A beer has been viewed as the devil's brew for a long time by prohibitionists and other conservative groups. However, beer isn't the culprit; it's certain people that have given it a bad rap. When it's used in controlled, social settings, It is really nothing more than a refreshing treat.
There is a rich history surrounding beer which incidentally has been around nearly as long as history itself. Prehistoric man is thought to have created beer before learning that grain could be used to create the dietary staple we call bread.
Noah stocked it on his ark and ancient Babylonian clay tables revealed beer recipes that date as far back as 4300 BC. The beer has clearly been an important factor in a variety of social gatherings. It has always been a staple at card games, sporting arenas, and dart matches. Of course, problems might arise when beer drinkers overindulge, drink privately, or try to drink their troubles away. Of course, binge drinking of any kind tends to brew trouble.
Beer is enjoyed by people around the world. Europe, Asia, North America, and South America all have rich beer
histories. Breweries are located in the Middle Eastern countries including Syria and Iraq, Mongolia, and a number of African countries. This means that a thirsty traveler could easily find a cold pint.
North American connoisseurs can explore a variety of new flavors because many beers from around the world are imported. Some drinkers rate the beers they drink, tally the scores and post their findings on websites in an effort to find the most popular beer in the world. Internet websites make it possible for beer drinkers in America to correspond with Russian beer drinkers and many of them swap beer through the mail. Some people enjoy collecting bottles or caps from beer they've consumed.
You can find pubs that host beer clubs, awarding personalized steins or plaques to their patrons that have enjoyed every brand of beer they offer.
Some connoisseurs like to drink from a proper pint glass while some absolutely refuse to drink from a can or bottle.
When beer is poured into a stein or glass the aromas of the beer are released, allowing the drinker to enjoy more than just the taste of the beer. Pouring the beer into a glass allows a head to form, another important element for beer connoisseurs. Just like wine or spirits, specific glasses are used for different kinds of beer. Many beer brewers make glassware that's intended for use only with their particular brand of beer.
There are a number of different factors that determine the ideal temperature for beer. Many experienced beer drinkers believe that the flavor is enhanced when the temperature is warmer and colder temperatures inhibit the senses of the throat and tongue. Colder temperatures weaken any subtle nuances and destroy the main flavor.
However, people that work and play hard expect their beer to ice cold. Many Irish beer drinkers will only drink a pint of Irish Guinness at room temperature.
The presentation of a beer is influenced by the way it's poured. There are a few factors like the tilt of the glass, position of the pour, and the flow rate of the tap that affect this outcome. Both the size and longevity of the head are determined by how the beer is poured. The pour also affects how the beer's carbonization is released.
Some of the heavily carbonated beers like German pilsners need some time for the carbonation to settle before they're served.
Some barkeeps serve beer with yeast in the bottom of the glass to enhance the flavor and color. Whether it's served cold or warm, in a glass or a bottle, beer plays an important role in society from Mongolia to Montana.
Sometimes you will see a group of sweet little old ladies enjoying a pint together.
So you finally decided that you would go the way of your friend and try out home brewing. Now, this is a good initiative on your part; home brewing is one perfect hobby that you can take up. You can make your own brew to rival the commercial ones and more importantly you can earn a few bucks from your brews- if you happen to master the art of home brewing. Now in order to be successful in this kind of hobby, you must first be aware of the basics of home brewing.
The basics and the answers to your questions will guide you as you prepare to fully understand how this kind of activity can benefit you in the long run.
Shown below are some familiar questions asked by someone who wants to venture into home beer brewing the first time.
• For starters, what types of beers are recommended? Technically all beers that are available in the market are similar. The only difference can be noted on the ingredients used. You must first know the different kinds of grains that are used in brewing. And you must consider and start with the grains that are easy to handle and process.
• How much budget is needed for the first foray in this activity? It should be noted that the costs associated with home brewing can be categorized into two. The first cost can be attributed to the ingredients and the second one on the equipment that will be used for this hobby.
For starters, you can start with home brewing equipment that can cost around $90. The set can include the most basic equipment. And for the ingredients, prepare to shell out around $50 for the first batch of brew. The cost for ingredients may shoot up depending on the kind and the quality of beer that you would like to brew.
• Is home brewing a profitable hobby? At the start expect that you will not get anything in return save for the pleasure of tasting your first brew. But as you go on with a hobby, you can start to recoup the costs invested in the hobby.
And you can shift this from hobby to a business endeavor the moment that you are satisfied with the taste. And move out of your comfort zone if you think that your friends will like your concoction.
• So you may have clinched the taste-winning formulation for your brew. So what needs to be done now? In order to take your hobby to the next level, then what you can do is to participate in trade shows and you can even join competitions. And if you are lucky, then a commercial bottle of beer may take notice and may even carry your brew nationally!
In the end, what matters is your dedication to your hobby and everything will just fall into place. Remember that it's easy to get into this hobby called home brewing provided that you know the basics and you know your overall
objectives.
