Hops and barley are definitely important parts of the brewing process, but yeast is quite possibly the most significant. In fact, yeast is not only used to create beer, it is used in wine, ale, and other types of alcoholic beverages. All of the other ingredients in beer provide flavor and sugar, but yeast makes the beer alcoholic, hence it is the heart of brewing. In the following paragraphs, the usefulness and science behind using yeast will be explored in depth.
While the process of turning sugar into alcohol may seem complicated, yeast is rather simple to understand. It is a single-celled organism, and one of the least complex forms of plant life on the planet. Technically, yeast is a fungus, and while that may sound a little disturbing, it is a very simple cell. Since it is self- reproducing, yeast only needs a source of fuel to divide over and over again. Scientifically speaking, yeast feeds on the simple glucose sugars that are produced by malting, and gives off ethanol and carbon dioxide as a byproduct. This is crucial to the brewing of beer, as the ethanol gives beer its buzz, while the carbon dioxide allows it to be carbonated and crisp. Although yeast is simple in and of itself, there are various strains that are used by brewers to obtain certain results. This has led to many different strains and mixtures of yeast becoming closely guarded secrets within the brewing industry.
Yeast is added during the final phase of brewing, called fermentation. Before this period of creating the beer, the wort is essentially sweetened barley water with no alcoholic content. When the fermentation process begins, the yeast is pitched into the vat and allowed to sit, allowing the chemical reactions necessary to produce ethanol and carbon dioxide take place. Fermentation is broken down into two different types: Top-Cropping and Bottom-Cropping Fermentation.
Top-Cropping fermentation takes place when the yeast forms a foam at the top of the wort, typically forming the type of alcohol that comprises ales. This type of yeast fermentation requires temperatures between fifteen and twenty four degrees Celsius.
Bottom-Cropping fermentation takes place throughout the vat, results in lager being formed, and takes place in temperatures between three and eleven degrees Celsius. As a result of these different fermentation processes, many types of yeast can be used to produce several kinds of alcohol.
The next time you think that something as amazing as beer is easy to make, remember the incredible science behind using yeast to produce the alcohol and carbon dioxide that is needed in every brew. Now go impress your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Wort sounds like the very last thing that you would like to put in your mouth without knowing about it. Simply put, wort is one of the byproducts of the mashing process that is required to make beer. This article will seek to reveal the secrets of the wort production process, and how it fits into the overall brewing process.
As a byproduct of the early phases of brewing, the very first step of wort production involves taking the malt from the dried barley or other grain, and mashing it. This turns most of the starches in the batch into sugars which will be used to flavor the beer and aid the fermentation process. The next step in wort production is referred to as lautering; which separates the particulate sugars from the liquid wort. At the end of the lautering, the beer is still relatively flavorless.
The next step to make wort involves boiling the liquid wort in order to ensure that the mixture is free of any bacteria which may alter the fermentation process. Also, the hops are added at this point in order to draw out their unique flavors and bitterness. First, the bittering hops are added to the mixture for one to two hours. Next, the flavoring hops are added to the mixture for another hour or two. Aside from their flavoring qualities, hops oils also have a naturally occurring preservative in them that allows beer to have a long shelf life.
At this point in the wort production, several “rests” are conducted to ensure that the beer is forming along the proper guidelines. The first rest involves halting the boiling action to test the acidity of the brew. If the PH is too high or too low, several of the qualities of the beer can be affected. Another rest that is necessary to wort production is called the saccharification rest, where the sugars begin to gelantinize into their optimall sugar structure for flavoring. After the boiling processes and the rest, the wort moves onto the final phase of wort production.
After the mashing and boiling phases, the wort is chilled to a temperature that yeast can thrive within. At this point, the yeast is added and for all intents and purposes the wort production phase ends. This process is called pitching the yeast; a critical phase of brewing beer. This is important for the fermentation process and the development of carbon dioxide, both of which are required to produce a crisp,delicious, alcoholic beverage. From the mashing process to pitching to the yeast, the wort production process is lengthy, complicated, and crucial to the development of a proper brew.
