Tuesday, May 3, 2011
How Is It Made?
So for all of you BEER freaks out there there is an interesting video on YouTube on how beer is made. It appears that the ingredients have not changed since the 15th century when the Nordic people discovered HOPS and added it to the process.
And just a TRIVIA fact: the largest beer consumers are the Czech Republic and the biggest beer manufacturer is People's Republic of China.
So, if you would like to know how long it takes to make a bottle of beer, watch this video!
And yes, it really takes 7 to 10 days to ferment and 3 weeks to age! Much less than fermenting wine!
A Beerful Journey
There was a point in my life, especially in my youth, where I thought all beer tasted the same. I blame this, for the most part, on ‘party beers.’ You know, the cheap stuff. The tried and true. The you-can-find-this-beer-at-any-grocery-store stuff. I’m talking about Bud Light, Heineken, Coors, Rolling Rock, and the like. Let’s be honest, we all drank this beer at some point, and we did it for one reason: to get drunk.
One fateful day, I discovered a beer called Amberbock. I was amazed. It didn’t have that typical ‘beerish’ flavor to it; it was smooth, had an earthy taste, and was a bit sweet. There was much more going on in this beer than I was used to. What was going on here? Oh, it was an Amber Ale.
I did some more research into other beers, and started taste testing, and comparing different flavors. Trying to pull out the common denominators and really dig deep into what made each one unique. This journey led me, ultimately, to my tried and true favorite beer to date, Fat Tire.
Quite possibly the best Amber I’ve tried yet, Fat Tire is smooth, yet crisp, and has an almost nutty flavor. I never knew that beer could actually taste ‘refreshing.’ This was so uniquely different than other beers, that my search broadened into other types of beers, including IPAs (India Pale Ales) and Belgian Ales. Notice the common denominator, here? Yeah, Ales. That means hops. Belgians are less hoppy than the others, and IPAs are the most of the three, but they all have their own strengths. My palette had evolved.
With time, my appreciation for the nuances of each beer has grown tremendously. All those subtleties and intricacies have made the experience of drinking beer far richer and more meaningful than “just getting drunk.” I guess I’ve grown up quite a bit, since those days.
So here’s to a sense of exploration, and adventure, not just with beer but in all areas of your life. You might be surprised with what you find.
One fateful day, I discovered a beer called Amberbock. I was amazed. It didn’t have that typical ‘beerish’ flavor to it; it was smooth, had an earthy taste, and was a bit sweet. There was much more going on in this beer than I was used to. What was going on here? Oh, it was an Amber Ale.
I did some more research into other beers, and started taste testing, and comparing different flavors. Trying to pull out the common denominators and really dig deep into what made each one unique. This journey led me, ultimately, to my tried and true favorite beer to date, Fat Tire.
Quite possibly the best Amber I’ve tried yet, Fat Tire is smooth, yet crisp, and has an almost nutty flavor. I never knew that beer could actually taste ‘refreshing.’ This was so uniquely different than other beers, that my search broadened into other types of beers, including IPAs (India Pale Ales) and Belgian Ales. Notice the common denominator, here? Yeah, Ales. That means hops. Belgians are less hoppy than the others, and IPAs are the most of the three, but they all have their own strengths. My palette had evolved.
With time, my appreciation for the nuances of each beer has grown tremendously. All those subtleties and intricacies have made the experience of drinking beer far richer and more meaningful than “just getting drunk.” I guess I’ve grown up quite a bit, since those days.
So here’s to a sense of exploration, and adventure, not just with beer but in all areas of your life. You might be surprised with what you find.
American Craft Beer Week 2011
American Craft Beer Week is May 16-22, 2011, so get out there and show your support for your local American craft beers! This is a great opportunity for craft beer fans to enjoy an American craft beer and allow breweries to build relationships with their fans.
The Brewers Association's American Beer Month was held in July until 2006 when it was changed to a weeklong event in May; right before summer's busy beer season. The weeklong event immediately became the largest national effort to focus on American craft brewers, and is still the largest event today!
Since 2006, participation has continued to increase, as you can see in the graph below.
You can find out more information about the weeklong event at http://www.craftbeer.com/pages/news-and-events/american-craft-beer-week
You can also like the ACBW's Facebook page and follow them on Twitter for event updates.
So, mark your calendars and celebrate American craft beers May 16-22, 2011!
The Brewers Association's American Beer Month was held in July until 2006 when it was changed to a weeklong event in May; right before summer's busy beer season. The weeklong event immediately became the largest national effort to focus on American craft brewers, and is still the largest event today!
Since 2006, participation has continued to increase, as you can see in the graph below.
You can find out more information about the weeklong event at http://www.craftbeer.com/pages/news-and-events/american-craft-beer-week
You can also like the ACBW's Facebook page and follow them on Twitter for event updates.
So, mark your calendars and celebrate American craft beers May 16-22, 2011!
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