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Posts Tagged ‘Beer’

The End for Bottle Tops and Corks

Nobody can argue that bottle tops and wine corks play a vital role in keeping drinks fresh, and they have always done it well very, which is why almost all brands have used very similar designs. Indeed they are an iconic image to the seasoned drinker, scattered about the floor and table after a heavy night on the liquor. However, with the insurgence of the screw top wine and beer bottle, the old designs are being pushed out, and are soon to be an extinct.

Bottle caps are traditionally made from steel and the original design had 24 teeth that wrapped around the rim, although more modern caps have around 21 teeth. Whilst they were great at keeping the contents of a bottle fresh, they are a nightmare to get off and unless you have teeth made from granite, you have to use a bottle opener to stand any chance of quenching your thirst. For this reason above all others, the screw top beer bottle has seen an upsurge of popularity in recent years, as they can be taken anywhere and you don’t have to drag and bottle opener along with you.

It’s a similar story with wine bottles, although ease of entry is not the only reason wine makers are moving away from corks. A corkscrew used to be a staple part of any dinnerware set, but its usefulness is dwindling as screw top wine bottles become more popular. In the same way as beer bottles need a bottle opener, wine bottles always required a corkscrew to be close by, and that’s just not always practical. Additionally, when it comes to storing wine for any length of time, screw tops are far superior to corks. Cork expands and contracts with varying moisture levels and with this can let air into the bottle, ruining the wine. Also, it has a tendency to break up over time if the wine is stored horizontally, as it often is on wine racks, resulting in the wine sometimes being ‘corked’ when served. Some may argue that nothing can be as good as the classic bottle top and cork designs, although all the evidence suggests that superior products are taking over in their place.

Expand Your Beer Horizons

The word “beer” is often used as a generic noun to describe a cold refreshing beverage. However, for those with more than a passing interest in the drink, a single word is far from sufficient to describe it.

When it comes to types of beer, there are many, many options to choose from. The amount of differing characteristics that can be found is surprising, with most people having a favorite type even if they are not aware of it. From stout to cider, and porter to pilsner, there really is something for everyone.

Most beers, particularly those sold commercially, are processed using similar methods. However, the names given to different styles of beer generally reflect individual characteristics of the product, such as where it originated. Taste, appearance and aroma are just some of the qualities that make different beers unique.

Some common favorites include these:

Lager: Some of the world’s most popular beer brands are lagers. These include American styles including basic lager, all-malt lager, light lager, double pilsner, malt liquor and low-alcohol or “light” beers. Germany and the Czech Republic are seen as the international leaders in the production of them.

Ale: This includes brown ale, American amber, porter and wild ales. Also falling under the category of “Ales” are Chile Beer, Pumpkin Ale, Belgian and French ales, English, German, Irish, Finnish, Scottish and Russian ales.

Cider: While not an official beer, cider is still enjoyed by many beer drinkers. Cider brewed from traditional English farms is a particular favorite of many.

Hybrids: Combining different beer styles or ingredients create this “experimental” beer. Sub-categories include smoked, spiced, fruit and vegetable beer.

Those are the essentials that every serious beer drinker should have already ticked off their beer list. If you’re a beer drinker, you’re likely loyal to a tried and true brand, but remember that variety is the spice of life. There is a world of options available to you, so try something new next time you’re in a beer drinking mood.

To learn more from a home beer brewing expert, and to discover the simple secrets of brewing world class beer from the comfort of your home, visit: http://homebeerbrewingsecrets.com/

How To Brew Your Own Beer

If you are one of the many people out there who are a tried and true beer lover, then you are definitely going to want to know how to make beer at home. It is actually not that difficult of a process, and it is not expensive either.

So, how do you make beer at home? We will cover the main steps below. It really is that simple that you can learn the basic process involved in just 5 minutes.

There are only really a few steps that are involved if you want to make beer at home. The first step of the process being to purchase yourself a beer kit, which you can find easily enough in online beer brewing stores. Make sure that you get a fully comprehensive kit, one that includes all of the different tools and materials required.

Then you need the four main ingredients, which are: water, malt, hops, and yeast. You might be surprised to know water is actually the most abundant ingredient, and makes up most of the final product. Malted barley is barley grain that has carefully been soaked in water until it sprouts and is then dried and used to make beer. The distinctive aroma and slight bitterness of the finished brew is determined by the hops. As for the yeast, this is the catalyst which is needed to make the other ingredients come together.

You then need to combine all of the ingredients using your beer kit. The exact way to do this is dependent on the type of beer kit you get, but every beer kit will come with instructions that will be easy enough to follow.

Should you wish to do so, you can deviate a little from the instructions provided with your beer kit to create a slightly more unique beer. Maybe you want to try adding some of your own flavorings to it, such as honey or banana.

Don’t worry about making mistakes as starting over is no big deal. In fact, practice and experimentation is the best way to learn. After doing a few trial batches, most people master the art of brewing their own beer. When you do, and realize just how fresh tasty home brewed beer is, you will wonder why you took so long to get involved.

To learn more from a home beer brewing expert, and to discover the simple secrets of brewing world class beer from the comfort of your home, visit: http://homebeerbrewingsecrets.com/