| [pending revision] | [pending revision] |
Content deleted Content added
→Alcohol consumption and health: more detailed map & wikilink |
→Types of alcoholic beverages: Copy-editing. |
||
Line 213:
==Types of alcoholic beverages==
{{main|List of alcoholic beverages}}
Alcoholic beverages that have a lower alcohol content (beer and wine) are produced by [[fermentation]] of sugar- or starch-containing organic material; beverages of higher alcohol content (spirits) are produced by fermentation followed by [[distillation]].
The process involved (as well as the resulting alcohol content) defines the finished product. [[Beer]] involves a relatively short (incomplete) fermentation process and an equally short aging process (a week or two) resulting in an alcohol content generally between 3-8%, as well as natural carbonation. [[Wine]] involves a longer (complete) fermentation process, and a relatively long aging process (months or years -- sometimes decades) resulting in an alcohol content between 7-18%. [[Sparkling wine]] is generally made by adding a small amount of sugar before bottling, which causes a secondary fermentation to continue in the bottle. Distilled products are generally not made from a beer that would normally be palatable as fermentation is normally completed, but no aging is involved until after distillation. Most are 30% or greater alcohol by volume. [[Liqueur]]s are characterized by the way in which their flavors are infused and typically have high sugar content. Spirits typically contain 37.5% alcohol or greater and are not infused with flavors during the distilling process, however some modern spirits are infused with flavors after distilling (the Swedish vodka [[Absolut Vodka|Absolut]], for instance or Polish infused cranberry vodka Sobieski).
| |||