What is better to drink? Beer or wine? Apart from the occasion, choosing between the two quite often depends on what you are looking for?
Along with the values of protein, fiber, folate, B vitamins, and niacin found in beer, the nutritional value of beer exceeds that of wine. It makes the beer more like food. While hops may inhibit obesity, it is true that you can better socialize with hipsters.
Is beer a type of wine?
No, beer is not a form of wine. They are two different things and come from different sources. Let us get to know them better.
Main Differences Between Beer & Wine
The only similarity between wine and beer is that they are both derived from fermentation. And both contain alcohol as well. It is where the common foundation ends. While wine uses grapes and grape juice as a base, beer primarily comes from grains.
Wine, however, is manufactured using grape juice together with veggies, and beer, on the other hand, is made with wheat, barley, yeast, and other ingredients including fruits and spices at times.
The process of making wine and beer also considerably differ. Making wine involves a much simpler process than manufacturing beer. Wine is basically made by fermenting the juice of fruits, mostly grapes, and then bottling the drink.
Beer, on the other side typically is produced by turning grains like barley or wheat into a spoonful. The mash is then brewed with hops and spices, allowing the mix to ferment with the addition of yeast.
Moreover, although carbonated wines exist, wine is not commonly carbonated. Carbonated wines are referred to as sparkling wine. Nevertheless, regular wines are generally not carbonated.
Producing Beer
Barley is the most common grain used for fermentation in making beer. The barley is first malted or roasted enough so that the grain sets about to germinate. It is then roasted and the grain is milled to remove the husk. Subsequently, it is boiled in water to flavor the wort. Brewers call these This aforementioned procedure is called ‘mashing’ by the brewers.
The result is a mildly sweet wort which is then transferred to a kettle for brewing. The brewer will next further opt to give the wort some bitterness and aroma by incorporating hops during this time.
The mixture is then cooled and transferred to a fermenter with yeast after the wort finishes brewing. It is subsequently left to sit and ferment for a few weeks. With dStouts and porters, there are four main types of beer. These are thick, dark, and malty.
Flavors, Mouthfeel & Gravity of Beer
Some of the differences, varieties, and types of beer include:
- Ales: These are commonly reddish or dark in color. Ales can also taste bitter to some people. Consumption of this beer make up almost 1/3 of all the beers devoured in North America.
- Lagers: Normally, Lagers are a kind of beer that is aged for a couple of months and kept just above freezing point during the whole procedure. They are lighter than most beers but can either be bitter or sweet to taste.
- Malts: Most often, all dark and sweet beers are called Malts.
What is Wine?
The lion’s share of wines are produced by fermenting grape juice. Nonetheless, you can’t just use any type of grape for making wine. You will need special wine grapes. The amount of sugar in the grape, normally differentiates between regular grapes and wine grapes. Higher amounts of sugar in wine grapes typically means that greater amounts of alcohol can be produced during the fermentation process.
Wines are most commonly named after the region in which these grapes are produced. Some of the more common types of wine produced are as follows:
- Cabernet Sauvignon: This is a thick red wine with notes of spices and black cherry.
- Chardonnay: It is a white wine. Chardonnay is dry but also contains hints of bourbon due to aging in oak barrels.
- Pinot Grigio: It is a dry white wine that has hints of fruits.
- Pinot Noir: It is a dry and red wine. Pinot Noir is smooth yet mildly acidic.
- Riesling: It is a sweet yet tart white wine. Riesling has both fruity and floral notes.
- Sauvignon Blanc: This is a dry white wine that pairs well with spices and meats. Sauvignon Blanc has a subtle herbaceous flavor as well.
- Syrah: It is a unique red wine. Syrah is said to taste like tobacco and plums.
- Zinfandel: This is a sweeter red wine having a herbal edge. Quite a few Zinfandels can either be white or pink. It depends on the type of grapes that have been blended into the recipe.
Nutrition & Serving Size – Beer Vs Wine:
Talking of nutrition, 5 ounces of wine normally yields around 125 calories. On the other hand, 12 oz bottle of beer holds around 146 calories. Some craft beers can reach up to almost 300 calories per serving.
The typical serving size for beer is normally 12 ounces. On the other side wine is commonly 5 ounces per serving. However, a single serving of wine has the same amount of alcohol as 12 ounces of regular beer. It is also equal to 1.5 oz of an 80-proof spirit.
A single glass of wine will have around 11% to 13% alcohol. However, there are some blends of wine that contain far less or far more than this. Though the average 12 oz bottle runs between 4-5% is also true for beer. Nevertheless, some craft beers are also much higher than that.
Beer Vs Wine: Which is Healthier?
Drinking beer gives you a beer belly is a common belief. Consuming wine can be healthy for your heart is another. The truth is that consuming either beverage in moderation is the key. They can both have some health benefits of their own. As with most alcoholic beverages, those benefits can unfortunately be quickly nullified by excessive consumption.
Nevertheless, here is what you need to know if you’re curious about which one is healthier:
- Excessive amounts of either of these beverages can trigger hangovers, headaches, and damage to liver. Red wine is even found to cause migraines sometimes.
- Moreover, white wine is found to have enough acid to demineralize teeth.
- Hoppy beer has nutrients that remineralize bones. Eventually, they increase density of minerals.
- Hops can reduce restlessness and anxiety according to a German study.
- Hops are also found to inhibit obesity.
- However, the nutritional value of beer is far better than wine does. Moreover, beer has far more protein, fiber, B vitamins, niacin, and folate than wine does.
- A glass of red wine is found to have about 187 mg of potassium; Along with a decent amount of fiber.
- Red wine contains resveratrol. It is a flavonoid that can reverse the effects of aging.
- Too much wine can elevate your triglycerides. These are most commonly associated with kidney disease, diabetes, and heart disease.
The nutritional difference between beer and wine is most obvious. While beer is healthier to drink in moderation, wine, and most of the benefits of wine come only from the red varieties of the beverage.
Sorry, white wine lovers, alongside the nutritional values of each, we cannot overlook the differences in alcohol by volume (ABV) per serving of the two as well.
Conclusion
Beer and wine are not entirely dissimilar in the end. Although they do taste a whole lot different, each one of these two drinks come with its own varieties and brewing methods.
The difference between beer and wine basically stems from your preference and requirements of the individual’s body. Everyone has a beverage that they enjoy. Your friend might be popping open a bitter DIPA while you might love to have a crisp glass of chardonnay.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Is wine better to drink than beer?
Beer might be better to drink than wine from a health perspective. Compared to wine, beer has a better nutritional profile. It makes beer more of a food than a beverage. Beer also has more nutrients and vitamins but fewer antioxidants. Wine on the other hand has fewer calories than beer and a large amount of potassium as well. However, either beer or wine in excessive quantities are harmful. You can find that both will make you equally drunk and unwell.
How many beer sizes equal a glass of wine?
A single serving size of beer (12 oz.) is considered equivalent to 5 ounces of wine. But this is not necessarily true when you compare the ABV. A single 12oz bottle of beer with an ABV of 3.8% doesn’t compare to a 5oz glass of red wine with a 9% ABV. Moreover, drinking two glasses of a high alcoholic wine is going to get you noticeably much drunker and more quickly than two bottles of beer would do.
