Explain the 3-tier system in the US - ANSWER brewery/importer-wholesaler-retail-con-
sumer
requires legal separation
Who pays federal, state and sales taxes on beer? - ANSWER Breweries=federal
wholesalers=state
retailers=sales
What are the advantages of the 3-tier system? - ANSWER 1. supposed to make tax collec-
tion easier for the state
2 protect consumers from abuses by companies that make/sell alcohol
3. create competition in the market
What are exceptions to the 3-tier system? (3) - ANSWER 1. breweries selling beer in tap-
room (onsite or offsite consumption)
2. allowing brewpubs to sell beer
3. small breweries self-distribution
Who pays the federal excise tax, and how is the amount determined? - ANSWER brewer-
ies. Based on production output. Ranges $7-18per barrel.
Who pays state tax and why does it exist? - ANSWER Wholesalers. State tax is a "sin tax"
and is supposed to decrease consumption and raise money for programs to deal with harm
from the product.
1
,What are the ways to assess the physical condition and age when it is delivered? - AN-
SWER 1. check date code
2. check physical condition of keg
3. check temp of beer
Alcohol is a ___________ and affects people in low concentrations. - ANSWER central
nervous system depressant
What is the BAC for impairment as defined by the AMA? - ANSWER .04
How is alcohol absorbed into the system? - ANSWER simple diffusion into the blood
where does the most efficient absorption of alcohol take place in the body? - ANSWER
small intestine - because of large surface area.
10-20% absorbed in stomach
75-80% absorbed in small intestine
How long does it take to reach peak BAC levels? - ANSWER as little as 30 minutes or as
long as 4 hours
Does eating delay alcohol absorption? - ANSWER yes. because pyloric valve at bottom of
stomach closes to to allow digestion keeping the alcohol from reaching the small intestine as
rapidly
How is alcohol eliminated? - ANSWER liver metabolizes 95% of alcohol. Rest is eliminated
in breath, sweat, urine, feces, milk, saliva
What is the body's metabolic process for eliminating alcohol? - ANSWER alcohol oxidizes
into acetaldehyde (green apple smell) onto acetic acid and finally into CO2 and H2O
2
,How long does it normally take for people to eliminate alcohol from their systems? - AN-
SWER approx 1 drink per hour (5 oz/.5 ml)
List some responsible beer serving practices (3): - ANSWER 1. tell customers ABV
2. serve higher ABV beers in smaller glassware
3. consider legal issues, healthy consumption, etc. don't serve anyone that is visibly drunk,
etc.
Is most beer best served aged or fresh? - ANSWER Fresh. Should be assumed that when
beer is released from brewery it is ready to drink.
Some beer can be aged. (higher abv, barleywine, imperial stouts)
What can a retailer do to ensure beer freshness? - ANSWER Rotate inventory - sell older
beer first , remove OOC product
How long do kegs of non-pasteurized beer last in a fridge? - ANSWER 45-60 days (1.5-2
mos)
How long do kegs of pasteurized beer last in a fridge? - ANSWER 90-120 days (3-4 mos)
How long do bottles in a fridge last? - ANSWER up to 6 mos
How long do bottles that are not refrigerated or subjected to other stresses last? - AN-
SWER less than 3 months before they start to taste "off"
What off-flavors develop when beer is stored warm? - ANSWER 1. oxidation (papery, wet
cardboard)
2. autolysis (yeast - enzymes in dead yeast begin rupturing their cell walls (or live yeast be-
gins breaking down dead yeast around it for food) spilling out compounds within - results in
meaty or umami
3
, 3. infection - buttery, vinegary, sourness, smoky, plastic-like phenolics
What happens if bottled beers are stored improperly? - ANSWER skunking (light struck)
cans/kegs/ceramic - 100% uv protection
brown bottles - 98%
green bottles - 20%
clear bottles - 0%
What is proper serving temp for draft systems? - ANSWER 34-38F
Why should compressed air not be used in draft systems? - ANSWER contact with O2
causes beer to oxidize
what is the issue with using a party pump? - ANSWER limit the flavor stability of beer to
less than one day bc of oxidation
Explain the anatomy of a standard keg and how they work. - ANSWER parts of a keg:
spear (down tube), valve, coupler, headspace
Sankey is most common.
