Gentlemen's Essentials: Beer appreciation
I was inspired by Dave with the Wine - Storing and Pouring thread (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=83742)
I think that beer can be as enjoyable and should be. I love my wine but sometimes, beer is more appropriate with an event or a meal. I will not go into the beermaking process as it is a completely different chapter. I will try to keep it with the essentials. I would not call myself an expert on beers. I would qualify myself as amateur. I often participate to the beer festival and would recommend those if you want to try a few samples.
Like wine, beer is very subjective from one to another. Pairing a beer with a meal will influence your meal, just like a wine. Over the years, I found a great source of information from the following website: http://www.ratebeer.com
Beer style
A few beers styles are available to the beer drinker. Michael Jackson documented a few of them on the following website: http://www.beerhunter.com/beerstyles.html
The most common styles are that you might come across are: Lager, Pilsner, White (wheat), Red, India Pale Ale (IPA), Porter and Stout.
Fermentation
The process of fermentation will have Yeast transforming the sugar from the malt into alcohol. From that process, our Brewer can decide to do single/double/triple or quadruple fermentation. There might be more but I did not see more than 4 fermentations. Each fermentation will change the taste of the beer and will raise the alcohol level.
A single or double fermentation can be enjoyed by itself and triple/quadruple fermentation will probably be better with a meal. There are no specific rules about this as I tried a few triple fermentation beers that were very nice by themselves and I had a few double that were better with a meal.
How do I choose?
This one isn't easy. There are so many beers on the market and so many different tastes. My recommendation if you are a new beer drinker is to go with a light colored beer, single or double fermentation. My preference is with a small microbrewery. If you can find a local beer maker, I would go with that one. Now, this does not guarantee a great beer. I would recommend the rate beer website. The database over there will help you making a choice if you have a particular beer in mind. On a special note, be aware that a beer in a clear or green bottle might have a skunk taste. A brown bottle will not. The amount of light that can go through a brown bottle is not as important as a clear or green bottle.
Now, how would you choose a beer with a meal? General rule of thumb, a light beer with a light meal. How do I know if the beer is light? You will need to try it. As an example, a lager can be heavier than you think.
How do I store my beer?
Normally, you would store your bottles in a cool and dry place. Make sure that you will prevent any exposition to the sun as it might change the taste.
How do I drink it?
Like wines, beers have their own glasses. There are many different glasses and I would list the main glasses as follows:
Pilsner Glass
Pint Glass
The Jug or Bock
The Tulip glass
I usually use a tulip glass as it will help me with the aromas. I would keep my glasses in the freezer or refrigirator if I am drinking my beer cold. There are more styles of glasses and usually, a beer style has a proper glass. See this link for a complete list. http://www.ratebeer.com/Beer-Glassware.asp
Cold, lukewarm or warm?
Now, you can enjoy a glass of beer at different degrees. A vast majority will prefer their beer ice cold, especially during summer. However, a lukewarm stout can be great during winter. A cold beer will have fewer flavors but will be refreshing. A lukewarm beer will have more flavors. A warm beer? Yes, there's at least one named 'Quelque chose' by Unibroue. It is recommended to remove the cork, place the bottle in boiling water and when you see foam rising from the bottle, it's ready. I had it once as a desert beer, it's a different experience. (http://chicagoist.com/2008/01/30/chicagoists_bee_29.php)
There's something at the bottom, what do I do?
You might have residual yeast sediment at the bottom of the beer. If you want to include it, it is totally up to you. You may slowly turn the bottle upside down a few times to mix the yeast with the beer. If not, you will need to pour the beer very slowly to leave a maximum of the yeast in the bottle. Because yeast is part of the beer, I usually mix the yeast in the beer, this is not mandatory.
How do I pour?
The best way to pour a beer that I know of is to hold the glass at 20 degrees, start pouring the beer in the glass as close as possible. Change your angle as you fill the glass.
How can I appreciate it?
There are several factors to consider when you drink beer: Appearance, aroma, flavor, palate and overall. Now, what does it mean?
-Appearance: How does it look like to you? Which color is it? Is it clear or hazy?
-Aroma: What does it smell like? Is there a distinctive spice, fruit, herb? Which one?
-Flavor: What does it taste like? Again, any distinctive spice, fruit or herb? Which? How does it compare to the aroma?
-Palate: How does it feel? Is there a lot of carbonation?
-Overall: Do you like it?
I think those questions are a good base to get going.
