Alcohol by volume
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alcohol by volume (abbreviated as abv or ABV) is a standard measure of how much alcohol (ethanol) is contained in an alcoholic beverage (expressed as a percentage of total volume).[1][2][3] The abv standard is used worldwide.[4]
In some countries, alcohol by volume is referred to as degrees Gay-Lussac (after the French chemist Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac).[5]
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[edit] Typical abv levels
- Fruit juice (naturally occurring): less than 0.1%
- Low-alcohol beer: 0.0%–1.2%
- Kvass: 0.05%-1.5%
- Cider: 2%–8.5%
- Beer: 2%–12% (most often 4%–6%)
- Alcopops: 4%–17.5%
- Mead: 8%-14%
- Wine: 9%–18% (most often 12.5%–14.5%)[6]
- Barley wine (strong ale): 8%–15%
- Dessert wine: 14%-25%
- Sake (rice wine): 15% (or 18%–20% if not diluted prior to bottling)
- Fortified wine: 15.5%–20%[7] (in the European Union, 18%–22%)
- Liqueurs: 15%–55%
- Soju: 20%-45% (usually 20%)
- Shochu: 25%-45% (usually 25%)
- Tequila: 32%-60% (usually 40%)
- Vodka: 32%–60% (usually around 40%)
- Pure vanilla extract: 35%+
- Rum: 37.5%–80%
- Nalewka: 40%-45%
- Gin: 40%-50%
- Whisky: 40%–55% (usually 40% or 43%)
- Baijiu: 40%–60%
- Palinka: 42%–86%
- Rakia and Raki: 42%–86%
- Absinthe: 45%–89.9%
- Poteen: 60%–95%
- Neutral grain spirit: 95%
- Rectified spirit: 96.5%
- Absolute alcohol: >99%
[edit] Proof and ABW
Another way of specifying the amount of alcohol is alcoholic proof, which is twice the alcohol-by-volume number.[8]
In the United States, a few states regulate and tax alcoholic beverages according to alcohol by weight (ABW), expressed as a percentage of total mass.[9] Some brewers print the ABW (rather than the ABV) on beer containers, particularly on low-point versions of popular domestic beer brands.
At relatively low ABV, the alcohol percentage by weight is about 4/5 of the ABV (e.g., 3.2% ABW is equivalent to 4.0% ABV).[10] However, because of the miscibility of alcohol and water, the conversion factor is not constant but rather depends upon the concentration of alcohol. 100% ABW, of course, is equivalent to 100% ABV.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Lafayette Brewing Co. Beer Terms". www.lafayettebrewingco.com. http://www.lafayettebrewingco.com/beer101.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-05.
- ^ "Glossary of whisky and distillation". www.celtic-whisky.com. http://www.celtic-whisky.com/glossary.htm. Retrieved on 2008-07-05.
- ^ "English Ales Brewery Monterey British Brewing Glossary". www.englishalesbrewery.com. http://www.englishalesbrewery.com/british-brewing-glossary.htm. Retrieved on 2008-07-05.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions - CAMRA". www.camra.org.uk. http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=181061. Retrieved on 2008-07-05.
- ^ "Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac (1778 - 1850)". chemistry.about.com. http://chemistry.about.com/od/famouschemists/p/gaylussacbio.htm. Retrieved on 2008-07-05.
- ^ Robinson, Jancis. The Oxford Companion to Wine, 3rd edition, (Oxford University Press: 2006). See alcoholic strength at p. 10.
- ^ Robinson, Jancis. The Oxford Companion to Wine, 3rd edition, (Oxford University Press: 2006). See fortification at p. 279.
- ^ Regan, Gary (2003). The Joy of Mixology. New York: Clarkson Potter. pp. 356–357. ISBN 0-609-60884-3.
- ^ "APIS - Alcohol Beverages Taxes: Flavored Alcoholic Beverages". www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov. http://www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/index.asp?Type=BAS_APIS&SEC=%7B76502006-171E-433C-A45C-72258AB1C610%7D. Retrieved on 2008-07-05.
- ^ "Realbeer.com: Beer Break - Alcohol Content In Beer". www.realbeer.com. http://www.realbeer.com/library/beerbreak/archives/beerbreak20001005.php. Retrieved on 2008-07-05.
[edit] Bibliography
- Hehner, Otto (1880). Alcohol Tables: giving for all specific gravities, from 1.0000 to 0.7938, the percentages of absolute alcohol, by weight and volume. London: J & A Churchill, ASIN B0008B5HOU.
