It doesn’t matter who you are or what flavors you like in a beer; I know for a fact that you’re paying attention to the ABV.
Everybody cares about alcohol by volume (ABV) to some extent. If you’re trying to relax after a day of work, you’re probably going to pick a 4.5% session beer over a 13% ABV barleywine.
So, what exactly is ABV, and how is it measured in beer?
How ABV is Measured in Beer
Alcohol by volume is, by definition, measured by taking “the number of milliliters (mL) of pure ethanol present in 100 mL of solution at 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit),” per Wikipedia.
Let’s translate that into English:
ABV represents the amount of ethanol (alcohol) in a set amount of liquid. It more or less tells you what percentage of the drink is alcoholic.
Based on the strict definition, let’s get something clear: ABV changes even after a beer is canned or bottled. Depending on the temperature, the alcohol by volume of your beer could fluctuate. Sure, the change is so small that it’s usually negligible, but it still changes.
Other than that, there isn’t anything too special about measuring ABV in beer. Your local brewer makes the beer, bottles it, slaps an ABV percentage on the label, and that’s how you know you’re drinking a 5.8% stout.
But guess what? The label that tells you the ABV is probably wrong, and governing bodies around the world know it.
If you didn’t want to click on that link, I’ll break down the interesting part: the US government accepts that a malt beverage (i.e., beer) can be within 0.3% off from what’s labeled. The EU is even more tolerant, letting alcohol be within 0.5% of what’s labeled.
Beer is alive, and time makes it ferment. The time between when ABV is measured and when you drink it can be a while, and more fermentation can happen during that period. More specifically, the alcoholic content of your beer, wine, etc., can grow over time.
Is ABV Measured Differently in Liquor, Wine, and Beer?
Based on the definition, ABV is measured the same regardless of what the drink is. Different alcohol classifications are essentially for the consumer (and the government, if they choose to tax/regulate specific alcohols).
Because these drinks have different measurements (beer around 6%, whiskey around 40%, and so on), standard pours generally equate to the same amount of alcohol consumed.
So, the difference in alcohol consumed between a full IPA and a shot of tequila is likely minimal, depending on how fast you drink them and how strong your IPA is.
Please note that this 1-to-1 ratio doesn’t take into account your 125 proof bourbon or your 3.5% light lager. It’s a general guideline, not a strict one.
ABV vs Proof: What’s the Difference?
Ok, so you know what ABV is. Why does liquor say proof? Why doesn’t beer say proof? What is proof?
The term “proof” dates back to old-timey England, where liquor was taxed based on strength. Of course, nobody knew how to measure strength, so they would just have to determine if it was strong with “proof.” Eventually, the term “100 proof,” which amounts to a strong alcohol, was measured using a super complex gravity system that set proof at about 57% ABV.
Fortunately for people living in the modern world, proof has since been simplified to equal double ABV, which is close enough the previous definition of proof. So, an 80 proof liquor would be 40% ABV. Aside from that, people say proof instead of ABV because it sounds cool.
ABV vs IBU: What’s the Difference?
You’re in a local brewery, and you see numbers on the board labeled ABV, IBU, and $. You know what ABV is now, and I’m pretty sure you understand the cost ($).
That other term, IBUs, stands for the International Bittering Units scale. The IBU tells you how bitter a beer is. This is super useful when you’re trying something new, and you hate (or love) bitterness. As a general rule of thumb, the lower the IBU, the less bitter the beer.
What’s A High ABV In Beer?
Beer’s ABV can range from low (roughly 4% ABV) to really high (well above 10% ABV). The strongest beer in the world is 67.5% ABV, but nobody should ever put themselves through that torture; it can’t be worth it.
Expect most beers to range from about 5-6% ABV. Lighter beers, like lagers, will probably hover around 5% ABV, while stronger beers like IPAs will tend to range from about 6-7% ABV. Granted, all brewers are different and prefer different styles, so ABVs vary depending on where you drink.
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