43 Beer Trivia Questions

Raise your glass and get ready to test your beer knowledge! 

Whether you’re a seasoned brewmaster or just enjoy a cold one now and then, beer has a rich history and diverse world of flavors to explore. 

In this blog post, we’ll serve up some fun and challenging beer trivia questions to see how well you know your brews. 

Share these questions with friends at your next beer-themed gathering or simply enjoy a solo challenge. Let’s dive in!

Beer Trivia Questions

1. What is the Reinheitsgebot and in which year was it enacted?
   
   
2. Name the four main ingredients used in the brewing of beer.
   
   
3. Which country is known for creating the beer style called ‘Pilsner’?
   
   
4. What is the difference between an ale and a lager in terms of fermentation?
   
   
5. Which city is home to the oldest continuously operating brewery in the world, and what is the name of this brewery?
   
   
6. What is the term used for the measurement of the bitterness of beer?
   
   
7. Which type of beer is traditionally served in a ‘yard glass’?
   
   
8. What is the name of the process in which sugars are converted into alcohol and carbon dioxide by yeast during beer brewing?
   
   
9. What is the term for the foam head created when beer is poured into a glass?
   
   
10. Which country is recognized for having the most breweries per capita?
    
    
11. What is the strongest beer in the world by alcohol content, and what is its approximate alcohol percentage?
    
    
12. In beer terminology, what does ‘ABV’ stand for?
    
    
13. What is a ‘trappist’ beer and what makes it unique?
    
    
14. Name the ancient Sumerian goddess of beer.
    
    
15. What type of beer is Guinness famously known for?
    
    
16. How does ‘dry hopping’ influence the flavor of beer?
    
    
17. What is the specific term for someone who collects beer bottles?
    
    
18. What is a ‘growler’ in the context of beer?
    
    
19. In what year was the first canned beer sold?
    
    
20. What is the difference between ‘stout’ and ‘porter’ beers?
    
    
21. What is the beer commonly referred to as ‘The Champagne of the North’?
    
    
22. What does the term ‘session beer’ refer to in the context of beer?
    
    
23. Which beer style is known for its banana and clove flavor profile, often produced by the yeast used in fermentation?
    
    
24. In what country did the ‘Oktoberfest’ beer festival originate?
    
    
25. What is the main difference between ‘pale ale’ and ‘India pale ale (IPA)’?
    
    
26. What is the term used for the scale that measures the color of beer?
    
    
27. Which beer holds the record for the most hops ever used in a single batch?
    
    
28. What is a ‘beer sommelier’ called?
    
    
29. What unique ingredient is used in the brewing of ‘oyster stouts’?
    
    
30. Name the process of continuously adding small amounts of hops during the boiling stage of brewing beer.
    
    
31. What is the traditional German beer law that specifies the four ingredients allowed in beer brewing?
    
    
32. Which European country is known for its spontaneously fermented lambic beers?
    
    
33. What is the specific term for a large, often decorative, beer mug traditionally used in Germany?
    
    
34. What beer style is characterized by its low bitterness and high alcohol content, often aged in barrels?
    
    
35. What is the name of the scale used to measure the original gravity of wort in beer brewing?
    
    
36. Which country is known for inventing ‘smoked beer’ and what is the traditional name for this style in their language?
    
    
37. What term describes the practice of blending different beers to create a unique flavor?
    
    
38. In what city was the first recorded use of hops in beer brewing?
    
    
39. What does the term ‘bottle conditioning’ refer to in the context of beer?
    
    
40. Which U.S. state is known as the ‘birthplace of American craft beer’?
    
    
41. What is the specific term for the frothy ring left on the glass as you drink a beer?
    
    
42. Which historical figure is known for their extensive work in developing pasteurization methods that benefitted beer preservation?
    
    
43. What is the name of the phenomenon where a sudden foam overflows from a bottle of beer when opened?

Answers

1. The Reinheitsgebot, also known as the German Beer Purity Law, was enacted in 1516. It originally stipulated that beer could only be made from three ingredients: water, barley, and hops.
   
   
2. The four main ingredients used in brewing beer are water, malted barley (or other grains), hops, and yeast.
   
   
3. The Czech Republic, specifically the city of Pilsen, is known for creating the beer style called ‘Pilsner’.
   
   
4. The difference between an ale and a lager is the type of yeast used and the temperature of fermentation. Ales are fermented with top-fermenting yeast at warmer temperatures, while lagers use bottom-fermenting yeast and are fermented at cooler temperatures.
   