Learning more about the major ingredients in beer is essential to truly appreciating the work and skill that goes into your favorite brew.
As one of the key ingredients to beer, malts are an important aspect of the brewing process that must be understood in order to produce quality alcohol. In essence, malts provide the flavor and sugar that give beer its distinct taste. Here, we will examine the invaluable place that malts hold in brewing beer.
Malts are one of the four ingredients in beer, and as mentioned, are very important in their own right. They come in two varieties: liquid or dry. Malts are derived by allowing the grain, most often barely, to germinate. This happens when the grain is wet and begins its growing life cycle, while simultaneously releasing the enzymes necessary to promote its growth. Then, this process is halted by introducing hot air to the germinating seeds. The result of ending the germination is that there are some sugars and soluble starches left over, which is exactly what you need in order to brew.
There are many different varieties of malts that can be used for the brewing process. The most common malt comes from barley because it has a great amount of enzymes and diastatic power, which results in more usable sugars. However, there are other malts such as wheat or rye, which can be used to produce other forms of beers and ale.
Another option when using malts is to use liquid extracts instead of natural grains. These make brewing faster, cheaper, and somewhat easier. These extracts are made the same way as a normal malt, but the sugars are removed from the grain via a process called sparging. The result is a thick, syrupy, mixture that does not need to be subjected to the mashing process which saves time and effort. However, many microbreweries value the step by step process that creates pure mash and delicious beer.
Another consideration of the brewing process is the desired effects which can be manipulated by using base malts or specialty malts. Base malts are useful for non-wheat beers in order to determine the grainy flavor of the beer. This is important because a balance of bitterness and sweetness can be the difference between a delicious beverage and a failed product. Specialty malts can be used to add color or special flavors to the beer, such as honey or chocolate. Using all of these different varieties of malts, both natural and extracts, the brewer can make a flavorful and unique taste.
For more information you can check out the sources below.
http://www.howtobrew.com/sitemap.html
http://www.brew-monkey.com/brewschool/maltguide.php
http://www.ukmalt.com/barley-growers
Hops are one of the fundamental ingredients in beer brewing, and have been used in beer making for hundreds of years. Before the introduction of hops, many different spices were used to achieve the bitterness and flavor that they can evoke in a beer. Bittering and flavoring are two of the major functions that hops provide, but there is a great deal of important facts about hops that one should know when choosing a beer.
Continuing in our look into how beer is made and what each of the ingredients does we now take a look at hops. You may not have ever heard of them so read on to learn more!
Hops come from a perennial plant, and were first used in beer to counteract the inherent sweetness of malt sugars, but also have an interesting quality that makes them a successful sleep aid as well. Hops are grown in the temperate climates between thirty five and fifty degrees of latitude, both north and south of the equator. The length of the days in which the hops are grown is one of the determinant factors in proper growth and production. After they grow in the summer, they are harvested in the late summer and early fall, then they are transferred to a kiln facility where they heated to one hundred and forty degrees to dry them out and prepare them to be used in brewing.
There are many different types of hops that are used in brewing. They are often sorted by their shape and characteristics in beer making. There are whole leaf hops, pellets, and hops extracts. Whole leaf hops are useful for their full flavor, but are susceptible to spoilage. Pellets are inexpensive and easy to store, but create a sludge on the bottom of the vats. Hops extracts are simply the oil extracts of the whole hops, and have the benefit of being stored safely for a long time. Pellets are the most commonly used hops in the major manufacturing breweries, while smaller breweries tend to use whole hops.
When it comes to the actual brewing process, hops can be added at various times. The bittering hops, which are used to balance the sweetness of the maltose sugars, tend to be added at the beginning of the boiling process. Flavoring hops tend to be added towards the end of boiling to retain their essential oils. At the very end of the brewing process, aroma hops are added to prevent the evaporation loss of their olfactory qualities. While these are the most typical hops used, and can be found in just about any brew, there are many others that can be added to produce different tastes and textures in the beer.
