Information - The Beer Thrillers https://thebeerthrillers.com Central PA beer enthusiasts and beer bloggers. Homebrewers, brewery workers, and all around beer lovers. Sat, 12 Oct 2024 04:58:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://i0.wp.com/thebeerthrillers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cropped-The-Beer-Thrillers-December-2022-Logo.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Information - The Beer Thrillers https://thebeerthrillers.com 32 32 187558884 How Much Sugar Is in IPA Beer? A Full Comparison with Other Beer Types https://thebeerthrillers.com/2024/10/11/how-much-sugar-is-in-ipa-beer-a-full-comparison-with-other-beer-types/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-much-sugar-is-in-ipa-beer-a-full-comparison-with-other-beer-types Sat, 12 Oct 2024 03:15:29 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=15599 How Much Sugar Is in IPA Beer? A Full Comparison with Other Beer Types

Ever wondered how much sugar is in your favorite IPA compared to other beers? Whether you’re keeping an eye on your carb intake or just curious about what makes each beer unique, understanding sugar content can shed light on the flavors and characteristics of your brew. In this article, we’ll break down the sugar content in IPA beers and compare it with regular, light, and non-alcoholic beers.

Overlook Hazy IPA by New Trail Brewing (photo courtesy of New Trail Brewing Company’s Instagram account)

Following up on our article yesterday – How Much Sugar is in an IPA? A Deep Dive into the Sugar Content of India Pale Ales – today we present our next article in that series: How Much Sugar Is in IPA Beer? A Full Comparison with Other Beer Types. This article will take a much deeper dive into how much sugar is in IPAs vs other beers, specifically light beers and light lagers that most people are used to (Coors Lite, Miller Lite, Budweiser, Bud Lite, etc.). Enjoy!

 

Key Takeaways: Comparing Sugar Levels in Beer

  • IPA beers typically contain less than 1 gram of residual sugar per 12-ounce serving due to an extensive fermentation process.
  • Regular and light beers usually range from 1-6 grams of sugar per 12 ounces, with light beers generally being lower in sugar.
  • Non-alcoholic beers can contain significantly more sugar—often between 10-15 grams per 12-ounce serving—due to minimal fermentation.

What Contributes to Sugar in Beer?

Beer starts with fermentable sugars from malted grains like barley and wheat. These sugars are broken down during the brewing process and consumed by yeast, which converts them into alcohol and carbon dioxide. However, not all sugars are fermented, leaving behind residual sugars that affect the beer’s sweetness and mouthfeel.

Understanding the sugar content in beer is crucial because it influences both the flavor and alcohol content. More sugar typically means a fuller-bodied beer with higher alcohol content, while less sugar results in a drier, crisper finish.


Sugar Content in IPA Beer: Why It’s Low

A bowl of sugar

IPAs (India Pale Ales) are known for their hop-forward flavors and low sugar content. During brewing, malted barley provides fermentable sugars, while hops add bitterness and aroma. The brewing process converts most sugars into alcohol, leaving less than 1 gram of residual sugar per 12-ounce serving in typical IPAs.

To carbonate IPA beers, brewers either add a small amount of priming sugar before bottling or use force carbonation in cans. In both cases, the extra sugar is minimal and doesn’t significantly impact the beer’s sugar content.


How Different IPA Styles Compare in Sugar Content

IPAs come in several variations, each with different sugar levels:

  • Regular IPAs: Known for their moderate alcohol content and balanced flavors, regular IPAs generally have less than 1 gram of residual sugar per 12-ounce serving.
  • Double IPAs (DIPAs): These boast higher alcohol content and start with more fermentable sugars. While most sugars are converted during fermentation, double IPAs often have slightly higher residual sugar levels, ranging from 2-3 grams per serving.
  • Session IPAs: With lower alcohol content, session IPAs typically have very low sugar content (less than 1 gram per serving), offering a lighter, crisper drinking experience.

IPA vs. Other Beers: How Do They Compare?

