Discovering Microbrews

Brewed on every continent around the world and
enjoyed in every nation, beer can quench every type
of thirst and go down as easily as spring water
to thick, heady concoctions that resemble that of
the thickest oatmeal.

Just as the gourmet blends have conquered a large
portion of the coffee business, handcrafted brews
continue to keep a firm hold on the most serious
of beer drinkers. There are hundreds of thousands
of brews out there, which are sure to please even
the hardest to please.

When it comes to the gourmet types of microbrews,
there are some things to keep in mind. If you
are new to microbrews and gourmet types, you’ll
find the tips below to be very beneficial.

Start light
When you go to a pub or just out to drink, you
should start off light with a basic lager, pilsner,
or wheat beer. After that, you can work your way
towards the full flavored beers, such as porters
and Oktoberfest beers. These can be very potent,
especially for those who don’t really drink that
much.

Starting light is also good for your overall
tolerance, as drinking light will prepare you for
the more potent drinks. This way, you can enjoy
plenty of microbrews without having to worry
about stopping too early.

Brewpub
The ideal way to try new types of beer is to pay
a visit to a local brewpub. Many of these small
brewery/restaurants will offer samplers, which
feature small glasses with four to five of their
most popular beers.

This way, you can experience a variety of beer
tastes without having to spend a lot of money.
Once you have tried a couple of the beers, you’ll
know what to order.

Dark beers
If you are a casual beer drinker or can handle
your tolerance, you shouldn’t be afraid in the
least to try dark beers. The dark color doesn’t
mean that the beer is heavier or contains more
calories, it simply means that the malt in the
beer is roasted longer or roasted to a more darker
color than most.

Small business
Small businesses and small businessmen are yet
another reason to get into microbrewed beer other
than the taste. Local microbrew producers brew
their beers in small batches, so you’ll be helping
to keep the business afloat, rather than supporting
the large giants of the industry.

When you know that your money is going to help the
little people, you’ll normally find the brew to go
down much smoother. Small microbreweries need
all the help they can get to continue brewing,
which is reason enough to support them. You’ll get
a great beer for your money – and you’ll be
supporting those that actually need your help.

Brewpub Heaven

Everyone knows that if your looking for the best in
coffee, you go to Seattle. For wine, you go to
California. When it comes to the best in beer, you
go to Portland Oregon, where your never more than
15 minutes away from a quality brewpub.

The Williamette Rive in western Oregon has been
the center of hop growing and brewing since the
days of the pioneers. When the microbrew revolution
began, the history and the hops were already there,
along with the spring water, the grain, and the
fruit for summer beers. As a result, regional
brewers and microbrewers began to pop up all over
the place.

After that, it didn’t take long at all for the
brewpub to follow. These beers weren’t just for
washing down food anymore. The hand crafted beers
could be used in cooking, just like wine. In
the brewpubs of Portland, the beer also forms a
base for salad dressing, spices up marinades, and
even helps to sweeten the desserts as well.

Many brewpubs will offer a sampler of the best
in beer tasting. You can think of it as wine tasting
without the snooty steward. You sip on small
amounts of a variety of brews to see what the
brewer can do, from the light and hoppy to the
dark yet sweet brews.

What to expect
1. Good head on the beer. Good head
ensures that you’ll get a strong smell of the
brew, so be sure to pour it into your glass very
carefully.
2. Always use a glass. You should always
use a clean glass, a very clean glass. In most
brewing establishments, the glasses are always hand
washed and air dried to ensure that there isn’t a
speck of grease in the glass to deflate the head
and leave soapy looking bubbles behind.
3. The English are right. As the English
know, refrigerated beer is too cold to fully
appreciate the taste. In brewpubs, the beer is
served at temperatures that are cool but not that
cold. The iced and chilled glasses are saved for
martinis.
4. Vocabulary. Beer has a mouth feel,
which describes the body of the brew – light,
medium, and full. The color can be misleading,
as even light bodied beers can be full bodied.

Anytime you are looking for the best in microbrews,
you can count on Oregon to deliver the best in
beer. There are hundreds of brewpubs here, with
everything you could ever want. Anytime you
are in the area, don’t hesitate to stop off and
see why the microbrews here are easily among the
best in the United States – or the world for
that matter.