For all of these reasons and more, hops are one of the most important aspects of the beer brewing process. So next time you are enjoying a cold beer don’t forget the important role that they have played!
Everyone knows the basic equation: barely+ hops+ water+ yeast = beer. However, there is more to the this drinking delight than initially meets the eye. Here, we will discover the secrets behind how beer is made, also called brewing.
Malting:
The first and most important step of making beer is called “Malting”. Here, the barley, or rye, is harvested from its grain and subjected to a soaking, heating process, and drying process. This allows the grains to begin to germinate, cracking the outer layer and effectively producing fermentable enzymes. This process determines the overall color of the beer. All of this work is preparation for the next step, called mashing.
Mashing:
The mashing process is one of the most simple, yet most important aspects of brewing. Mashing involves steeping the malted grain in nearly boiling water to release the maltose sugars from the enzymes. Once this process is complete, the water is drained away and the brewer is left with wort. Next, the wort is subjected to another round of water heating.
Boiling:
Boiling the wort in water is an important step. In fact, it is so important that it is estimated to have saved England from losing its population during the Black Plague. You see, the wort is boiled in water and all of the hops and spices that give beer its unique flavor are added to the mixture. The hops add the distinct bitterness of beer to balance the taste and allow the brewer to add their distinctive flavor to their beer. Boiling the water also kills any bacteria in the wort and water, and it saved lives because the hot water killed the plague virus and stopped the transfer of disease via water. Again, this step is preparation is for the delicate fermentation phase.
Fermentation:
This step is truly the heart of beer brewing. After the boiling is done, and the wort mixture is filtered, it is added to a fermentation vessel and has the yeast added to it. After this addition, the beer is then stored at room temperature for several weeks depending on the specific beer or flavor that is trying to be achieved. Also, variations on the fermentation process are what determines the alcoholic content, and thus strength, of the beer.
Aging:
The final step in learning how beer is made is aging. This is rather self explanatory, but not many people realize why it is necessary. After the fermentation process, you will have flat, alcoholic beer. The crisp flavor and carbonation comes from the Carbon Dioxide that builds up during the aging process. Again, you can age your beer from a few weeks, up to a few months to produce strong, delicious beer.
So there you have it, a quick run down on how your favorite delicious drink is made. The next time you are enjoying a brew with your friends you can educate them on the complicated process behind how it is made and look like a Beer Genius!
Hopefully you are not one of those beer drinkers who do not appreciate Porter in all its forms as much as they should. If you’re not familiar with this beer style, let us introduce you. This style of beer is one of the heartiest forms that will make it to your lips, known today as Baltic and Imperial Porter.
For the first couple of decades, Porter was brewed from a blend of a continuous series of mashings. It was actually called the entire-butt beer, referring to the 108-gallon cask it would be stored in. The rough and smoky edge would get tamed during a maturation period of up to a whole year or at least a few months. As a result, tart and wild vinous flavors would be unleashed from their native microflora and wooden butts.
Enough of the history lesson, let us get down to what you can expect if you decide to enjoy this style of beer, which is quite strong compared to standard beers of today.
Appearance:
Once you pour the beer, it will appear to have an almost black, dark brown color with a one-fourth inch light tan head that will quickly ebb away to a ring of foam. You may also spot a patch of large irregular bubbles off to either side or both and the surface of the liquid may have a few very thin patches of foam. As you sip the beer, you may also notice irregular patches as well as speckles of foam on the sides of the glass.
Smell:
The aroma of roasted malt will fill your nostrils once you pour this style of beer. The aroma will probably comprise of the scents of coffee, dark chocolate, dark molasses, and even a hint of herbal earthiness.
Taste:
If your nose predicts correctly, then you will indeed taste some coffee and dark chocolate along with the dark molasses as you sip the beer. The beer will conceal the alcohol quite well and the hop flavors will no t really show because of the almost burnt, dark malt, roasted flavors.
Mouthfeel:
The mouthfeel with style of beer will be medium bodied on the lighter side while the carbonation gives it a light prickly feeling. It has a fairly long finish as it fades in the back of the mouth into dry roasted bitterness.
