Do not freeze your beer. As mentioned above, this can ruin it.
However, if you want to make an Ice Bock, then the answer is yes! You can do this through freeze-distilling, this is how Snake Venom is made. To put it simple: put beer in a plastic bottle. Freeze it. Open the bottle, put it above a glass and defrost. The first thing that melts is alcohol (and taste), so the result is a liquor like “beer”.
When was beer invented?
Beer is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages. The traces of its existence date back to around 4000 or 5th millennium B.C. in Mesopotamia, at the dawn of cereal agriculture. Spontaneous fermentation can take place with wild yeasts found in the air and the sugars found in most cereals. Therefore, it is reported that drinks resembling beer were independently developed globally after the domestication of cereal.
Who invented beer?
Women.
In early societies, brewing was domestic work and therefore done by women. Their role in shaping fermentation, preservation and brewing techniques is foundational to modern beer.
Does beer go off?
In short, yes. But it will not make you ill because of the boiling during the brewing process and thanks to the alcohol and hops, a beer does not contain any bacteria or germs. That being said, with most beers, the closer you drink it to the expiry date the better. It will just taste fresher. Read more about storing beer here.
What are the best beer glasses?
The tulip glass, type INAO is the glass that will suit all styles. The TEKU glass also is the best glass for beer tasting all kinds of beers, with the exception of Pils.
Check out our detailed article on beer glasses for more.
What is the strongest beer in the world?
"Snake Venom", by Scottish brewery Brewmeister, is 67.5% alcohol! For comparison, Vodka is typically 80 proof, or 40% alcohol.
This is achieved through several successive rounds of freezing and defrosting during the fermentation process.
Which country drinks the most beer per capita?
Despite stereotypes, the UK ranks 25th.
Top beer-drinking nations:
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Czech Republic – 145L per person per year
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Namibia – 108L
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Germany & Austria close behind
The Czech Republic has held the top spot for over 20 years.
Are there dark white beers?
White beers are actually wheat beers, the name of the style comes from the confusion in German between the word wheat, Weizen, and the white colour, Weiss. A German white beer is a beer made in part (50% minimum) with wheat. For the rest, we can use barley malts of different colours, so we can find amber or brown and white beers in Germany.
Interested in German beers? Also, read about Witbier and Weizens.
How to store beer
Vertically. This will reduce the aging due from oxidation. Also, storing beer on its side can cause a “yeast ring”, where sediment clings to the bottle. This will make your beer look very unappealing, and you don't want that! However, some say you should lie down bottles with a cork (like some geuze) in order to keep the cork moisten, like with wine.
In terms of temperature, a general rule of thumb: the lighter the flavour of the beer, the colder it can be served. As beers go up in alcohol, they are generally drunk at a warmer temperature. Stronger beers are often cherished for the complexity of flavour and aroma, therefore sip them more slowly. Weaker beers are often consumed for their refreshing characteristics. A Cask Ale can be be drunk anywhere between 11 – 13°C, whereas Lagers and kegs should generally be dispensed between 5 – 8°C. There are even some that flourish most at 14°C!
Read our articles on how should beer be stored? and beer serving temperatures.
How is gluten-free beer made?
There are two ways to do it, either by using a portion of naturally gluten-free cereals and thus lowering the allowed level of molecules under 20 ppm (parts per million). The alternative technique called deglutenisation works by breaking down the gluten molecules with natural enzymes to go below the threshold of 20 ppm.
Read this article: Gluten free beer
Canned beer vs bottles?
Cans are the best way to protect beer against the inevitable decrease of flavour over time. Beer is a product made from natural ingredients, and therefore, sadly, does not have an eternal life. The taste reduces rapidly when beer is exposed to light, air and high temperature. Light, especially UV-rays, react with hops and cause nasty sulphur compounds - but tin is 100% light-tight, and thus beats every bottle. Oxygen reacts with beer and causes it to oxidize, making the beer smell like a wet newspaper - but tin is also 100% airtight.
Cans also have countless environmental benefits over bottles. Read more about canned vs bottles beer.
What is root beer?
Root beer is not particularly common in the UK. It is most commonly carbonated and non-alcoholic, although not exclusively. It usually has a thick and foamy head and generally tastes quite sweet. The most distinct flavour is sassafras, the closest parallel is Dandelion & Burdock.
Beer has been part of human culture for thousands of years, so it’s no surprise that a few myths and misunderstandings have built up along the way. Hopefully, this guide has helped clear things up and answered some of your most common beer questions. Whether you’re counting units, choosing the right glass, or simply enjoying your next pint a little more knowingly, one thing remains true: beer is best when it’s enjoyed with curiosity, moderation and good company. Cheers to learning more and drinking better!