What Is Beer Made Of? Ingredients of Beer for Export at A&B Vietnam

In the beverage industry, the ingredients of beer are the core elements that determine its quality, flavor, color, alcohol content, and ability to conquer international markets. At A&B Vietnam a leading beer producer and exporter the selection and control of raw materials are always top priorities. Our goal is to create beers that are not only delicious but also meet all international standards for safety and quality certification.

With a strong focus on brewing and exporting beer to global markets, especially those with strict regulations, each ingredient from purified water and malted barley to hops and yeast must comply with stringent international standards for quality and food safety. At A&B Vietnam, we believe that actual quality starts from the roots. That is why we meticulously select and rigorously monitor every raw material to ensure that each beer bearing the A&B Vietnam label symbolizes Vietnamese pride and is a product trusted by consumers in more than 70 countries. So, what exactly are the ingredients of Vietnamese beer produced and exported by A&B Vietnam?

4 Main Ingredients of Export Beer at A&B Vietnam

A&B Vietnam exports beer made from four fundamental ingredients: water, malt, hops, and yeast. It applies specific standards for each component to ensure it meets international export requirements.

Water: 90–95% of Beer Volume

Water forms the base of any beer, accounting for 90–95% of its total volume. Its role is not just as a solvent but also as a factor directly influencing mouthfeel and taste.

Water can be categorized as soft or hard depending on its mineral content, such as calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺). Soft water is typically used for lagers, giving them a crisp and refreshing profile, while ales often benefit from hard water, which enhances their bold and rich flavors.

At A&B Vietnam, we use high-purity RO (Reverse Osmosis) water processed through advanced reverse osmosis technology. This ensures our water meets HACCP and ISO 22000 standards. Starting with this high-quality water foundation, we move on to the next vital ingredient malt, which plays a critical role in shaping the body and taste of our beer.

Malted Barley (Malt)

Malt is the primary source of fermentable sugars, enabling the fermentation process to occur efficiently. It also plays a key role in defining the beer’s signature sweetness and color. At A&B Vietnam, we use imported malted barley from Australia and Germany two countries renowned for producing some of the highest-quality barley in the world.

There are several types of malt, each contributing unique characteristics to the beer:

• Pale Malt: The most common type, suitable for a wide range of beer styles.
• Caramel Malt: Adds an amber hue and a mild, sweet flavor.
• Roasted Malt: Typically used in dark beers such as stouts, imparting bold coffee and chocolate notes.

Beyond the foundational sweetness and captivating malt color, hops are the next essential ingredient. Hops contribute to the balance of the beer, adding both bitterness and distinctive aromatic complexity—an indispensable part of the ingredients of beer.

Hops

Hops are essential in beer brewing not only do they add bitterness to balance the malt’s sweetness and bring complex aromas, enhance foam stability, and contribute to beer preservation thanks to their natural antibacterial properties derived from alpha acids.

There are hundreds of hop varieties, each with unique characteristics in terms of alpha acid content (which determines bitterness) and essential oil composition (which defines aroma). At A&B Vietnam, we carefully select hop varieties to match specific recipes. This ensures perfect harmony of bitterness and aroma in our export-quality beers.

Some of the notable hop types we use include:

• Noble Hops: Saaz (Czech Republic), Tettnanger (Germany), and Hallertau (Germany – specifically used by A&B Vietnam). These varieties are known for their refined aromas and moderate bitterness. Hallertau hops, in particular, are prized for their gentle fragrance and lingering finish ideal for traditional European lager styles.
• American / New World Hops: Cascade, Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe. These hops are known for their high alpha acid content and bold aromas, featuring notes of tropical fruits, citrus, and pine. They are the hallmark of modern ales, especially IPAs (India Pale Ales).

A&B Vietnam upholds strict sourcing standards, using only hops that meet international freshness and quality requirements. By choosing the right hop variety for each beer formula, we create a well-balanced profile with pleasant bitterness and captivating aroma an essential component in the ingredients of beer for our widely loved and internationally exported canned beers.

While hops provide complexity and balance, the transformation from sweet wort into alcoholic, carbonated beer would not be possible without yeast the vital microorganism that brings fermentation to life and adds soul to every brew.

Yeast

Yeast is a vital component in the ingredients of beer, playing a key role in the fermentation process. It converts the sugars from malt into alcohol and CO₂, which gives beer its natural alcohol content and effervescence. In addition, yeast produces hundreds of secondary compounds that significantly contribute to the beer’s final aroma and flavor profile. At A&B Vietnam, we use two primary yeast strains:

• Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Ale yeast): Known as top-fermenting yeast, it thrives at warmer temperatures (typically between 15 – 24°C). It tends to rise to the top of the fermenting wort. It is known for creating complex esters (fruity aromas) and phenols (spicy or herbal notes). This strain is widely used in producing Ale, Porter, Stout, and Wheat beers.
• Saccharomyces pastorianus (Lager yeast): A “bottom-fermenting” yeast, it works best at cooler temperatures (around 7 – 13°C) and settles at the bottom during fermentation. Its slower, low-temperature fermentation produces crisp, smooth Lager beers with fewer by-products, allowing the malt and hop characteristics to shine.

Selecting the correct yeast strain and strictly controlling the fermentation conditions are critical to achieving the desired alcohol content and unique flavor profile of each beer style. At A&B Vietnam, we use only premium-quality yeast strains suitable for specific beer types and invest in automated fermentation systems with advanced temperature control. This ensures consistency and stability across every batch of beer we export.

