what qualifies as a "malt" beverage?

Question

In the US, drinks such as Smirnoff Ice & seagram coolers are called "malt" beverages, whereas in Canada, the actual alcohol (e.g. vodka, rum, gin) is listed. What's the difference & why are they called "malt" beverages?

Answer 1

A "malt" beverage is a beverage that's made from malted barley. "Malt" is short for malted barley (any other grain will specify what kind of malt, like corn malt, wheat malt, etc.). Malted grain is simply partially sprouted grain. In beverage making (beer, etc.) malted barley is used, and the enzymes in the malt convert the grain's starches to sugar and then the sugars are fermented by yeast to produce alcohol. Including hops will make this brew beer. Without adding hops, the fermeted brew is then carbon filtered to remove any malty, beer-y flavors to render it fairly neutral tasting. It's then flavored and bottled as a "malt beverage" because it's not really beer. This is done rather than just adding a shot of vodka or the like to some fruit juice because hard liquor is taxed higher than brewed alcoholic drinks (in the US), so the end result costs the manufacturer less to make. So, unlike Canada, they don't actually use vodka or rum...it's just a flavor-removed beer that's re-flavored.

Answer 2

What Is A Malt Beverage

Answer 3

In the US, a malt beverage is a very light beer that has had all the flavors and aromas filtered out of them, only to have other flavors (ie: fruit, tea, etc) added to them.

I don't know what they're talking about in Canada as vodka is not made from any grain at all.

Answer 4

Malt beverages are those that are made from sproted barley, hence the term malt, beer, whiskey, vodka included. Rum is not a malt beverage as it is made from mollases a by product of sugar...

Answer 5

Beers and ales are all made from malted grains. The same with the malt drinks.

Answer 6

Because those coolers are flavored beers.