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Beer Trivia: Test Your Craft Brewing Knowledge

Quick, fun beer quiz with 15 questions. See your score instantly.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Susan ShacterUpdated Aug 28, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting elements related to Craft Beer Trivia Quiz

This beer trivia quiz helps you check your craft brewing knowledge, from styles and hops to history and tasting. Tackle 15 quick multiple-choice questions and see how you score. Then dive deeper with more beer trivia questions or try a brewing knowledge quiz, and if you love festivals, explore Oktoberfest trivia for a seasonal challenge.

Which of these is a classic American craft beer style?
India Pale Ale (IPA)
Porter
Bock
Pilsner
India Pale Ale (IPA) is one of the most popular modern craft beer styles known for its hop-forward profile. American craft brewers embraced and adapted the IPA, making it a signature of the industry.
Which ingredient primarily contributes bitterness to beer?
Water
Barley
Yeast
Hops
Hops are flowers from the hop plant that contain alpha acids and essential oils. During the boil, these compounds impart bitterness and aromatic qualities that balance the sweetness of the malt.
Which flavor descriptor refers to a sweet, caramel-like taste in beer?
Grassy
Sour
Citrus
Caramel
The term "caramel" describes a flavor reminiscent of sugar cooked to a golden brown, often found in malt. This descriptor signals the presence of specialty malts with caramelization.
What ingredient determines the color of beer most directly?
Malted barley
Hops
Yeast
Water
Malted barley undergoes roasting or kilning, which develops color compounds that range from pale gold to deep black. The degree of roast on the barley directly correlates with the final beer color.
The modern American craft beer movement is widely considered to have been jumpstarted in which city?
Denver
Boston
San Francisco
Portland
Anchor Brewing, founded in San Francisco and revived in the 1960s, is widely acknowledged as the catalyst of the modern American craft beer movement. The brewery's success inspired a wave of independent brewers across the country.
What distinguishes ale yeast from lager yeast in brewing?
Ale yeast produces less alcohol
Ale yeast bottom-ferments
Ale yeast cannot ferment maltose
Ale yeast ferments at warmer temperatures
Ale yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) performs best at warmer fermentation temperatures, typically between 15 - 24°C, producing esters and fruity flavors. In contrast, lager yeast ferments at cooler temperatures, yielding a cleaner profile.
In brewing, why is water pH important during the mash?
It affects enzyme activity that converts starches to sugars
It determines hop bitterness levels
It controls yeast flocculation
It sterilizes the wort
The pH of the mash liquid influences the activity of enzymes like alpha-amylase and beta-amylase that break down starches into sugars. Optimal pH (around 5.2 - 5.6) ensures efficient conversion and affects beer clarity and flavor.
Which flavor profile is typical for a classic Saison beer?
Fruity and peppery
Crisp and hoppy
Dark and coffee-like
Roasty and chocolatey
Saisons, originally farmhouse ales from Belgium, often exhibit spicy pepper notes and fruity esters from specialized yeast strains. This combination gives them a distinctive, dry, and effervescent profile.
During the mashing process, what key transformation occurs?
Beer is carbonated
Alcohol is produced
Hops alpha acids are isomerized
Starches are converted into fermentable sugars
During mashing, enzymes derived from malt convert complex starch molecules into simpler fermentable sugars like maltose. This process creates the sweet wort that yeast will later ferment into alcohol and CO2.
Approximately how long does primary fermentation usually last?
24 - 48 hours
1 - 2 days
7 - 14 days
3 - 6 weeks
Primary fermentation generally takes around one to two weeks, during which yeast rapidly multiplies and converts most sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This period is crucial for establishing the beer's fundamental flavor.
Which hop variety is known for imparting strong citrus aromas?
Hallertau
Saaz
Cascade
Fuggles
Cascade hops were one of the first American-bred hop varieties and are prized for their bright citrus and grapefruit aromas. They have become a cornerstone in American Pale Ales and IPAs for their aromatic contribution.
Which region experienced the fastest growth in craft brewery numbers between 2010 and 2020?
Asia
South America
North America
Europe
Asia, notably China and Japan, saw the most rapid increase in craft brewery openings over the past decade. This growth is driven by rising disposable incomes and growing consumer interest in craft beverages.
Which microorganism is primarily used to produce sour beer flavors?
Brettanomyces
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Pediococcus
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus bacteria convert sugars into lactic acid, lowering the pH and producing the tartness characteristic of sour beers. While Brettanomyces and Pediococcus can also contribute acidity, Lactobacillus is most commonly used in kettle-sour processes.
What term describes the body or fullness of a beer in the mouth?
Bitterness
Body
Clarity
Carbonation
Body refers to the perceived weight and fullness of beer in the mouth, influenced by residual sugars and unfermented dextrins. Beers with higher body feel richer and more viscous compared to lighter-bodied brews.
Which grain is commonly used to add roasted flavors in stouts?
Wheat
Roasted barley
Rye
Corn
Roasted barley is un-malted barley that has been kilned at high temperatures, resulting in a dark color and flavors like coffee or dark chocolate. It is a key ingredient in stouts, providing both color and roasted taste.
What fermentation method is characteristic of traditional Belgian Lambic beers?
Fermentation with champagne yeast
Spontaneous fermentation by wild yeasts and bacteria
No-fermentation process
Pure-pitch Saccharomyces fermentation
Lambics undergo spontaneous fermentation by wild yeasts and bacteria native to the Senne valley around Brussels. This unorthodox method yields complex, funky, and sour flavor profiles unique to this style.
Diacetyl in beer imparts which off-flavor, and how is it typically prevented?
Metallic flavor; prevented by cold crashing
Grassy flavor; prevented with late hop additions
Sour flavor; prevented by pasteurization
Buttery flavor; prevented by allowing a diacetyl rest at warm temperatures
Diacetyl produces a buttery or butterscotch off-flavor when present in excess. Brewers perform a diacetyl rest - raising the temperature near fermentation's end - to allow yeast to reabsorb and reduce these compounds.
Why is Anchor Brewing Company historically significant in craft beer history?
It invented the pilsner style in the 19th century
It is considered the first modern craft brewery in the United States
It introduced beer pasteurization
It was the largest global brewery in the 1800s
In the 1960s, Fritz Maytag revived Anchor Steam Beer in San Francisco, pioneering the independent craft beer ethos in the United States. Anchor Brewing's success demonstrated that small-scale breweries could thrive against large commercial producers.
Which emerging market has seen significant craft beer expansion in the last decade?
Belgium
Ireland
Czech Republic
China
China's craft beer sector has expanded rapidly due to urbanization, a growing middle class, and increased interest in premium beverages. This emerging market now hosts hundreds of breweries producing diverse styles.
What does the International Bitterness Unit (IBU) measure, and how does it affect beer taste?
Sugar content; higher IBUs make beer sweeter
Alcohol content; higher IBUs make beer stronger
Color intensity; higher IBUs darken beer
Concentration of hop bittering compounds; higher IBUs increase perceived bitterness balanced against malt sweetness
IBU quantifies iso-alpha acids from hops, reflecting potential bitterness. Higher IBUs correspond to greater perceived bitterness, though this is balanced by malt sweetness and other factors.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify key craft beer styles and ingredients
  2. Evaluate flavor profiles of diverse brew varieties
  3. Analyse brewing processes from mash to fermentation
  4. Apply beer tasting descriptors with confidence
  5. Master the history of craft breweries
  6. Compare global craft beer trends effectively