Overall Impression:
You will quite enjoy sipping your way through any Baltic and Imperial Porter beer and will be more than delighted to have it again. This beer style is interesting and well-maid, and if you taste it for the first time, it might even remind you of a Baltic Porter, an Imperial Stout, and a Porter, i.e. if you have tasted those as well. If you haven’t, then what are you waiting for?
You may not regard Porter as highly as a stout, but don’t forget it was actually a true king in the world of beers once. If you want to drink beer and feel like royalty, then the Imperial and Baltic Porter style beers should be at the very top of the heap.
One aspect that is well known about Canadians is that they just love their beer. Canadian beer can be said to be pride of a nation. As a matter of fact, most events taking place in the region feature a variety of local brews. This will apply to both formal as well as informal. The social drink is not just another chilled drink but a symbol of the culture of the people. A beer brand that existed in the days of our grandparents still remains popular to this day. Talk about passing on of the drinking culture.
In line with keeping up the rich beer history, large as well as microbreweries regularly hold beer festivals. At the event, a person is able to sample what Canada has to offer. Whether you love your ice beer, fancy your cream ale, or simply cannot resist craft beer, then this is an event for you. Brewing beers is no longer a tightly kept trade secret as it was in the yesteryears. The modern brewer allows his customers sample the latest brews as well as have a tour of the brewery. This experience allows beer drinkers share their thoughts about their favorite drink. It also leads to people appreciating the big role the beer industry plays in the economy.
Friendships and strong social bonds are always established during the beer festivals or a tour of a brewing plant. This is even becoming a common pastime for many people. It is also viewed as a way of appreciating the local brewing sector that has been growing tremendously. Local brands are generally well received in the market. This is attributed to the provincial regulations which encourage local brewing. So next time you are sipping your cold Budweiser, Molson dry, Coors light, Labatt blue, pale lager, or any other beer brand, you may well appreciate the rich culture, strong friendship, as well as robust economy that is made possible thanks to the beer industry.
Since the advent of major breweries, there has always been tension between mainstream beers and those which are produced by local brewers. While major brewers have the benefit of providing consistent prices and brews, there is a distinct lack of choice in beer selection resulting from this homogenization. In fact, one of the leading sites for collecting information about the Canadian beer industry estimates that as little as four percent of all beer produced in Canada is brewed by independent craft beer breweries.
This is troublesome for a nation that is famed for its love of drinking and producing beers of every kind. The problem, by and large, is that many of the larger companies buy out the small breweries. The effect of these actions is that there are many fewer choices in the beer that is being consumed throughout the country. While each province has shown itself capable of producing distinct flavors to reflect their geography and culture, the craft beers are being diluted by the heavy influence of the major brewing industry.
However, this is still some hope left to keep a variety of choices available in Canadian craft beers due to initiatives such as the Ontario Microbrewery Strategy. This initiative provides government support to microbreweries that are trying to explore different marketing strategies, while simultaneously allowing them to hire more workers so that they can keep their breweries running smoothly. As a result, they will be able to keep providing liquor sellers with a wide selection of beers that are not simply copies of one another.
Having the choice to drink and enjoy a distinct flavor of beer is a necessity to anyone who enjoys drinking, and this choice can be maintained by supporting local breweries, buying craft beers, and embracing microbreweries all throughout the provinces and country as a whole.
The benefits of supporting your local brewery aren’t limited to the awesome beer, the great food or the wonderful camaraderie. Supporting your local brewery means that you are contributing to the local economy and ensuring that the brewery and your locality thrive.
It’s easy to see how being a patron of a local brewery contributes directly and indirectly to the local economy. The brewery pays taxes to the local government, which ensures that, with every bill you pay there, there is money going to the local economy. There is also the added factor of jobs being generated with the growth of the local brewery. Some of the better known local breweries go on to mass produce their beer to be sold across the country, and this generates even more jobs for the town. With brewing being a skill that takes years to perfect, interested individuals will benefit greatly from helping out at the brewery and learning on the job.
