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Beer
Beers for Delivery or Pickup
About beer
Did you know that only water and tea are consumed more than beer? Beer is made from grains, including malted barley, maize, wheat, and rice. The alcohol by volume (ABV) of most beers falls between 2-4%, although some can go as low as 0.5% or as high as over 50%. Today, there are many choices when it comes to beer, from specialty craft beers to shandies to traditional light beers. Which ones do you want to order via Instacart?
History of beer
Beer is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages and is enjoyed by many people across the globe. The oldest confirmed beer dates back to the 5th millennium B.C. in Iran. Beer consumption is found in the written history of Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. As far back as 7,000 B.C., the ancient Chinese may have brewed beer with rice, grapes, and honey. The brewing industry changed from artisanal to industrial during the Industrial Revolution. More than 35 billion gallons of beer are produced and sold annually around the world.
Brewing beer
Water, a starch source or grain, brewer's yeast, and flavoring, such as hops, are blended during the brewing process to create this alcoholic beverage. During the brewing process, the yeast either ferments on the top or bottom of the beer mixture or spontaneously ferments, creating a different category of beer. Top fermenting yeasts produce stouts, ales, porters, and wheat beers. Bocks, pilsners, and lagers are created using bottom-fermenting yeast. Spontaneous fermentation yields beers that are sour such as lambic beers.
Beer is measured by its color, strength, and bitterness. The malt determines the color of a beer, which can range from pale amber to dark caramel. A beer's strength is based on its ABV level, determined by the number of fermentable sugars and the variety of yeast used to ferment the beer. Finally, beer has a perceived bitterness measured using the International Bitterness Units (IBU) scale. This scale was developed by the European Brewery Convention and the American Society of Brewing Chemists.
Drinking beer
Enjoy your beer by the bottle, can, or straight from the keg or cask. Many people chose to enjoy a draft beer at their local tavern in a frosty mug or stein to add to the experience of having a "cold one." You can order various beers in bottles and cans through the Instacart app to enjoy at home. From India Pale Ale (IPA) to stouts to porters and everything in between, Instacart can hook you up from purchase to delivery. Check the app to find participating retailers in your area.
Shop from the comfort of your couch as you select a 12-pack of your favorite and a 6-pack of a new variety to check out. Once you have completed your order, an Instacart shopper will take it from there. They will go to the store to select your purchases and then deliver to your doorstep, sometimes even in under two hours! Instacart allows you to spend your time doing more of what you like instead of time pushing a cart at the store.
Beer Near Me
Buy your favorite Beer online with Instacart. Order Ales, Lagers, Specialty Beers, and more from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
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FAQs about beer
While you don't need to learn the numerous varieties and styles of beer, it is important to have a basic knowledge of the types to help you in the selection process. Differences in beers are based on the type of yeast that is used to ferment the beer. Knowing the kind of beers you prefer will help you narrow down your choices.
Beer is made from water, a starch source or grain, yeast, and hops. Starch sources include malted barley, maize, wheat, and rice. Yeast options are top-fermenting, bottom-fermenting, and spontaneous-fermenting; each produces a different category of beer. Hops add a distinctive flavor and aroma to the beer and help it stay fresh longer and maintain its foam head.
The brewing process consists of seven steps: malting and milling, mashing, lautering, boiling, fermentation, conditioning, and packaging. The malting process prepares the grain to convert the starches into sugar. Milling crushes the husk of the grain to expose the starchy center while keeping the hulls intact. Mashing adds hot water to the grain to activate the enzymes and convert the starches into sugar.
Separating the mash into residual grain and wort (sugar liquid) happens during lautering. A prolonged boil sterilizes the beer after the wort has been separated from the grain. The liquid is fermented in a stainless steel vat by adding yeast which interacts with the sugars to create the alcohol and carbon dioxide. Beer is filtered to remove the yeast and proteins during the conditioning process. Finally, the beer is packaged for consumer use.
The type of yeast used in the brewing process determines which category the beer falls under, ale or lager. Ales are made using top-fermenting yeast and are typically offer a more extensive range of flavors. Bottom-fermenting yeast is used to produce lagers, which are smoother and crisper than ales.
Yes! You can find retailers that offer beer through the Instacart app. Some restrictions do apply to the purchase of beer through Instacart. You must be at least 21 years of age or older to purchase beer and other alcoholic beverages. Instacart does not take special requests for beer purchases. If your beer selection is not available, the Instacart shopper will contact you to determine a suitable substitute. Instacart shoppers will not make a substitution without your approval.
A non-alcoholic item will not be accepted as a substitute for an alcoholic item. You must substitute one beer for the unavailable beer. When the Instacart shopper delivers your beer to your doorstep, you will be required to show a legal photo ID to prove you're over 21 years of age. Your ID will be scanned upon delivery.