Equipment For Microbrews

Before you can start brewing beer, you’ll need to
have the right equipment. If this is your first
time brewing, you should start simple. Before
you begin, the first thing that you’ll need is a
brewpot. Before you rush out and buy one, you
may already have one that will work just fine.

The pot should hold at least three gallons of
liquid. The next thing you’ll need is a fermenter.
For the average five gallon batch, the fermenter
should hold six gallons or more, allowing space
for a foam that will form during the vigorous
process of fermentation.

For this stage, a glass carboy or food grade
plastic bucket is often used. You’ll also need
an airlock for your fermenter to allow the C02
to escape while also keeping the air out. A
siphon hose is also needed to transfer beer from
the fermenter when it’s ready, without having
to mix air into it.

A bottling bucket will also help to make the
process much easier. Bottling buckets are
similiar to fermenters, except the fact that they
have a spigot at the bottom that allows you to
fill the bottles directly, which makes the
entire process less messy and gets things done
much quicker. You’ll also need a capper to
seal your bottles; as bottles and caps or even
a keg will be needed to store and serve your
brew.

If you look around, you may be able to find a
kit that will contain everything you need. You
can purchase kits on the internet, many of
which offer the top quality equipment you’ll
need to brew. All you have to do is look around
the net, as there are many different web sites
that offer equipment for microbrews.

If you don’t want to buy a kit, you can always
buy each piece of equipment seperately. This
tends to be a bit more expensive than buying
a kit, although you’ll be able to pick each
piece of equipment yourself, without having to
take what’s included in the kit.

Once you get all of the necessary equipment
together, you should know how to use it before
you get started. This way, you won’t run into
any problems once you start brewing. The
equipment needed for brewing is easy to use, so
you shouldn’t have any problems.

Brewing microbrews can be both fun and exciting,
especially when you start brewing your own
creations. You can drink the brew yourself,
or serve it to friends and family. Microbrews
are fun to drink and create – which makes having
the proper equipment all the more while.

Lagers

Lagering, as a process, was discovered around 200
years ago in Bavaria. Here, it was found that
beers experiencing secondary fermentation in casks
stored in the caves of the Alps would produce beers
with differnet characteristics than ales.

The process of lagering became very popular in
areas where fermentating with cool temperatures
could be maintained, although it wasn’t until the
invention of the refrigerator that lagers really
spread around the world.

Over the last several years, flat sales have been
seen for breweries as a growth in sales for
American microbrews. Even though a lot of the
beer volume from lager is composed of cheap quality
product from the large breweries, there’s plenty
of great products available, although most are
from Europe.

European all malt Pilsener
World wild, Pilseners are the most popular style.
The style originated in Bohemia in a town that
was named Pilsen by the brewery. Even though
there are some superb Pilseners made outside this
region, the style is frequently cheapened and
is also the basis for many beers lacking quality
or being just plain ol’ cheap beer.

German Pilsener
Classic German Pilseners are very light in color
and well hopped, with the hop bitterness being
high. It’s a well attenuated, medium bodied beer
although a malty accent can be perceived. There
shouldn’t be any chill haze, as the head of the
beer should be dense and rich.

Bohemian lager
Lagers in this category are very similar to German
Pilseners, although they are more full bodied
and can be as dark as light amber. This style of
beer will balance the moderate bitterness and
noble hop aroma with a malty, yet slightly sweet
body.

Pale Ale Beer

English pale ale
The style of English pale ale was originated by
producers in Burton during the 1800′s. The high
levels of calcium found in the water compliment this
style quite well, by making a more efficient
extraction of bitter resins from the hops.

The taste and aroma of English pale ale is similar
to that of the English Bitter. The term “pale” was
intended originally to distinguish beers of this
type from the black London Porter. Classic English
ales aren’t pale, rather golden to copper colored.

American pale ale
The types of American pale ales range from golden
to light colored copper. This style of ale is best
characterized by American variety hops used to
produce high hop bitterness, aroma, and flavor.
These types of beers are less malty than their British
counterparts.

These beers have medium body and low to medium
maltiness. Chill haze is acceptable only at cold
temperatures.

Belgian pale ale
The Belgian ales are very similar to British ales,
although they are more spicy and aromatic – both
in malt and yeast character. These types of ales
are known by low, yet noticeable hop bitterness,
flavor, and aroma.