When tapped, the keg valve admits gas into the headspace. This applies pressure needed to
push the beer up through the spear and out of keg while maintaining the right carbonation
Describe the parts and workings of the pressure side of a draft system - ANSWER 1. gas
Co2 or Co2/N2
2. gas cylinder
- tank pressure 600-1200psi
- gas filter reduces likelihood of contaminants
- never keep gas cylinders in cooler
4
sumer
requires legal separation
Who pays federal, state and sales taxes on beer? - ANSWER Breweries=federal
wholesalers=state
retailers=sales
What are the advantages of the 3-tier system? - ANSWER 1. supposed to make tax collec-
tion easier for the state
2 protect consumers from abuses by companies that make/sell alcohol
3. create competition in the market
What are exceptions to the 3-tier system? (3) - ANSWER 1. breweries selling beer in tap-
room (onsite or offsite consumption)
2. allowing brewpubs to sell beer
3. small breweries self-distribution
Who pays the federal excise tax, and how is the amount determined? - ANSWER brewer-
ies. Based on production output. Ranges $7-18per barrel.
Who pays state tax and why does it exist? - ANSWER Wholesalers. State tax is a "sin tax"
and is supposed to decrease consumption and raise money for programs to deal with harm
from the product.
1
,What are the ways to assess the physical condition and age when it is delivered? - AN-
SWER 1. check date code
2. check physical condition of keg
3. check temp of beer
Alcohol is a ___________ and affects people in low concentrations. - ANSWER central
nervous system depressant
What is the BAC for impairment as defined by the AMA? - ANSWER .04
How is alcohol absorbed into the system? - ANSWER simple diffusion into the blood
where does the most efficient absorption of alcohol take place in the body? - ANSWER
small intestine - because of large surface area.
10-20% absorbed in stomach
75-80% absorbed in small intestine
How long does it take to reach peak BAC levels? - ANSWER as little as 30 minutes or as
long as 4 hours
Does eating delay alcohol absorption? - ANSWER yes. because pyloric valve at bottom of
stomach closes to to allow digestion keeping the alcohol from reaching the small intestine as
rapidly
How is alcohol eliminated? - ANSWER liver metabolizes 95% of alcohol. Rest is eliminated
in breath, sweat, urine, feces, milk, saliva
What is the body's metabolic process for eliminating alcohol? - ANSWER alcohol oxidizes
into acetaldehyde (green apple smell) onto acetic acid and finally into CO2 and H2O
2
,How long does it normally take for people to eliminate alcohol from their systems? - AN-
SWER approx 1 drink per hour (5 oz/.5 ml)
List some responsible beer serving practices (3): - ANSWER 1. tell customers ABV
2. serve higher ABV beers in smaller glassware
3. consider legal issues, healthy consumption, etc. don't serve anyone that is visibly drunk,
etc.
Is most beer best served aged or fresh? - ANSWER Fresh. Should be assumed that when
beer is released from brewery it is ready to drink.
Some beer can be aged. (higher abv, barleywine, imperial stouts)
What can a retailer do to ensure beer freshness? - ANSWER Rotate inventory - sell older
beer first , remove OOC product
How long do kegs of non-pasteurized beer last in a fridge? - ANSWER 45-60 days (1.5-2
mos)
How long do kegs of pasteurized beer last in a fridge? - ANSWER 90-120 days (3-4 mos)
How long do bottles in a fridge last? - ANSWER up to 6 mos
How long do bottles that are not refrigerated or subjected to other stresses last? - AN-
SWER less than 3 months before they start to taste "off"
What off-flavors develop when beer is stored warm? - ANSWER 1. oxidation (papery, wet
cardboard)
2. autolysis (yeast - enzymes in dead yeast begin rupturing their cell walls (or live yeast be-
gins breaking down dead yeast around it for food) spilling out compounds within - results in
meaty or umami
3
, 3. infection - buttery, vinegary, sourness, smoky, plastic-like phenolics
What happens if bottled beers are stored improperly? - ANSWER skunking (light struck)
cans/kegs/ceramic - 100% uv protection
brown bottles - 98%
green bottles - 20%
clear bottles - 0%
What is proper serving temp for draft systems? - ANSWER 34-38F
Why should compressed air not be used in draft systems? - ANSWER contact with O2
causes beer to oxidize
what is the issue with using a party pump? - ANSWER limit the flavor stability of beer to
less than one day bc of oxidation
Explain the anatomy of a standard keg and how they work. - ANSWER parts of a keg:
spear (down tube), valve, coupler, headspace
Sankey is most common.
When tapped, the keg valve admits gas into the headspace. This applies pressure needed to
push the beer up through the spear and out of keg while maintaining the right carbonation
Describe the parts and workings of the pressure side of a draft system - ANSWER 1. gas
Co2 or Co2/N2
2. gas cylinder
- tank pressure 600-1200psi
- gas filter reduces likelihood of contaminants
- never keep gas cylinders in cooler
4
