What was possibly the first encyclopedic work on beer in the world?
A. Possibly the first encyclopedic work on beer in the world was a 1585 study by Bohemian Thaddeus Hjek, the royal doctor serving German Emperor Rudolf II in Hradany Castle in Prague. Q. Why do Czech beers typically have a number associated with the name of the beer? A. Czech beer drinkers identify their choice of beer by the gravity of the beer, measured in degrees Plato, also known as degrees Balling. This system of measurement was developed by Bohemian scientist Karl J. N. Balling, and underwent further refinement under Fritz Plato. Plato is a hydrometer scale that measures the density of beer wort in terms of the amount of fermentable sugars by weight. Degrees Plato differs from specific gravity in that it measures the amount of fermentable materials, and not just the density of wort as compared to water. Typically, but not always, the higher numbers indicate a stronger beer. Specials are expected to be between 13 and 20 degrees Plato (a specific gravity of 1052-1080). What does th
