subject: All about Beer [print this page] All about Beer All about Beer
Beer should have been the first alcoholic beverage known to civilization and has legacy over 5000 years. Authentic chemical evidence of beer was traced which is of 3500 BC and historians acknowledge that a beer recipe is been included in a Sumerian poem on Ninkasi The goddess of brewing in 2900 BC. Different cultures had their own way of version of making beer using different grains. Africans used maize, Chinese used wheat, Japanese used rice and Egyptians used barley, However the modern beers are brewed using Hops, Malted Barley, Yeast and water. On January, 1935 Kruger Brewing Company of Richmond, VA first canned the beer and commercially sold under the brand name Krueger Cream Ale.
Beer can be generally classified into Ales and lagers and the ales came first. There is also another classification called specialty beers which is a combination of both ales and lagers together in different proportions, both ales and lagers are defined by the type of yeast used and the fermentation type used.
Ales are fermented using a type of yeast that activates in warmer temperatures. Ales are top fermented and brewed for two to three weeks time has a robust taste and are best when consumed cool. Different types of Ale like Pale and Amber ale commonly known as "Bitter" in England and "Altbier" in Germany and strong pale ales with high alcohol content is also available. Dark ale includes stout and porter are known for their dark colour and complex smoky flavor and rich creamy head. Another large famous category of Belgian ales which comes a rich tradition and legacy which are still made in monasteries in Belgium like double, triple and abbey ales. Even though Germany is known for its lagers some special ales are also available there.
Lagers use a different type of yeast that activates in colder temperatures and are always bottom fermented. Lager is derived from a German word "Lagern" which means "to store" or "Lay Aside". As the name means lagers take a long time to ferment often more than a month or more too.
Lager beers are a Czech creation but perfected by German brewers who discovered the aging in natural caves after the intial fermentation produced a cleaner beer. Lagers are the best consumed by the world's populations and there are different varieties of lager available. Let's deal with only the popular ones. The best known pale lagers are Helles where Hops flavor dominate and the Pilsner where the malt flavor dominates. Pilsener is the most successful style of beer originated from Plzen, Czechoslovakia in 1842 and the most popular too. Pilsners have a good amount of carbonation and are clean and crisp. Adding to this is Bock originating from Germany is a hearty beer with high alcohol content.