Low malt aroma and light to medium body are typical
for Belgian pal ale. In color, they are golden to
deep amber. Noble hop types are normally used,
while low to medium fruity esters are evident in
both flavor and aroma. Chill haze with Belgian pale
ale is acceptable at cold temperatures.

Pale ale beers are very popular throughout the world,
being served in hundreds of thousands of bars. They
are also great for social occasions as well, as
millions of people enjoy their dark yet satisfying
tastes. If you’ve never experienced pale ale beer -
you shouldn’t deprive yourself any longer.

Hybrid Microbrews

Cream ale/American lager/blonde ale
This blend produces a mild, pale, light bodied ale.
This can be made using a warm fermentation (either
top or bottom) and cold lagering or also by
blending top and bottom fermented beers.

The hop bitterness in the style is normally very
low, with hip aroma often absent. Sometimes they
are referred to as cream ales, yet they are crisp
and very refreshing.

American wheat ale/American wheat lager
This type of beer can be made by using either lager
yeast or an ale. Brewed with 50 percent wheat,
the hop rates are higher and the carbonation is
lower than German styles of wheat beers.

At low levels, a fruity estery aroma and flavor
is normal, although clovelike characteristics
shouldn’t be perceived. The color is normally
golden to light amber, with the body being light
to medium in character.

Fruit beers
These types of beers are made by using fruit as
an adjunct in the primary or secondary fermentation.
Fruit beers provide a very unique taste, and
they can also be quite potent if made in the right
ways.

Vegetable beers
These beers use vegetables as an adjunct in primary
or secondary fermentation, helping to provide an
obvious, yet harmonious quality. These beers
shouldn’t be overpowered by hop character.

Herb and spice beers
Herb and spice beers use either herbs or spices
other than hops to create a very distinct taste
and character. The spices can be derived from roots,
seeds, fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

Hybrid microbrews offer you a break from the
ordinary beers, providing unique tastes and very
distinct character. There are many types of hybrid
microbrews available, all you have to do is look
around or experiment.

Beer Culture

Social context
Many social traditions and activities are very
associated with drinking beer, such as playing cards,
darts, or other games. The consumption of beer in
isolation and excess may be associated with people
drinking away their troubles, while drinking in
excess with company may be associated with binge
drinking.

Around the world
All over the world, beer is consumed. There are
several breweries in the Middle East countries as
well, such as Iraq and Syria. There is also
breweries in African countries and other remote
countries such as Mongolia as well.

Glassware serving
Getting an appropriate beer glass is considered
desirable by some drinkers. There are some drinkers
of beer that may sometimes drink out of the bottle
or can, while others may choose to pour their
beer into a glass. Drinking from a bottle picks
up aromas by the nose, so if a drinker wishes to
appreciate the aroma of a beer, the beer is first
poured into a mug, glass, or stein.

Similar to wine, there is specialized styles of
glasses for some types of beer, with some breweries
producing glassware intended for their own styles
of beer.

Temperature
The conditions for serving beer have a big influence
on a drinker’s experiences. An important factor
when drinking is the temperature – as colder
temperatures will start to inhibit the chemical
senses of the tongue and throat, which will narrow
down the flavor profile of beer, allow certain
lagers to release their crispness.

Pouring
The process of pouring will have an influence on
the presentation of beer. The flow rate from the
tap, titling of the glass, and position of the
pour into the glass will all affect the outcome,
such as the size and longevity of the head and the
turbulence of the bar as it begins to release the
carbonation.

The more heavily carbonated beers such as German
pilseners will need settling time before they are
served, although many of them are served with the
addition of the remaining yeast at the bottom to
add extra color and flavor.

Beer rating
The rating of beer is a craze that combines the
enjoyment of drinking beer with the hobby of
collecting it. Those that drink beer sometimes
tend to record their scores and comments on various
internet websites.

This is a worldwide activity, as people in the
United States will swap bottles of beer with those
living in New Zealand and Russia. The scores may
then be tallied together to create lists of the
most popular beers in each country as well as
those throughout the world.

Microbrews Of The Northwest

The ideal place to sample the best of Northwest
handcrafted ale is a well run brewpub, which will
stimulate the human spirit with warmth, the scent
of malt, pleasant conversation, and hearty food.

