What is Beer?
I think Ben Franklin gives us the best definition of what beer is.... "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." If you need to know more than that.. read on. Simple Definitions According to Webster's online dictionary, "beer is a fermented alcoholic beverage brewed from malt and hops." Other definitions have expanded on this slightly by discussing other ingredients (yeast, water, etc.), but the simple definition above is accurate. Wikipedia (as you would expect) has a more detailed definition that I rather like: Beer is the world's oldest and most popular alcoholic beverage. It is produced by the fermentation of ...
Is there formaldehyde in beer?
This question was recently submitted by a reader, and to tell you the truth I did not know much about the formaldehyde in beer issue. My initial reaction was "of course there is not formaldehyde in beer", but as I dug deeper into the research I began to grow concerned. Now when I hear "formaldehyde" I think of preserving corpses... not exactly getting me in the mood for a cold one. So to start off I figured a definition of formaldehyde was in order: Formaldehyde: a chemical used in manufacturing and chemical industries, and as a preservative by anatomists, embalmers, and pathologists. ...
What is the Reinheitsgebot (”German Purity Law)
Well, the first step is to learn how to say Reinheitsgebot.... "Rine-Hites-gaBoat" is the best pronunciation I could find. Of course some native German speaker will probably correct this, but its pretty darn close. So now that we can pronounce the word, lets get into what its all about. The Reinheitsgebot, or "German Purity Law" as many call it, literally translates to "purity law" or "cleanliness law". An early version of the law was proposed in 1487, but the version most speak of today originated in the Bavarian city of Ingolstadt on April 23, 1516. Introduced by Duke Wilhelm IV, the ...
What does the “33″ mean on the Rolling Rock Label?
This is one of those great beer conversations where everyone has an opinion and there doesn’t seem to be a clear provable conclusion. There are several different versions of this legend which we have been able to discover. We have listed these below in reverse order of likelihood (from least likely to most likely) according to our extensive research and our best guess (not quite throwing darts at a list of possibilities, but close). Rolling Rock “33” Theories There were exactly 33 steps from the brewmaster's office to the brewing floor. The reservoir that was used by the brewery for its main water source ...
What is the difference between an ale and a lager?
In the most basic classification scheme, there are two main types of beer. No, its not “tastes great” / ”less filling”- they are ales and lagers. Ales, the oldest beers in the world, have been around thousands of years longer than lagers. Looking at the history of beer, civilizations as far back as the Sumerians and Egyptians have been brewing and drinking what would be considered ales. Lagers, on the other hand, may have only been around since the mid-nineteenth century. However, many have speculated that "lagering" may have been “discovered” as far back as the Dark Ages, when some ...
Beer Basics
What is Beer?I think Ben Franklin gives us the best definition of what beer is…. "Beer...
Is there formaldehyde in beer?This question was recently submitted by a reader, and to tell you the truth I did...
What are the main ingredients in beer?** This question was asked by an individual looking to brew beer at home. Even though...
Read More Posts From This CategoryBeer Styles
What is a Kolschbier (Kolsch)?Kolschbier is a popular “warm weather beer” and German classic. The...
What is a Steam Beer (or California Common)?History of Steam Beer The steam beer, or california common, is an American original...
What is a Porter?History of the Porter The porter has a very interesting history and a fair amount...
Read More Posts From This CategoryBeer History
Is there formaldehyde in beer?This question was recently submitted by a reader, and to tell you the truth I did not know much about the formaldehyde in beer issue. My initial reaction was "of course there is not formaldehyde in beer", but as I dug deeper into the research I began to grow concerned. Now when I hear "formaldehyde" I think of preserving corpses…... [Read more >>]
What is a Steam Beer (or California Common)?History of Steam Beer The steam beer, or california common, is an American original and was first produced in California during the gold rush (late 19th Century). The style of beer is very much tied to the west coast and in particular San Francisco. At its height, this style of beer was brewed by as many as 27 different breweries in California. ... [Read more >>]
What is the Reinheitsgebot (”German Purity Law)Well, the first step is to learn how to say Reinheitsgebot…. “Rine-Hites-gaBoat” is the best pronunciation I could find. Of course some native German speaker will probably correct this, but its pretty darn close. So now that we can pronounce the word, lets get into what its all about. The Reinheitsgebot, or “German Purity... [Read more >>]
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