IPA vs. Regular Beer

Regular beers tend to have a more balanced malt and hop profile, often leaving 2-6 grams of residual sugar per 12-ounce serving, depending on the style. In contrast, IPAs ferment more sugars, resulting in less than 1 gram of sugar per serving. This makes IPAs a slightly better choice for those watching their sugar intake.


IPA vs. Light Beer

Light beers are brewed to be lower in calories and sugars, often containing less than 1 gram of sugar per 12-ounce serving. They achieve this through the use of adjuncts like rice or corn, which provide fermentable sugars without leaving much residual sugar behind.

While light beers may have a similar sugar profile to IPAs, IPAs generally offer more robust flavors due to their higher hop content and more complex malt base.


IPA vs. Non-Alcoholic Beer

Non-alcoholic beers contain significantly more sugar than IPAs, with levels often ranging between 10-15 grams per 12-ounce serving. Because non-alcoholic beers undergo minimal fermentation, fewer sugars are converted into alcohol, leading to higher residual sugar content.

For those monitoring their sugar intake, non-alcoholic beers may not be the best choice, especially when compared to the relatively low sugar levels found in IPAs.


Why Some Commercial Beers Use Corn Syrup

Mass-produced beers from large global brands often use corn syrup as a fermentable sugar to lower costs and speed up brewing. While corn syrup can increase the sugar content, this practice is almost nonexistent in craft IPAs, which focus on traditional brewing methods using malted barley for sugar sources. As a result, craft IPAs tend to have more complex flavors and lower sugar content compared to commercial lagers that may rely on corn syrup.


The Relationship Between Sugar and Alcohol in Beer

There’s a direct relationship between sugar and alcohol in beer: More sugar leads to more alcohol. As yeast consumes sugars during fermentation, the resulting alcohol content increases while residual sugars decrease. However, higher-alcohol beers, like double IPAs, may still contain a slight amount of residual sugar to balance the intense bitterness of hops.

Keep in mind that higher alcohol content means more calories, so while IPAs might be lower in sugar, they can still pack a calorie punch.


FAQs About Sugar in IPA Beer

Does IPA beer have sugar?

Yes, but most of the sugar in IPA beer is converted into alcohol during fermentation. The residual sugar content is typically less than 1 gram per 12-ounce serving.

How much sugar is in a 12 oz IPA?

A typical 12-ounce IPA contains less than 1 gram of residual sugar, thanks to the fermentation process that consumes most of the sugars.

Is IPA healthier than regular beer?

In terms of sugar content, IPAs usually have less sugar than regular beers. However, IPAs often contain more alcohol and calories, so balance and moderation are important.

Is there a lot of sugar in beer?

Sugar content in beer varies widely by style. Light beers and IPAs generally have low sugar levels (less than 1 gram per serving), while non-alcoholic beers can contain 10-15 grams of sugar per serving.


Final Thoughts: Sugar in IPA Beer and Beyond

When it comes to sugar content, IPAs offer a lower-sugar option compared to many regular and non-alcoholic beers, making them a good choice for those who enjoy bold flavors but want to avoid excess sugar. Whether you prefer a classic IPA, a hop-heavy DIPA, or a session IPA for easy drinking, understanding the sugar content helps you make informed choices. Cheers to discovering what’s inside your favorite brew!


How much Sugar is in IPAs?

Key Takeaways: How IPA Beer Stacks Up in Sugar Content

  • IPAs have less than 1 gram of sugar per serving.
  • Non-alcoholic beers can contain 10-15 grams of sugar.
  • Light beers generally have less than 1 gram of sugar, but with fewer complex flavors than IPAs.

