There are many types of beer and then there is malt liquor. Many people are rather perplexed as to what they actually mean and how they are different. Most people, especially those who like beer, will opt for light beers or even stronger beers but not resort to malt liquor. Those who love malt liquor will shy away from beers with their relatively low alcohol content. Many people indeed believe that the varying alcohol content is the only difference between beer and malt liquor. That is not the case. Beers are made from various kinds of grains or cereals. The process of brewing or micro brewing varies as well. The exact alcohol content is only one of the many attributes of a beer or malt liquor. Before we delve into the substantive difference between beer and malt liquor, it must be stated that the latter has nothing to do with malts of whiskeys or scotch. The malts used for beer or malt liquor are very different and so are the processes than how whiskeys or scotches are made.
Difference between Beer and Malt Liquor
The first difference is the price. You would notice that beer often costs more than malt liquor. This is of course not universal as many malt liquors are more expensive than some cheap beers. The prices, like that of any other product, whether it is an alcoholic beverage or not, will depend on various factors. The exact ingredients, the method of production, distribution and the value of the brand will all play a role.
Those who are wondering if there is any tangible difference between beer and malt liquor should note the difference in alcohol content. In the United States, most beers would have an alcohol content of 3.6% to 3.8% of the total weight. Light beers would have much lower alcohol content. There are some beers that have almost no alcohol or a tiny 0.5% to less than 1%. Strong beers, which are very common in Europe and Asia, would have alcohol content of around 5%. Lighter beers would often have 4% or less. However, exceptions do exist there as well.
In case of malt liquor, the alcohol content is substantially higher. Some brands have 8% of alcohol by weight. Some brands of malt liquor would have around 7% alcohol. It is widely accepted that 7% to 8% is the alcohol content in malt liquor. There are many exceptions. Some brands of malt liquor have alcohol content of 5% to 6%.
As a rule of thumb, beers are lighter than malt liquor. Since they have less alcohol, they are less likely to make you drunk as compared to malt liquor. In regards to health and addiction, both may have the same impacts so there isn’t much difference, certainly not on a large proven scale, to be cited.
There is another, rather significant, difference between beer and malt liquor. Almost all beers are fermented using one of the two processes. One is top fermentation and the other is bottom fermention. The usually light or strong beers that you get in the stores are top fermented. The wort or the brew of the malt, be it of rice or corn, water and hops, is fermented with the yeast sitting at the top. That is how stouts, ales and porters are made. In case of malt liquor, the brew or the malt is bottom fermented. The yeast sits at the bottom during the brewing process.
You may have observed that malt liquor is a tad sweeter than beer. That is primarily because of the high content of fermentable sugars. The bottom fermentation process also makes the malt liquor spicier than almost all popular beers. This process is also partly responsible for the higher alcohol content.
Similarities between Beer and Malt Liquor
Beer and malt liquor are both considered as light alcoholic beverages. They don’t contain alcohol contents anywhere close to the popular whiskeys, scotches, wines or champagnes. Even premium vodkas contain a lot more alcohol than beer and malt liquor. Both beer and malt liquor can be made of the same original ingredients. But the exact malt or the brew will be different. While light beers are almost always made using the top fermentation process and malt liquor would almost always use the bottom fermented process, there are exceptions. Some brands making beer may use the bottom fermented process to raise the alcohol content, especially in strong beers. But the malt or the brew will be different. As a result, the way the yeast works in the tank would also vary.
Today, the culture of micro brewing has become a trend. People are experimenting with their skills and there are some standard and some rather ingenuous ways being tried out. The typical or traditional different between beer and malt liquor may not completely apply to small micro breweries or personal brewers.