Helping to combat the chilly, damp climate of
the region, brewpubs have become great places of
refuge where you can shake off the tears of a
hostile world, order a pint of cask beer, then
savor a complex beer that will caress every one
of your senses.

Microbreweries (companies that produce less than
20,000 kegs a year) can be found everywhere from
Minneapolis to Maui, although it all began in the
Pacific Northwest. On any evening, many dozen
locally brewed beers and ales are available for
your enjoyment in Portland and Seattle.

Most East Coast microbreweries produce German
style lagers, which is the most famous style of
brewing for American palates. The microbreweries
of the Northwest go all out for wildly adventerous
bitters, stouts, and porters.

With all of these amazing beers to choose from,
you may be wondering where to begin. When you
look for a microbrew, you should always be
thinking about variety. At any time in both
Seattle and Portland, you can find several dozen
fresh, locally made brew on tap. They all range
in strength from the standard 3 1/2% to a very
potent 8 1/2%.

As for the flavor, you’ll have to taste it for
yourself. There’s the rich sweetness of malt,
balanced well with good bitter hops. Then, there’s
also the mocha java overtones of roasted barley,
used with stouts and porters, and the spicy kick
of malted wheat.

There are also the sweet ales and tart ales,
mild ales, and ales that are so charged with flavor
that they linger on the tongue. No matter which
type of microbrew you choose, your sure to get
a flavor that will make you come back for more.

Oregon Microbrews

To get the most out of a visit to Oregon, you’ll need
to try a local craft beer. Even if you don’t like
to drink craft beer, it’s something you should at
least experience.

If you are knew to microbrews, you should know that
just because the beer is a microbrew, it doesn’t mean
that you’ll need a knife and fork to drink it. All
over the state, you’ll find several different
microbreweries that offer everything you could ever
want.

All mass produced American style lagers have set a
rather disappointing standard for the beer drinkers
of the country. These beers can only be as good as
their ingredients. Instead of the fine grains such
as barley and wheat, corn and rice are often used
as cheaper replacements. In place of the whole kiln
hops, the bigger breweries rely on small pellets of
compressed hop dust.

Throughout the state of Oregon, there are more than
50 breweries that provide both locals and visitors
with many alternatives to drinking. The microbrewed
craft will rely on tradition, using the more
expensive ingredients in place of money saving
shortcuts. The implication here, is that these
types of beer are normally bitter or overly sweet.

Anytime you visit an unfamiliar brewpub, there is a
great way to sample a variety of brews without
having to buy a whole pint. Several pubs offer a
sampler tray with five to seven two ounce beers,
often labeled to avoid any type of confusion.

Throughout Oregon, microbrews are very popular, in
the pubs and on the street. You can find many
different varieties, more than you can find in
other states. If you don’t live in Oregon, and you
get the chance to visit, you shouldn’t hesitate
to check out some of the excellent microbrews.

Wheat Beers

Wheat beers are beers that are brewed with both
malted barley and malted wheat, rather than using
just barley. The addition of wheat will lend wheat
beers a lighter flavor and somewhat paler color
than most all barley ales and beers. Wheat beer
is normally top fermented, which is fermentation
with ale yeast.

All types of wheat beers have become very popular
in the last several years, especially in warm
weather. In earlier centuries, the brewing of
wheat beer was illegal in many places, simply
because wheat was too important as both bread and
cereal to waste it with brewing beers.

The two most important varieties of wheat beers
are Belgian and German.

Belgian
Belgian wheat beers are easily the best known,
as they get their name from the suspended wheat
proteins which give it the whitish color. Belgian
white beers often have spices such as coriander
or orange peels added, which help to give them
a hint of fruity flavor.

German
German wheat beer is a well known variation through
the sourthern part of the country. The German
yeast wheat is a variety in which the yeast isn’t
filtered out. The filtration will take the yeast
out, and also strips wheat proteins which will
make it appear cloudy.

A lot of microbrewers in the United States as
well as Canada that make their own variations of
wheat beer, which is particularly popular in
Portland Oregon, which is considered to be the
beer capital.

In Europe, wheat beer is normally served in special
types of wheat beer glasses. In Belgium they are
normally solid glasses. Other countries will take
half a liter, in which the glasses are normally
tall and slim, tapering slightly towards the
base.

In the United States, wheat beer is normally served
with a slice of lemon.

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