Comments (Todd Zacharitz
How To Be Your Own Beer
Connoisseur
In our culture, the word
beer comes loaded with a lot of connotations. Some may think of the 'usual'
suspects. You know, the big names that advertise on TV during the games. But
the history and breadth of beer goes back a very long time. In fact, the
history of beer can be traced back as far as 6,000 years. It's been a vital
part of advanced civilizations on every continent on Earth, from the ancient
Egyptians to the present day, with no sign of letting up. It's a multi-billion
dollar business, and an endless source of enjoyment for millions. But there's
more than meets the eye (or taste buds).
If you don't know your weisse from Budweiser, it's my
honor to bring you this beer primer. Basically, beer can be broken down into
two types - the ales and the lagers. What's the difference, you ask? Well, they
are subtle, but actually quite distinctive. Both can have a wide array of
tastes and colors, from slightly golden to deep black. And both can be found on
the beer lists at most restaurants. The difference lies chiefly in
fermentation, as yeast is used to break down sugars during the brewing process.
Ales are top-fermented, meaning the yeast rises to the top of the beer while
fermenting.
Lagers are bottom-fermented,
so the yeast settles to the bottom while brewing. What does all this mean,
though?
We'll start with the ales. These top-floating yeast
strains require warmer temperatures to interact with the sugars, and these
beers are subsequently better to drink at slightly warmer temperatures. Ales
typically are a bit stronger, and often more complex in flavor than most
lagers. Good ale can come in a variety of styles, and a beer beginner is sure
to find something to love among these distinctive styles. Pale ales are usually
marked by an abundance of hops (which are a type of flower used in the process
that gives beer a distinctive bitterness, acidity, and floral aroma). Pale ales
can be considered 'sour' to those who aren't familiar with the flavor. Golden
ales are a little lighter in taste, as a rule, and easier on the palate. Red
and brown ales are medium-bodied, and may appeal to the average drinker a
little better than pales, due to their more balanced taste and a combination of
sweetness and bitterness. Brown ales can have more of a caramel or slightly
chocolate-type of taste, and are also medium-bodied, while porters are often
nearly black in color, and can be known for more chocolate or coffee-like
tastes (due to dark malts used in the brew process) and heavier disposition (so
they won't be ideal for those watching their waistlines or dieting). A close
cousin to the porters are the similarly-blackened stouts, which are even
heavier, and sometimes more hoppy/bitter and burnt in taste than their other
ale brethren. These coffee-or-chocolate-toned beers are often very opaque in
color, and can be tough on beginners, so it's wiser to build up to this type of
beer. In short, ales are heavier in nature, and best-suited for drinking at
warmer temperatures. Ales can be especially delicious on cooler evenings, or
with spicier foods. The wide array of ales out there (each with different
spices and flavor
dispositions) can be tricky
to place alongside meals, but keep in mind that the weight and richness of
these ales will be best paired with lighter fare, so if you're going all
buffet-style, it's probably best to keep it light. As a general rule, the
darker the beer, the richer the taste; it's not a guarantee, but for any
beginner, it's a fairly safe starting point.
By contrast, lagers are the lighter, more transparent of
the beer family. Lagers go better with warmer weather (especially as they are
meant to be consumed at colder temperatures). They are less filling than their
ale cousins, and often contain less alcohol. Most of the popular American beers
are lagers, so just about all of us begin our beer journeys with this brewing
style. Within the lager family, there are also a number of stylistic
distinctions, many of which serve to confuse and bewilder beer novices, but
here's a quick breakdown. Bocks are stronger and darker than most lagers, and
can be heavier and more alcoholic. Pilsners are lighter in color (sometimes
quite transparent and pale), and with more of a hoppy bitterness. Most
mainstream lagers are patterned after the old European pilsner style. There are
lots of other variations on these themes, but in general, you would probably
enjoy the lighter lagers in summertime, or while eating heavier foods, since
these will tend to sit lighter in the stomach. For example, bar food is
notoriously heavy, thus, lagers are a good bet to go with those burgers or
onion rings.
So, in reality, beers can be enjoyed much like wines –
tasty treats to accompany and accent your meals. It may take you some
trial-and-error attempts as far as food pairings go, but with some patience
(and taste buds willing), you will be on your way to being your own beer
connoisseur, and ready to branch out beyond the 'regular.' There's a wealth of
fine beers out there, many hard to find and obscure, and from all over the
world. Plenty of restaurants and liquor establishments locally serve a vast
array of names, styles, and flavors, so there's always something new and
exciting to try.
Concurrently, you can also read about some of these fine brews in our faithful monthly News4U column, 'The Art and Craft of Beer,' but don't just listen to us - please your own palate! Prost!
_______________________________________________________
Practice, practice,
practice!
Practice your beer tasting
skills at the 11th Annual Brew Haha on September 27 at the
Mr.Beer® Premium Home Brewery Kit
Available at www.mrbeer.com
This kit makes 2 gallons of
delicious beer! Kit includes: Brew Keg, Standard Brew Pack, Brewing with
Mr.Beer® Book,6 Bottles, 6 Caps, and 6 Labels.Mr.Beer® Premium Edition Beer
Kit.
Back to September 2008 Features