More Links and Information

 

Articles on the History of Beer

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer ReviewsHike ReviewsBook ReviewsBrewery News, Brewery OpeningsBrewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – FacebookFacebook GroupTwitterInstagramYouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of August 2024.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

 

 

 

]]>
15599
How Much Sugar is in IPA? A Deep Dive into the Sugar Content of India Pale Ales https://thebeerthrillers.com/2024/10/10/how-much-sugar-is-in-ipa-a-deep-dive-into-the-sugar-content-of-india-pale-ales/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-much-sugar-is-in-ipa-a-deep-dive-into-the-sugar-content-of-india-pale-ales Thu, 10 Oct 2024 13:37:59 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=15586 How Much Sugar is in IPA? A Deep Dive into the Sugar Content of India Pale Ales

An IPA with hops at a craft brewery’s bar

India Pale Ales (IPAs) are beloved for their bold flavors and adventurous spirit, but many beer drinkers wonder: how much sugar is in an IPA? Whether you’re health-conscious or just curious, understanding the sugar content in your favorite IPA can be eye-opening. Spoiler alert—it’s lower than you might think!

Key Takeaways:

  • IPAs are low in sugar due to the fermentation process where yeast converts most sugars into alcohol.
  • Original Gravity (OG) and Final Gravity (FG) are essential in understanding how much sugar remains in the final product.
  • Despite the sugar-rich wort, IPAs end up with very low residual sugar while maintaining bold, complex flavors.

What is the Sugar Content in IPA Beer?

For anyone counting calories or carbs, knowing the sugar content in your IPA matters. The good news is that most IPAs have very little sugar left by the time they reach your glass. But let’s break down why that is and how it happens.

The Fermentation Process Explained

The brewing process of IPAs starts with four main ingredients: malted grains (like barley), hops, water, and yeast. After malting and mashing the grains, a sugar-rich liquid called wort is created. However, during fermentation, yeast consumes most of these sugars and converts them into alcohol and carbon dioxide.

This is why, despite starting with a sugar-rich wort, the final sugar content in an IPA is minimal. Yeast works hard to convert the majority of the sugars into alcohol, leaving behind very little residual sugar.

Original Gravity (OG) vs. Final Gravity (FG)

Two key measurements in brewing tell us a lot about sugar: Original Gravity (OG) and Final Gravity (FG). OG measures the sugar content before fermentation, and FG measures it after fermentation. The larger the difference between these two, the more sugar was converted into alcohol, meaning lower residual sugar in the beer.


The Types of Sugars in IPAs and How They Differ from Other Beers

Wort going through the brewing process

The sugars in beer primarily come from malt, but not all sugars behave the same way during brewing. The main sugar, maltose, is highly fermentable, which is why most of it gets converted into alcohol. Other sugars, like oligosaccharides, are less fermentable, contributing to the beer’s mouthfeel and sweetness.

While IPAs are known for their hop-forward character, they do have slightly more residual sugars than lighter beers, thanks to the brewing process. However, even double IPAs, which start with a higher sugar content, end up with low residual sugar due to efficient fermentation.

Comparing Sugar Content in IPAs vs. Regular and Light Beers

So how do IPAs stack up against other types of beers? Here’s a breakdown:

  • Regular Beers: Typically contain moderate amounts of residual sugar, around 10-12 grams of carbs, but with very little sugar remaining after fermentation.
  • Light Beers: Often crafted to be low in both calories and carbs, light beers have as little as 2-5 grams of carbs, with very low sugar content.
  • IPAs and Double IPAs: Due to their robust hop and malt profiles, IPAs can have around 15-20 grams of carbs per serving. However, the sugar content remains low, generally less than 1 gram of residual sugar per 12-ounce serving.

Why Some Commercial Beers Have More Sugar

It’s important to note that mass-produced beers sometimes use corn syrup as a fermentable sugar to speed up the brewing process and cut costs. This can increase the sugar content, but it’s a practice more common in commercial brands than craft beers like IPAs, which typically rely on traditional ingredients like malted barley.


FAQs About Sugar in IPA Beer

Does IPA Beer Contain Sugar?

Yes, IPA contains sugar, but most of it is consumed by yeast during fermentation, leaving very little residual sugar in the final beer.

How Many Grams of Sugar Are in a 12 oz IPA?

A typical 12 oz IPA contains less than 1 gram of residual sugar due to the fermentation process.

Is IPA a Healthier Beer Option?

IPAs can be considered healthier in terms of sugar content compared to many other alcoholic beverages. However, they may be higher in calories and alcohol content.

