13 facts about beer for true connoisseurs

Not so long ago, all the requirements of beer lovers were only in which bottle it should be bottled: traditional or in the form of a bowling pin. Now, finally, the era of the beer renaissance has come, and learn to choose between lager (beer with a low fermentation temperature), stout (from the English stout – beer from roasted malt), Belgian (with the addition of rice, sugar, honey, fruits), red ( with special malt) and other types of beer means to expand the range of your knowledge.

Beer, fortunately, is not the most expensive drink, but by knowing a few little tricks, you can make it even more affordable. In addition, the following tips will help you navigate the beers well and feel completely at ease in a bar or shop.

Ales and lagers are types of beer, not varieties

Without going into biochemical details, the difference between ale and lager is the yeast. Ale yeasts that ferment at higher temperatures are known to impart bright fruity or spicy flavors to the brew. Lager yeast fermenting at colder temperatures produces much finer, smoother, more complete flavors. Color, body and alcohol content have nothing to do with classification.

The four main ingredients of beer are malt, hops, yeast and water.

Each ingredient plays a big role. Malt (usually barley, but sometimes mixed with rye, oats, or other grains) provides the beer with the sugar it needs to ferment. Water (which is 95% in the final product) is a critical ingredient and it must be ensured before it is used that it does not contain anything that could affect the flavor or the fermentation process. The hops act as a preservative and provide a bitter aftertaste that balances out the sweetness of the beer and gives it beautiful aromas. Yeast actually combines all the ingredients, converting sugar into alcohol and creating beer.

In Germany, the process of making beer is enshrined in a corresponding law called the Reinheitsgebot. Under this law, the ingredients remain the same as they were in the 1500s (although it is not always followed today).

Beer contains other ingredients called additives or flavorings.

Wheat, oats, corn, rice and sugar are always added to the wort to speed up the fermentation process and change the body of the beer. Many cheap varieties of this drink are made using huge amounts of corn and rice to save on malt. Also, any components are added to the beer, including spices that can change its taste: coriander, sage, coffee, chocolate, milk, fruit or honey.

The color of beer has nothing to do with its alcohol content.

There is a huge misconception that dark beers are heavier than light ones. But the 8,5% ABV Duvel Belgian Strong Light Golden Ale is much heavier than the Guinness Draught Dark Stout, which is only 4% ABV.

A little head of foam doesn’t mean the bartender is trying to trick you.

Most people are frightened by the presence of foam, it seems to them that the bartender does not add beer to the glass. However, it is the most important component, as it helps to deeply experience the aroma of the drink before and after a sip, as well as the fullness of its taste. The ideal amount of head varies for each beer, but a head height of 2,5 to 4 cm is appropriate for most beers (especially wheat beers). And if foam used to scare you, now you understand what an important component of the drink it is.

All Hefeweizens are made from wheat, but not all wheat beers are Hefeweizens.

Knowing this difference will help you choose a beer that suits your taste. Hefeweizen is a German beer that uses at least 50% wheat and a special Bavarian yeast strain that gives the drink the bubblegum, banana and clove flavors that most people associate with wheat beer. Wheat beer is also made from wheat, but with different strains of yeast, not always giving it clove flavors.

Hops from different parts of the world give beer different flavors and aromas.

North American hops impart citrus, grapefruit, and pine resin flavors to the beer; from Germany – floral, earthy and spicy aromas; Czech – a herbal smell that local pilsners are famous for; from Great Britain – bitter and mild taste of earth and grass; from New Zealand and Australia – tropical flavors, especially passion fruit. Hops are like a huge cabinet, on the shelves of which hundreds of spices are stored, mixing which, you can give any dish the desired flavor.

Sometimes hops are only used to flavor the beer.

Since the hop aroma quickly dissipates during the boil, often brewers add a lot of hops to the beer at the very end of the process to make sure that its aroma is still part of the composition, and not just adding bitterness. Some brewers add hops during fermentation to make the beer drier.

Chilled glasses spoil the taste of beer

Drinking beer from chilled glasses or mugs is strongly discouraged. The ice crystals cause the beer to foam, and then the aromas and carbon dioxide evaporate before you take your first sip. Just for the sake of taking a few sips of a cold drink, you will lose all its beneficial properties.

Remember: you should never store beer at temperatures below +10 degrees, as this kills almost all the flavors of the drink. If you feel like drinking a cold beer, submerge the bottle or can in a container of salt, water, and ice for five minutes while filling the glass with water and ice. After five minutes, pour the ice water out of the glass and pour the chilled beer into it. Then it won’t foam.

Missing beer

Most people assume that a missing beer is one that has lost its flavors, which is not entirely true. Beer disappears, as a rule, under the action of light rays penetrating the walls of transparent bottles, and this can be sunlight or the light of fluorescent lamps in the refrigerator. Under their action, repeated fermentation begins, tastes and aromas begin to change for the worse, the smell of hydrogen sulfide appears. If the beer tastes like paper or cardboard, then it is sour (probably due to improper storage).

Beer in cans is not worse than bottled

It is a myth that canned beer spoils faster. In fact, they keep it even better, as the jar keeps light out, keeping the beer better than brown glass. Cans are significantly lighter (compare the weight of a bottle pack and a can pack), are more impact resistant and are more recyclable.

Can’t store beer for a long time

Saving a beer for a special occasion is becoming commonplace, but it’s important to do it right, as hop aroma and bitterness are lost very quickly as a result of long storage. Only beer with a high alcohol content can be stored, bottles should be kept upright at a temperature of about +10 degrees in a dimly lit place.

Drink the beer you like, not the trendy one

Surprisingly, people usually forget this simple and, in my opinion, most important rule when they find themselves in a cheerful company in a bar. Over the past hundred years, many discoveries have taken place in the production of beer, an incredible number of new varieties have appeared, however, you should always trust your taste more than the advice of those around you.

Relevance: 07.11.2015

Tags: beer, cider, ale