The Edmonton BeerFest has supported many start up breweries along the way. https://edmontonbeerfest.com/wp_sitemap_page/community-profile/
Pub food has always been a unique cuisine and local breweries go to great lengths to carry on the tradition. Most local breweries have a menu that pairs their food with the beer available and the combinations can be mouthwatering. It’s a good reason to choose the pub over a fast food chain for a hearty dinner.
Buying merchandise is also a great way to support your local brewery. Buying a t shirt or a cap not only helps you show your support for the brewery but also gives them some free publicity. Advertising can be expensive, so the small cost you pay for the t-shirt or the cap may mean huge savings for the brewery!
If your brewery is in a farming town, this means that some farmers can diversify their crop and add barley to their crop rotation. This will ensure that the brewery has a convenient source for their main ingredient and farmers have a permanent customer. Another boost for the local economy. Make mention to your local brewery to take part in Edmonton BeerFest we get a real kick out of helping businesses grow.
Molson Brewery’s
At the end of the day, it’s not a hard task to support your local brewery. The food is good, the beer even better and the merchandise is a great reminder of the place you love.
https://internationalbeerfest.com/
Beer is affected largely by the quality ingredients that make it up. The importance of water in the quality of a beer cannot be overestated as it constitutes about 95% of the total ingredients. Looking around the world at the established brewing regions, you can see a pattern of good fresh water availability. Great water makes for some great beer. An indepth understanding of the impact water has on flavor is essential and very important to the brewer, here is a quick overview.
There are only four key ingredients necessary for brewing, with so few total ingredients it is easy to see why the water needs to be perfect and is infact the most important amongst them. Water is an integral part of the recipe. The water incorporated into the beer must have a very good taste in order for the beer produced to also have a good taste. /p>
You may have heard the term “Hard Water” before and not been 100% sure of what it means. Basically it refers to the amount of minerals in the water that cannot be removed by boiling or through water softening. This is why defining the taste of water is best broken down chemically.
Calcium
This is a principal mineral and it determines the hardness of water. It helps to promote the flavor and clarity in the finished beer. It is also instrumental because of its enzyme activities on the components of beer and acidifying effect on the wort.
Sulphates
If there is too much sulphur in the water then it will have an unpleasant smell. Sulphur also contributes to the permanent hardness of water. It also emphasizes the hop bitterness and makes the bitterness seem drier and crisper. If there is too much sulphur it can cause sickness.
Magnesium
Magnesium is also essential in brewing liquor as it works with the yeast acting as a co-factor for producing certain enzymes required in the process of fermentation.
Obviously there is much more complexity involved but you can definitely see how important the water source is for beer brewing. As these minerals in the water mix in, they change the chemical process that creates the beer. So if you are considering making a home brew of beer, be sure to consider your water as your most important ingredient! Good luck!
As the festivities continue to scale and people rush to acquire gifts for their loved ones, there is one group of people who seem to be as calm as ever: the beer lovers. Beer is handcrafted, available in over 100 styles, and has its own decorative packaging, which eliminates the need for wrapping. Plus the fact that the recipient will most probably share a glass with you, making it the ultimate gift for this season. However, there are many other good gifts that can be just as pleasing to beer lovers.
Glassware
Proper glassware is a must have for any beer lover, not only for their aesthetic value, but also to enhance the taste of beer and the drinking experience. Just like you need a glass to pour your wine, you also need the right glassware to appreciate the striking characteristics of your beer.
Nuts, Cheese or Meats
There are a few things that pair well with beer to make any drinking experience so much more incredible, and you can never go wrong with some artisan cheeses, nuts and meats. You can expect the recipients to devour them fast owing to their awesomeness, so make sure to purchase enough to last longer than a moment.
Bottle keeper
There is nothing good like a cold beer, and the vacuum-insulated stainless steel growler promises to do just that. The best thing about these coolers is that they can keep your drinks cold, carbonated and safe for longer than 24 hours, allowing you to enjoy your favorite alcohol during overnight trips and long hikes.