What Beer Has the Lowest Sugar Content?

Light beers tend to have the lowest sugar content, with some containing as little as 0 grams of sugar per serving.


Conclusion: IPAs Offer Bold Flavor, Not Sugar

While IPAs may pack a punch in terms of flavor and hops, they don’t pack a sugary punch. The brewing process, particularly fermentation, ensures that most of the sugars in IPA are converted to alcohol. This makes IPAs a low-sugar beer option, especially when compared to mass-produced commercial beers.

The next time you enjoy a pint, you can do so with the knowledge that your IPA isn’t loaded with sugar—just bold, delicious flavors.

More Links and Information

 

Articles on the History of Beer

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer ReviewsHike ReviewsBook ReviewsBrewery News, Brewery OpeningsBrewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – FacebookFacebook GroupTwitterInstagramYouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of August 2024.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

]]>
15586
Should We Shrink the Pint? A Study Suggests Smaller Beer Serves Could Improve Public Health https://thebeerthrillers.com/2024/09/30/should-we-shrink-the-pint-a-study-suggests-smaller-beer-serves-could-improve-public-health/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=should-we-shrink-the-pint-a-study-suggests-smaller-beer-serves-could-improve-public-health Tue, 01 Oct 2024 03:10:16 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=15583 Should We Shrink the Pint? A Study Suggests Smaller Beer Serves Could Improve Public Health

A pint of Guinness served at a pub.

Recent research sparked debate last week when it suggested that reducing the standard beer size in pubs from a pint to two-thirds could benefit public health. But is the pint really the problem?

Smaller Serves, Smaller Consumption?

Headlines like “Woke scientists want to shrink your PINT!” blew up after a study replaced pint glasses with two-thirds servings in several English pubs. The result? Beer sales dropped by nearly 10%. Researchers concluded that if this were implemented nationwide, it could reduce alcohol consumption and help combat obesity.

However, not everyone is on board. The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) quickly pushed back. Camra’s chair, Ash Corbett-Collins, noted that less than 1% of the venues approached for the study agreed to trial smaller measures, and none of the 12 pubs that participated chose to keep the changes. “The verdict from publicans is clear,” Corbett-Collins stated.

A Study That Few Wanted

The study, led by Dr. Eleni Mantzari of the University of Cambridge, faced challenges from the start. Of the more than 1,700 pubs asked to take part, only 13 agreed. Even Dr. Mantzari admitted, “I was surprised we were able to run the study at all.” She noted the deep cultural connection to the pint, adding, “People don’t want to mess with the pint!”

This resistance is echoed by beer author Pete Brown, who was furious when he heard about the study. “Pubs are already struggling. As if we don’t have enough problems, now they want to take away our pints!” he said.

The Pint’s Place in British Culture

The British pint is more than just a measure of beer; it’s a cultural icon. As Sophie Atherton, Britain’s first female beer sommelier, explains, “The pint is a quintessentially British thing, bound with the institution of the pub.” For many, the pint is a symbol of British life, not just a drink size.

Brown adds that asking someone for a pint is about more than consuming alcohol—it’s a social connection. “It’s not just ‘Let’s drink’; it’s ‘Let’s spend time together,’” he explains.

Is the Pint Too Big?

Despite its cultural importance, some argue that the pint is one of the largest beer measures worldwide. In hotter countries like Australia and Spain, smaller servings are the norm. Even in colder nations, beer servings tend to be smaller. Germany’s famous litre steins are one of the few exceptions to Britain’s 568ml pint.

For beer lovers like Brown and Atherton, the pint’s size perfectly matches the strength of traditional British beers, which typically range from 3.5% to 4.5% ABV. “A pint allows you to drink slowly and enjoy your time at the pub,” says Brown. Stronger beers, particularly those from craft breweries, are a different story—smaller sizes like two-thirds or one-third glasses are becoming more common for these higher ABV brews.

Does Serving Size Affect Drinking Habits?

