Beverages: Expert Guides and Resources

Non-alcoholic (NA) or alcohol-free drinks aren’t just for pregnant women or designated drivers anymore, nor should they be. For many, not drinking alcohol is simply a lifestyle choice. Everyone should be able to order whatever they want and feel comfortable when participating in a bar or party experience. Whether you're a professional or home bartender, you should be offering non-alcoholic options (besides just soda or water) to your guests.

Selecting a wine you like is easy when you know how to taste wine, can use appropriate terms to describe wine, can decode wine names, are happy to approach the selecting process with confidence, and know a little about what wine goes well with what food. This Cheat Sheet is designed to help you do just that!Quick guide to wine tastingKnowing how to taste wine not only helps you look like you know what you’re doing — it also helps you enjoy all the aromas and flavors that the winemaker intended.

Want to be the life of the party? Learn how to make a margarita that’s sure to be a hit! This margarita recipe is easy to follow and will have your guests coming back for more. Whether you’re a professional bartender or just want to impress your friends, this classic drink is a must-have in your repertoire. Ingredients1 oz.

The following list has been compiled by the Beer Judge Certification Program and is used by the American Homebrewers Association for competitive purposes. This hierarchical list presents an overview of all the world's beer styles (along with Cider and Mead). All beers are categorized as Ale, Lager or Mixed Style; under each of these headings are listed all of the major beer styles (in capital letters) and their sub-styles.

Fermentation problems occur frequently to homebrewers, and a common one is that the would-be beer just never started fermenting. Before you pour your homebrew down the sink, make sure the process actually hasn't started — judging fermentation by the bubbles (or lack thereof) coming out of the airlock can sometimes be deceiving.

Of the four main ingredients used in homebrewing beer (barley, hops, yeast, and water), barley makes the biggest contribution. Barley gives beer its color, underlying flavor, sweetness, body, head of foam, and mouthfeel. Barley also contributes the natural sugars that feed the yeast, which in turn converts the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide during fermentation.

In case you need the metric equivalents of basic measurements, keep this simple conversions guide close by when you’re brewing your own beer at home: Liquid Conversions Mass Conversions 1 teaspoon (tsp.) = 5 milliliters 1 ounce (oz.) = 28 grams 1 tablespoon (Tbsp.) = 15 milliliters 1 pound (lb.) = 0.45 kilogram 1 ounce (oz.