Cheat Sheet

  1. Dive into Craft Beer Styles - Get excited as you explore a rainbow of craft beer styles, from aromatic IPAs to velvety porters! Discover how malt sweetness and hop bitterness dance to create each unique character that keeps beer enthusiasts cheering. Read more about beer styles
  2. Master Flavor Profiling - Hone your palate by spotting key taste notes like zestful bitterness, subtle sweetness, and captivating aromas that sing from your glass. This tasty training level-up will make you a beer sommelier in training, ready to evaluate brews like a pro. Discover flavor profiles
  3. Understand Brewing Steps - Take a behind-the-scenes journey through mashing, boiling, and fermentation to see how each stage transforms humble grains into your favorite pint. The more you learn about this craft, the more you'll appreciate every sip. Explore brewing techniques
  4. Speak Tasting Lingo - Amp up your tasting notes game by tossing around words like "malty," "hoppy," and "crisp" to perfectly capture what's in your glass. Clear descriptors help you share your sensory adventures and compare notes with fellow beer lovers. Learn tasting terms
  5. Explore Craft Beer History - Travel back in time to uncover the origins of the craft beer movement and see how small-batch breweries reshaped beer culture worldwide. These legendary tales add depth to every sip and make brewery tours even more exciting. Read craft beer history
  6. Compare Global Trends - Jet-set across continents by comparing IPA crazes in the US, tart sours in Belgium, and smooth lagers in Japan. Spot how local ingredients and traditions flavor each region's beer identity. Discover global trends
  7. Barrel Aging Magic - Learn how aging beer in oak barrels once used for whiskey or wine infuses velvety vanilla, smoky char, and rich complexity. This trend level-sup your tasting adventures with boozy, layered flavors. Learn about barrel aging
  8. Non-Alcoholic Innovations - Discover the rise of zero-proof brews that pack full-bodied flavor without the buzz, perfect for mindful sippers and designated drivers. Breweries are crafting creative recipes to keep taste buds satisfied responsibly. Explore non-alcoholic brews
  9. Yeast's Flavor Role - Uncover how these microscopic powerhouses convert sugars into alcohol and CO₂, while releasing fruity esters or spicy phenols that define beer styles. Picking the right yeast strain is like choosing a co-chef for your brew kitchen. Dive into yeast science
  10. Water Chemistry Matters - Get into the chemistry lab as you learn why mineral levels in brewing water can make or break your beer's crispness or mouthfeel. Adjusting water profiles is a secret trick behind legendary brews. Read about water chemistry
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