Mantzari’s study aimed to find out if reducing beer serve sizes could reduce overall alcohol consumption, drawing parallels with portion sizes in food. However, while smaller portions may reduce food consumption, the reaction to smaller beer sizes was mixed. Some pub patrons complained, especially older men in venues outside London, but the complaints eventually subsided.

Beer Consumption: The UK in Context

Interestingly, despite the large pint size, the UK ranks only 28th in global beer consumption, with an average of 66.8 litres per capita annually. By comparison, the Czech Republic tops the list at 140.1 litres. In Spain, where the much smaller caña (200ml) is popular, per capita consumption still exceeds the UK at 81.2 litres.

The Bigger Picture: Alcohol and Public Health

While the debate over the pint continues, some see it as part of a broader conversation about alcohol-related harm. Brown, whose younger brother passed away due to alcoholism, acknowledges the dangers of excessive drinking but believes the pint itself is not the issue. Atherton agrees, arguing that cheap supermarket alcohol, not the pint, is more likely to lead to unhealthy drinking habits.

Will the Pint Survive?

Despite the discussions around reducing serve sizes, most experts agree that the pint is here to stay. As Mantzari points out, there is no government push to enforce smaller beer sizes, and the pint remains a beloved staple of British pub culture.

Even with the rise of craft beers and stronger brews, the pint’s symbolic and practical value endures. “I always come back to the pint,” says Brown, who sees it as part of the British way of life.

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer ReviewsHike ReviewsBook ReviewsBrewery News, Brewery OpeningsBrewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – FacebookFacebook GroupTwitterInstagramYouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of August 2024.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

]]>
15583
The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Craft Beer in 2024: Trends, Breweries, and Must-Try Beers https://thebeerthrillers.com/2024/01/01/the-ultimate-guide-to-exploring-craft-beer-in-2024-trends-breweries-and-must-try-beers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-ultimate-guide-to-exploring-craft-beer-in-2024-trends-breweries-and-must-try-beers Tue, 02 Jan 2024 04:55:02 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=14377

A flight of beers at the bar.

Introduction:

Craft beer enthusiasts rejoice! As we embark on 2024, the craft beer scene is more vibrant and diverse than ever. With an ever-growing number of breweries, innovative brewing techniques, and a plethora of styles to explore, there’s never been a better time to be a beer lover. In this ultimate guide, we’ll dive into the latest trends shaping the craft beer industry, spotlight some of the best breweries making waves, and highlight must-try beers that deserve a place on your bucket list. Whether you’re a seasoned aficionado or a curious newcomer, this guide is your passport to the exciting world of craft beer in 2024.

Craft Beer Trends to Watch in 2024:

  1. Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Brewing: As consumers become more environmentally conscious, breweries are adopting sustainable practices, from sourcing local ingredients to implementing energy-efficient brewing processes.
  2. Non-Alcoholic Craft Beers Gain Popularity: With health and wellness trends on the rise, non-alcoholic (NA) craft beers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, offering delicious alternatives without the buzz.
  3. Innovative Ingredients and Fusion Styles: Brewers are getting creative with unexpected ingredients (think fruits, spices, and even seaweed) and blending traditional beer styles to create entirely new taste experiences.

Top Craft Breweries to Visit in 2024:

  1. New Heights Brewing Company, Nashville, TN: Known for their bold IPAs and innovative seasonal releases, New Heights is a must-visit for those seeking cutting-edge craft beers.
  2. Eco Brew Co, Portland, OR: Leading the charge in sustainable brewing, Eco Brew Co offers an impressive lineup of eco-friendly beers that are as good for the planet as they are for your palate.
  3. Fusion Craft Ales, San Diego, CA: If you’re intrigued by the idea of beer that breaks the mold, Fusion Craft Ales specializes in blending styles and incorporating exotic ingredients for a truly unique tasting experience.

Must-Try Beers of 2024:

  1. Galaxy Hopper IPA, New Heights Brewing Company: A hop-forward IPA with vibrant notes of citrus and tropical fruit, showcasing the best of Galaxy hops.
  2. Green Future Lager, Eco Brew Co: A crisp, clean lager that’s not only refreshing but also brewed entirely with renewable energy and sustainable practices.
  3. Mango Chili Wit, Fusion Craft Ales: This adventurous witbier combines the sweetness of mango with a hint of chili heat, creating a perfect balance of flavors that’s both refreshing and exciting.