   
5. The oldest continuously operating brewery in the world is in Weihenstephan, Germany. The brewery is called Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan and it dates back to 1040.
   
   
6. The measurement of the bitterness of beer is known as the International Bitterness Units (IBU).
   
   
7. A Yard of Ale, traditionally served in a yard glass, is a long glass used for drinking ale. It’s often associated with beers like strong ales or old ales.
   
   
8. The process in which sugars are converted into alcohol and carbon dioxide by yeast during beer brewing is known as fermentation.
   
   
9. The foam head created when beer is poured is commonly known as the ‘head’ or ‘beer head’.
   
   
10. Belgium is recognized for having the most breweries per capita.
    
    
11. The strongest beer in the world by alcohol content is ‘Snake Venom’ by Brewmeister, with an approximate alcohol content of 67.5%.
    
    
12. ‘ABV’ stands for Alcohol By Volume, a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in a given volume of an alcoholic beverage.
    
    
13. A ‘trappist’ beer is a beer brewed by Trappist monks. There are specific guidelines and criteria that these monasteries must follow to label their beer as Trappist.
    
    
14. The ancient Sumerian goddess of beer is Ninkasi.
    
    
15. Guinness is famously known for its dry stout.
    
    
16. ‘Dry hopping’ refers to the addition of hops to the beer during or after fermentation, giving the beer a more pronounced aroma without significantly increasing its bitterness.
    
    
17. A person who collects beer bottles is known as a ‘labeorphilist’.
    
    
18. A ‘growler’ is a container used for transporting draft beer. It is typically made of glass, ceramic, or stainless steel.
    
    
19. The first canned beer was sold in 1935.
    
    
20. The difference between ‘stout’ and ‘porter’ beers is mainly in their flavor profiles. Stouts generally have a more pronounced roasted flavor compared to porters.
    
    
21. The beer commonly referred to as ‘The Champagne of the North’ is Berliner Weisse, a type of sour wheat beer from Germany.
    
    
22. A ‘session beer’ refers to a beer with a lower alcohol content, typically below 5% ABV, making it suitable for drinking over an extended period without becoming overly intoxicated.
    
    
23. Hefeweizen, a German wheat beer, is known for its banana and clove flavor profile.
    
    
24. The ‘Oktoberfest’ beer festival originated in Germany.
    
    
25. The main difference between ‘pale ale’ and ‘India pale ale (IPA)’ is that IPAs are typically stronger and more hoppy in flavor than pale ales.
    
    
26. The scale that measures the color of beer is known as the Standard Reference Method (SRM).
    
    
27. The beer with the record for the most hops ever used in a single batch is ‘Hoo Lawd’ by Dogfish Head Brewery.
    
    
28. A ‘beer sommelier’ is commonly referred to as a ‘Cicerone’.
    
    
29. Oyster shells or even whole oysters are sometimes used in brewing ‘oyster stouts’, adding a unique flavor.
    
    
30. The process of continuously adding small amounts of hops during boiling is known as ‘hop bursting’.
    
    
31. The traditional German beer law specifying the four ingredients allowed in beer brewing is the Reinheitsgebot or the German Beer Purity Law.
    
    
32. Belgium is known for its spontaneously fermented lambic beers.
    
    
33. A large, often decorative, beer mug traditionally used in Germany is called a ‘Stein’.
    
    
34. Barleywine is a beer style characterized by its low bitterness and high alcohol content, and it is often aged in barrels.
    
    
35. The scale used to measure the original gravity of wort is called the Specific Gravity scale or Hydrometer scale.
    
    
36. Germany is known for inventing ‘smoked beer’, traditionally called ‘Rauchbier’ in German.
    
    
37. The practice of blending different beers to create a unique flavor is known as ‘beer blending’.
    
    
38. The first recorded use of hops in beer brewing was in the city of Hallertau, Germany.
    
    
39. ‘Bottle conditioning’ refers to the process where beer is allowed to ferment in the bottle itself, leading to natural carbonation and maturation of flavor.
    
    
40. California is often referred to as the ‘birthplace of American craft beer’, particularly due to the pioneering efforts of breweries like Anchor Brewing and Sierra Nevada.
    
    
41. The specific term for the frothy ring left on the glass as you drink a beer is ‘lacing’ or ‘beer lace’.
    
    
42. Louis Pasteur is the historical figure known for developing pasteurization methods that benefitted beer preservation, among other food and beverage products.
    
    
43. The phenomenon where a sudden foam overflows from a bottle of beer when opened is known as ‘gushing’. This can be caused by over-carbonation or the presence of certain contaminants.