Home brewing Equipment
A brewing starter kit makes the perfect gift for home brewers or those aspiring to be home brewers. The kit contains different supplies and equipment that can significantly enhance the home brewing experience. If you are not certain about what the recipient needs, you can purchase a few ingredients, or get them a gift card.
Beer Bottle Cufflinks
Every now and then, everyone needs to dress up when attending a function or celebration. Not many people wear cufflinks, but you may manage to change the minds of a few beer lovers by getting them some with beer bottles on them.
Beer Nerd Board Game
Beer taps into the playful side of the brain, and while one’s attraction to the opposite sex seems to scale significantly, so does the need to interact more closely with drinking buddies. Nothing achieves this better than a trivia board game to challenge your beer knowledge while having lots of fun. It has multiple choices, so you do not have to be so informed to win.
How many times have you stared at those foamy pints of gorgeous, gold-colored alcoholic beverages and wondered, what is the difference between beer and ale?
You’re in luck, my slightly inebriated friend. For today, we will divulge the secret behind this most perplexing of questions.
On the face of it, there appear to be not much difference between beers and ales. After all, both are usually made from just grains and water, and are the by-products of the yeast fermentation process. However, a closer inspection reveals an entirely different story.
Before we delve into the subject, it would perhaps be wise to take a step back and do a little clarification first. You see, the term beer’ is technically the common noun for this class of alcoholic beverage as a whole.
Ales and lagers are the two major subgroups of beer, which can be further classified, among others, into porters, stouts and bitters (ale) and pilsners, bocks and darks (lager).
However, sometime between the late 19th century and early 20th century, the term lager somehow gave way to beer, a shift that remain stuck to this day. So the original question should have been – what is the difference between lager and ale?
Essentially, it has all to do with the type of yeast and fermentation temperatures.
A top-fermenting process using a yeast species called saccharomyces cerevisiae at normal room temperature produces ales. This will yield the lighter-colored ale that the snobbier amongst us have always claimed to prefer.
Meanwhile, lagers are produced by utilizing the yeast species saccharomyces pastorianus in a bottom fermentation process under a considerably lower temperature. The result is lager, also known variously as beer, cold one, brewski, and even Britney (those crazy Irish).
It is worth mentioning that a few centuries ago, the difference between ales and lager were significantly more pronounced. At the time, ales were brewed using barley or wheat instead of hops, which only became a farming staple less than two centuries ago.
However we look at it, there is no denying that beers and ales have evolved into one of the most crucial elements of modern civilization. For many of us, a cold can, mug, pint or bottle of beer is the highlight of our day, bringing us unconditional comfort and joy.
Beers, lagers and ales! We love to try them all, and sometimes when we’re just enjoying sampling them, we might wonder what is the difference between them, since they all have the same effect on us. Once we’ve sampled a few more, we don’t really care what the difference is.
Just in case you really do want to know, we’ll give you a brief heads up on the differences. Firstly, there is no difference between beer and lager. That’s because lager is a type of beer. So is ale for that matter. Beer is the name given to a group of alcoholic drinks that include lager and ale.
The technical difference between the beer categories is in how they are brewed. Lager is a German word that translates as “storage,” which gives a hint as to its method of brewing. Lagers are beers that are ferment slowly at low temperatures. They also ferment from the bottom up. Ales ferment quickly from the top down and are brewed in a warm environment.
In practice, the distinction between beer, lager and ale has become blurred, which, when you think about it, is hardly surprising! In most countries, when you ask for a beer, you will be given what looks like, and probably technically is, a lager. In fact, in most non-English speaking countries, there is no specific word in their language for lager or for ale. In many English-speaking countries, if you ask for a beer you will get ale, and you will have to ask specifically for a lager if that’s what you’re after.
So, next time somebody at a beer fest asks you “What is the Difference Between Beer and Lager?” feel free to quote what you’ve learnt here, secure in the knowledge that you are absolutely correct. If they want to argue, just tell them you’re off for another beer. Cheers!
