Malt beer facts for kids
Malt beer is a sweet drink that tastes a bit like regular beer but has very little alcohol. It's made in a similar way to beer, but the process is carefully controlled to keep the alcohol content very low, usually between 0% and 2.5% alcohol by volume (ABV). ABV tells you how much alcohol is in a drink.
To make sure there's not much alcohol, brewers can do a couple of things. They might add yeast at a very cold temperature (around 0°C), which means very little alcohol is made (less than 0.5% ABV). Or, they might stop the brewing process once the drink reaches a low alcohol level, usually around 1% to 2% ABV. Malt beer is made from simple ingredients like barley malt syrup, sugar, yeast, hops, and water.
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What is Malt Beer?
Malt beer is known for being a bit nutritious. In ancient times, like in Ancient Egypt, people drank a form of malt beer called zythum. They believed it helped with digestion. However, it was not recommended for people who were sick or pregnant.
Is it a Soft Drink?
Sometimes, people call malt beer "malta" or "wheat soda." But the word "malta" usually refers to a different kind of soft drink that tastes similar but has no alcohol at all. Many popular brands in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland that are called Malzbier are actually types of Malta. The same is true for some Danish brands like Tuborg Supermalt. In the United Kingdom, Danish malt drinks have become popular with families from South Asia since the 1970s.
Malt Beer Around the World
Malt beer is enjoyed in many different countries.
Popular in Iceland
After soft drinks, malt beer is one of the most popular drinks sold in Iceland. The two main brands there are Egils Maltextrakt (which has 1.2% ABV) and Víking Maltöl (with 0.9% ABV). Also, a special seasonal drink called hvítöl is available during Christmas, which has 2.2% ABV. The malt beer in Iceland was inspired by a Danish drink called maltøl, which is still made in Denmark today.
South America and the Caribbean
In Southern Brazil, where many German immigrants live, a brand called Brahma Malzbier is very popular. People there mostly drink it during the colder winter months. Varieties of malt beer are also popular in some countries in the Caribbean.
Middle East and West Africa
In Israel, you can find brands like Nesher Malt, Malt Star, and Malti. In West Africa, brands such as Guinness Malt, Amstel Malt, Maltex, and Malteni are sold. These are often seen as energy drinks.