Craft Beer Pairing Tips:

To enhance your craft beer experience, consider pairing your beers with complementary foods. For example, the bold flavors of an IPA pair beautifully with spicy dishes, while the subtle nuances of a Belgian witbier are a perfect match for seafood. Experimenting with pairings can unlock new flavor profiles and elevate your craft beer journey.

Conclusion:

A flight of craft beers.

The craft beer landscape in 2024 is teeming with innovation, diversity, and passion. By exploring the latest trends, visiting standout breweries, and sampling exceptional beers, you’re not just enjoying a beverage; you’re participating in a global movement that celebrates creativity, community, and craftsmanship. So, raise a glass to the craft beer revolution – your next favorite beer is waiting to be discovered. Ready to dive deeper into the craft beer world? Follow our blog for the latest brewery reviews, beer tasting guides, and insider tips on navigating the craft beer scene like a pro. Cheers to your craft beer adventure in 2024!

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer ReviewsHike ReviewsBook ReviewsBrewery News, Brewery OpeningsBrewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – FacebookFacebook GroupTwitterInstagramYouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

 

 

 

 

]]>
14377
The Craft Beer Renaissance: Navigating the Ale Revolution https://thebeerthrillers.com/2023/12/12/the-craft-beer-renaissance-navigating-the-ale-revolution/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-craft-beer-renaissance-navigating-the-ale-revolution Wed, 13 Dec 2023 04:19:31 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=14563 The Craft Beer Renaissance: Navigating the Ale Revolution

A wide range of craft beer styles and selections.

In the ever-evolving tapestry of global cuisine and beverages, craft beer has carved out a vibrant, innovative, and deeply cultural niche that resonates with a diverse audience spanning continents. The craft beer movement, once a whisper among small circles of brewing enthusiasts, has crescendoed into a full-throated roar of creativity, community, and commerce. This renaissance of the ale, stout, lager, and more isn’t just about the resurgence of ancient brewing traditions or the defiance of mass-market homogeneity; it’s a testament to the human spirit’s unyielding desire to create, share, and enjoy the richness of life’s flavors. This exploration dives into the heart of the craft beer revolution, uncovering its roots, celebrating its achievements, and anticipating its future directions.

The Fermentation of a Movement

The craft beer movement’s genesis is a tale of revival and rebellion. In the late 20th century, the global beer market was dominated by a handful of colossal breweries, producing vast quantities of relatively similar-tasting beers. However, nestled within this landscape of uniformity, a counterculture began to bubble. Small-scale brewers, often hobbyists turned entrepreneurs, started experimenting with ancient recipes, unconventional ingredients, and artisanal brewing techniques. These pioneers weren’t just brewing for the sake of beverage production; they were crafting liquid art, imbued with local flavors, personal stories, and a palpable sense of place.

The Anatomy of Craft Beer

To truly appreciate craft beer, one must understand its components – the alchemy of water, malt, hops, and yeast – and how variations in each contribute to the symphony of flavors, aromas, and textures that characterize these beverages.

  • Water: The unsung hero of beer, water’s mineral content can significantly affect the beer’s taste, influencing everything from the sweetness of the malt to the bitterness of the hops.
  • Malt: Generally derived from barley, malt is the backbone of beer, providing the sugars needed for fermentation, contributing to the beer’s color, and influencing its flavor profile from sweet to nutty or toasty.
  • Hops: The soul of many a craft beer, hops impart bitterness to balance the sweetness of the malt, but they also add a plethora of flavors and aromas ranging from floral to citrus, pine to spice.
  • Yeast: The magic microorganism that turns wort (the sweet infusion of ground malt and water) into beer, yeast not only ferments the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide but also adds unique flavors and aromas, from fruity to funky.