If you love beer, a visit to BeerFest is a must. You get to drink loads of beer of various brands, in the company of fellow beer lovers. Just pay the entrance fee and you can drink beer to your heart’s delight! However, to ensure you enjoy yourself and don’t end up doing something you will regret after all that beer, here is a quick beer festival survival guide to help you.
1. An empty stomach won’t help you enjoy more brews. Eat a meal before you start the beer binge or your enjoyment will last only a few beer rounds. However, don’t eat any spicy foods as they will only destroy your ability to properly taste a mug of beer.
2. Hydrate yourself! Drink lots of water, your day at the beer festival will be very long and hot!
3. Take your time. You have come to the beer festival to enjoy yourself and your beer. Pace yourself and enjoy as many types and mugs of beer as possible. Don’t drink uncontrollably, relax and just taste the beer and either dump it or take your time to drink it. The festival lasts for hours. No one’s racing – just relax and enjoy your day!
4. Wear a comfortable pair of shoes. Shoes matter a lot as seating is limited. You will spend lots of time moving from one beer booth to the next, so wear comfortable shoes.
5. Bring cash. Cash is important to buy some things with so many beer vendors and food to try. Though some vendors accept credit cards and the festival might have ATMs, it’s more convenient if you carry some cash.
6. Take notes. You never know; you may find some beer you like and no matter how strong your memory is, you won’t remember the names after all the beers, so carry some way of remembering. I like to take cell phone photos of the bottle to help me, but you may prefer the old-fashioned pen and paper method.
7. “If lost please send to.” If you traveled from out of town, it’s also a good idea to write down the name and address of your hotel or sleep accommodations. That way at the end of the night, you know where to have the taxi deliver you. Large amounts of beer can sometimes affect the memory.
8. Take lots of photos. Last, but not least, a camera is a must at any beer festival. You get to see many crazy things worth clicking to remember. Share your pics with others to give them an idea of how great a beer festival actually is!
If you have ever seen wine tasters at work, you will notice that they do not actually drink the stuff. After swilling it around their mouths for a few seconds, they spit it out. What a waste that is. They should take a leaf out of beer tasters books and actually drink what they are tasting. If you are lucky enough to get to some of the world’s largest beer festivals, you will see what I mean.
In fact, anybody caught spitting the beer out would probably be escorted to the door, and rightly so. Beer festivals are a wonderful invention. You get the opportunity to join up with loads of other people who share your tastes. You can try a whole variety of different beers while enjoying the entertainment. The entertainment usually includes the live bands that festival organizers recruit. It also includes other festival attendees who have slightly over-sampled and might be unintentionally putting on a show by making fools of themselves.
There are famous and great beer festivals all over the world. Here are a few of the better known ones:
- The Great British Beer Festival, London (United Kingdom)
- Pilsner Fest, Pilsen (Czech Republic)
- The New England Beer Festival, Auckland (New Zealand)
- The Great American Beer Festival, Denver (USA)
- Quindao International Beer Festival, Shandong Province (China)
- Belgian Beer Weekend, Brussels (Belgium)
- National Winter Ales Festival, Manchester (United Kingdom)
- Mondial del la Biere, Montreal (Canada)
- Biermeile Berliner, Berlin (Germany)
- Wasen Cannstatt, Stuttgart (Germany)
- Great World Beer Festival, United Nations of Beer, New York (USA)
The largest of all beer festivals by a long shot though is the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. After a few beers, people have been known to get a little befuddled. Clearly the originators of Oktoberfest did, bless them, because most of the festival takes place in September. Oktoberfest is not really about sampling beer. It is all about having fun drinking it. If you get the opportunity to visit this festival, grab it with both hands. It is an unforgettable, fun-filled experience.
Every year, Canadians get a great chance to try out a range of beers at our Edmonton Beer Festival. We are on a smaller scale than Munich, but definitely worth a visit. In 2013, festival-goers could choose from over 200 beers and we hope to add more this year. How many of those could you get through in 2 days?
If you are traveling to a beer festival, don’t forget to carry at all times a piece of paper with the address of your accommodation written on it. In a strange place, remembering where you are living temporarily after a “few” drinks can be tricky.