The most important part is to enjoy it with moderation, of course!
I was inspired by Dave with the Wine - Storing and Pouring thread (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=83742)
I think that beer can be as enjoyable and should be. I love my wine but sometimes, beer is more appropriate with an event or a meal. I will not go into the beermaking process as it is a completely different chapter. I will try to keep it with the essentials. I would not call myself an expert on beers. I would qualify myself as amateur. I often participate to the beer festival and would recommend those if you want to try a few samples.
Like wine, beer is very subjective from one to another. Pairing a beer with a meal will influence your meal, just like a wine. Over the years, I found a great source of information from the following website: http://www.ratebeer.com
Beer style
A few beers styles are available to the beer drinker. Michael Jackson documented a few of them on the following website: http://www.beerhunter.com/beerstyles.html
The most common styles are that you might come across are: Lager, Pilsner, White (wheat), Red, India Pale Ale (IPA), Porter and Stout.
Fermentation
The process of fermentation will have Yeast transforming the sugar from the malt into alcohol. From that process, our Brewer can decide to do single/double/triple or quadruple fermentation. There might be more but I did not see more than 4 fermentations. Each fermentation will change the taste of the beer and will raise the alcohol level.
A single or double fermentation can be enjoyed by itself and triple/quadruple fermentation will probably be better with a meal. There are no specific rules about this as I tried a few triple fermentation beers that were very nice by themselves and I had a few double that were better with a meal.
How do I choose?
This one isn't easy. There are so many beers on the market and so many different tastes. My recommendation if you are a new beer drinker is to go with a light colored beer, single or double fermentation. My preference is with a small microbrewery. If you can find a local beer maker, I would go with that one. Now, this does not guarantee a great beer. I would recommend the rate beer website. The database over there will help you making a choice if you have a particular beer in mind. On a special note, be aware that a beer in a clear or green bottle might have a skunk taste. A brown bottle will not. The amount of light that can go through a brown bottle is not as important as a clear or green bottle.
Now, how would you choose a beer with a meal? General rule of thumb, a light beer with a light meal. How do I know if the beer is light? You will need to try it. As an example, a lager can be heavier than you think.
How do I store my beer?
Normally, you would store your bottles in a cool and dry place. Make sure that you will prevent any exposition to the sun as it might change the taste.
How do I drink it?
Like wines, beers have their own glasses. There are many different glasses and I would list the main glasses as follows:
Pilsner Glass
Pint Glass
The Jug or Bock
The Tulip glass
I usually use a tulip glass as it will help me with the aromas. I would keep my glasses in the freezer or refrigirator if I am drinking my beer cold. There are more styles of glasses and usually, a beer style has a proper glass. See this link for a complete list. http://www.ratebeer.com/Beer-Glassware.asp
Cold, lukewarm or warm?
Now, you can enjoy a glass of beer at different degrees. A vast majority will prefer their beer ice cold, especially during summer. However, a lukewarm stout can be great during winter. A cold beer will have fewer flavors but will be refreshing. A lukewarm beer will have more flavors. A warm beer? Yes, there's at least one named 'Quelque chose' by Unibroue. It is recommended to remove the cork, place the bottle in boiling water and when you see foam rising from the bottle, it's ready. I had it once as a desert beer, it's a different experience. (http://chicagoist.com/2008/01/30/chicagoists_bee_29.php)
There's something at the bottom, what do I do?
You might have residual yeast sediment at the bottom of the beer. If you want to include it, it is totally up to you. You may slowly turn the bottle upside down a few times to mix the yeast with the beer. If not, you will need to pour the beer very slowly to leave a maximum of the yeast in the bottle. Because yeast is part of the beer, I usually mix the yeast in the beer, this is not mandatory.
How do I pour?
The best way to pour a beer that I know of is to hold the glass at 20 degrees, start pouring the beer in the glass as close as possible. Change your angle as you fill the glass.
How can I appreciate it?
There are several factors to consider when you drink beer: Appearance, aroma, flavor, palate and overall. Now, what does it mean?
-Appearance: How does it look like to you? Which color is it? Is it clear or hazy?
-Aroma: What does it smell like? Is there a distinctive spice, fruit, herb? Which one?
-Flavor: What does it taste like? Again, any distinctive spice, fruit or herb? Which? How does it compare to the aroma?
-Palate: How does it feel? Is there a lot of carbonation?
-Overall: Do you like it?
I think those questions are a good base to get going.
The most important part is to enjoy it with moderation, of course!
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