Craft brewers manipulate these elements like artists, often incorporating additional ingredients such as fruits, spices, and even more unconventional additives like oysters or chilies, to create complex, surprising, and delightful beers.

The Cultural Ferment: Craft Beer’s Impact on Society

Craft beer has transcended the boundaries of a mere beverage; it has fostered communities, driven economic growth, and even influenced social change. Breweries often serve as communal hubs, places where people of diverse backgrounds gather, united by their shared appreciation for the craft. These establishments often support local artists, musicians, and businesses, weaving themselves into the fabric of their communities.

Moreover, the craft beer revolution has been a boon for local economies, generating jobs, attracting tourism, and inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs. Its rise has also paved the way for a greater emphasis on sustainability within the brewing industry, with many craft breweries leading the charge in implementing environmentally friendly practices.

Global Brews: The Worldwide Spread of Craft Beer

While the craft beer movement has its roots in the United States and the United Kingdom, it has since become a global phenomenon. From the hop fields of New Zealand to the monastic breweries of Belgium, from the bustling cities of Japan to the emerging markets of South America, craft beer has found a receptive audience worldwide. Each region brings its unique ingredients, traditions, and perspectives to the brewing table, enriching the global craft beer tapestry.

The Future of Craft Beer: Trends and Innovations

As we look to the horizon, several trends and innovations promise to shape the future of craft beer. The ongoing exploration of local and ancient ingredients offers new flavors and stories. The fusion of beer with technology, through apps and blockchain, is enhancing the consumer experience, from personalized recommendations to transparent sourcing. Moreover, the push for inclusivity and diversity within the craft beer community is not only expanding its audience but also enriching the ecosystem of ideas and flavors.

In Conclusion: A Toast to the Craft Beer Renaissance

The craft beer movement is more than a mere trend; it’s a dynamic, evolving narrative of creativity, community, and culture. As we raise our glasses to the artisans who brew with passion and purpose, we also celebrate the bonds formed over shared pints and the endless possibilities that lie within a humble glass of beer. The craft beer renaissance invites us all to explore, to taste, and to connect, reminding us that within the complexity of flavors lies the simple joy of discovery. Cheers to the journey ahead!

More Beer Information and Education Series Articles

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer ReviewsHike ReviewsBook ReviewsBrewery News, Brewery OpeningsBrewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – FacebookFacebook GroupTwitterInstagramYouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

]]>
14563
6 Best Beer Apps For Your Smartphone https://thebeerthrillers.com/2023/09/07/6-best-beer-apps-for-your-smartphone/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=6-best-beer-apps-for-your-smartphone Thu, 07 Sep 2023 15:34:59 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=12364
6 of the Best Beer Apps for Your Smartphone

6 Best Beer Apps For Your Smartphone

One of the oldest beverages in the world, probably 13,000 years old, if not older, beer is still one of the most popular ones in this day and age. Many people had their first beers in college or experienced it at local breweries, and from there, their interest in beer grew.


Believe it or not, there are beer apps for your smartphones as well. This is where you can nourish your thirst for beer or even learn more about it in depth. In this article, we have listed 6 best beer apps for your smartphones!

Keep in mind, that most of these apps will only work if you’re residing in the US. They are available for free download on both Android and Apple phones, though some of these apps may require in-app purchases. You’ll get to know more when you navigate through these apps on your smartphone.


Before we go ahead, make sure you have an internet connection to stay connected to these beer apps. On that account, Xfinity offers good internet speeds at affordable rates and 24/7 support at the Xfinity customer service number. This will ensure that you keep using these beer apps.

6 of the Best Beer Apps

Check out these 6 best beer apps to download for your smartphone:

DigitalPour – Find Beer Near You

DigitalPour Dashboard

Are you familiar with seeing DigitalPour menus at your favorite bars, breweries, or growler shops? Now, you can check that from your smartphone!

Download the DigitalPour app and find out what the local DigitalPour-affiliated bar has on the menu. You can check out what’s on tap, what bottles and cans are available at the moment, and how much of a keg is priced.

You can even mark your favorite beverages across any of the DigitalPour locations by typing into the app search bar. This will help you to keep track of them.