These four core ingredients of beer water, malt, hops, and yeast form the foundation of A&B Vietnam’s exceptional beer quality. However, to fully answer the question “What is Vietnamese beer made of?” and to meet the diverse needs of global markets, supporting ingredients also play an essential role in enhancing the final product.

Supporting Ingredients and Additives (Depending on Beer Style)

In addition to the four main ingredients of beer, modern industrial brewing especially for large-scale, commercial canned beer production may include specific processing aids or additives. It is important to emphasize that any additional ingredients used by A&B Vietnam (depending on the particular formula) strictly comply with international food safety regulations such as Codex Alimentarius, FDA, and EFSA and are subject to rigorous quality control.

Enzymes for Enhanced Starch Conversion

A&B Vietnam uses hydrolytic enzymes to improve the efficiency of starch-to-sugar conversion. This helps speed up and optimize the fermentation process, particularly for light or low-alcohol beer styles that require faster production.

The use of enzymes is always carefully calculated to preserve the beer’s flavor profile. In addition to optimizing saccharification, A&B Vietnam also focuses on the appearance of the finished product especially maintaining a smooth, creamy, and long-lasting foam head that consumers find appealing.

Foam Stabilizers and Carbonation Agents

The white, foamy head on a freshly poured beer adds visual appeal, helps retain aroma, and enhances mouthfeel. Specific foam stabilizers especially in canned beers may improve foam stability and longevity and ensure a consistent and enjoyable drinking experience.

All such additives are used strictly within internationally accepted limits and follow all applicable food safety guidelines.

Besides foam enhancers and carbonation aids that optimize performance and presentation, additional ingredients may occasionally be introduced into the recipe to fine-tune the overall flavor profile depending on the style and target market.

Sugar, Rice, Corn

Unmalted cereals such as rice and corn (maize) and various types of sugar (like glucose or corn syrup) can be used as alternative ingredients to replace part of the malted barley in beer production. These adjuncts are commonly included to lighten the strong, malty flavor, resulting in a paler, clearer, and easier to drink an approach that suits the taste preferences of a broad consumer base, especially for mass-produced Lager-style beers.

At A&B Vietnam, adjuncts are strictly controlled to ensure they do not compromise the beer’s original identity or core quality.

CO₂ – Carbonation and Preservation

Although not a primary ingredient, carbon dioxide (CO₂) plays a crucial role in the drinking experience and the preservation of beer. Dissolved CO₂ creates fine, sparkling bubbles that provide a refreshing, lightly tingling sensation on the palate. CO₂ is naturally produced during the yeast fermentation process, and A&B Vietnam prioritizes retaining this naturally generated CO₂.

In cases where additional CO₂ is required, we only use food-grade CO₂ with a purity of ≥99.9%, fully compliant with international safety standards, to ensure absolute safety and product consistency.

Beyond carbonation, CO₂ is also used to purge oxygen from the packaging before sealing. This step helps prevent oxidation, extends shelf life, and maintains the beer’s fresh flavor and aroma.

At A&B Vietnam, any supporting ingredients or additives are always transparent, carefully managed, and in strict compliance with international food safety regulations, including Codex, ISO 22000, and HACCP. We firmly believe that whether a component is part of the core or a supporting element, every ingredient in our beer must contribute to creating a high-quality, export-ready product that earns the trust of partners and consumers worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Ingredients Influence Beer Flavor and Style

Each ingredient of beer is like a delicate note in a symphony of flavor leaving many customers wondering: What is Vietnamese beer made of to create such diversity and appeal? At A&B Vietnam, the answer lies in meticulously selected raw materials and a tightly controlled quality management process.

From pure RO-treated water, imported malted barley from Australia and Germany, and international-standard hops to carefully monitored yeast strains, every element undergoes rigorous quality control and sterilization processes such as pasteurization to ensure product stability. All raw materials are managed under a strict quality assurance system, certified by ISO 22000 and HACCP. To better understand how each ingredient influences beer character and to choose the right style that fits your taste or market needs here’s how they shape popular beer types:

• Lager: Typically brewed with soft water, base malts (like pale malt), and subtle hops such as Saaz or Hallertau, lagers are fermented with bottom-fermenting yeast (S. pastorianus) at cooler temperatures. The result is a bright golden beer with a clean flavor, smooth finish, and high drinkability.
• Ale: Usually brewed with harder water and a variety of malts (from pale to caramel and roasted), ales incorporate aromatic hops mainly American or New World varieties. They are fermented with top-fermenting yeast (S. cerevisiae) at warmer temperatures. This creates complex, bold styles like IPA, Pale Ale, Stout, and Porter, often featuring dark colors, fruity esters, and a more robust, sometimes bitter profile.
• Stout / Porter: These styles are defined by the use of roasted malts, which create deep brown to jet-black colors and rich flavors of dark chocolate, roasted coffee, and sometimes a touch of sweetness or bitterness, depending on the specific recipe.

Are you looking for a reliable beer producer and exporter of canned beer that can deliver consistent, high-quality products made only from internationally certified ingredients of beer? A&B Vietnam is your trusted partner. We combine premium ingredients with large-scale production capacity tailored to meet the demands of global supermarket chains and distribution systems. Contact A&B Vietnam today where quality ingredients create beers that stand out in international markets.

A&B Vietnam

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