Also through this app, you can check ABV percentages, bitterness rankings, and the keg type that is being served at the nearby local brewery!

Untappd – Local Breweries Near You

Untappd

This is one of the best and most versatile beer apps you can download on your smartphone. If you are curious about trying new beers, then this is the one for you.

You can earn badges for trying out different kinds of beers. Through Untappd, you can locate breweries near you, and different venues that you can attend with your friends. If you are a frequent traveler, you can definitely use this app to try different beer products.

What’s also fun about this app is that you can create a list of your favorite beers, and get alerts from Untappd when it is available in the local venues. Untapped is free to download, and very easy to use once you get used to the layout.

BJCP Styles – Promoting Beer Literacy

BJCP stands for Beer Judge Certification Program. If you ever want to look up a beer-Wikipedia, BJCP Styles has all the information you need.


It consists of all information on styles, rules, methods of making it, certifications, flavors, and not to forget, strengths of all types of beers This app can be used by a beer judge, home brewer, or simply a beer enthusiast!


Even those who are studying for their BJCP certification can take advantage of this useful app. The BJCP Styles app comes in handy every time because you can quickly look up the style description in this app.

Tavour – Online Home Delivery

Tavour

This app is like a food delivery app, except it’s for beers.

You can order beers right from the app for local or out-of-state delivery in the US. All you need to do is choose the beer that you want from a wide variety of options, select the number of beers you want, and have them delivered to your doorstep!


Do keep in mind that Tavour is dedicated to craft beer, and if that’s not what you’re looking for, then this isn’t the right app for you. However, you will definitely find some good craft beers on this app that you won’t find in other places.


Download the Tavour app for free, if craft beer is what you’re looking for.

iBeer – Beer Stimulator App

This app is all fun and games. It changes your smartphone into a drinking beer stimulator. That way, you can pretend to drink a beer from your phone. The stimulation in this app looks realistic, and to add to it, it has a naturally-looking bubble effect.

How it works is that you need to hold it sideways and tilt it up slowly, as if you’re tilting a glass to drink. As you keep drinking, the quantity of the beer being shown in your phone will lessen, and eventually empty out.


iBeer is the app to download when you’re having fun with a group of friends.

Brewee – Navigator App

Brewee is a navigator app, much like Google Maps, except that it helps to locate breweries near you!

Microbreweries grow like crazy, which is why you’re sure to find multiple and the best breweries near you. This app contains the largest database of breweries and can also help you connect with a community of other beer enthusiasts who share the same love for beer as you do.

You no longer have to be frustrated with irrelevant searches of the best beer places near you. Brewee will narrow them down for you by giving you relevant recommendations.


If you are looking for new breweries to enjoy with your friends, you can easily look up on Brewee!

Final Thoughts

The above-mentioned apps allow you to enjoy craft beer right from your smartphone, whether you’re looking it up, ordering one for yourself, or getting more information about the different types of beer. It’s amazing that with just a smartphone and the internet, the digital world is letting you have access to all the information you need about beers!


With so many different apps, there’s a whole world of beers to explore right from your smartphone!

  • Annalise Smith

Paid Blog Article

(This was a paid for blog article. I was reached out to by Annalise Smith and asked to have this article posted on the site. I reviewed the content, and okayed the content, and posted in exchange for a monetary value. I have (and still do) personally used some of these apps and are able to give my full thoughts elsewhere if need be. This article was written by Annalise Smith and sent to me. I only edited it to have it fit onto the website.)

-B. Kline

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer ReviewsHike ReviewsBook ReviewsBrewery News, Brewery OpeningsBrewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – FacebookFacebook GroupTwitterInstagramYouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

If you would like to help keep the blog running soundly and smoothly, you may donate to us to help us keep the costs of the blog to a minimum. We greatly appreciate it. Thank you. (Clicking this link will take you to the page to make a donation. Thank you very much for helping us stay afloat!)

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

]]>
12364
Fermentery Form Cited For Health Inspection Failures https://thebeerthrillers.com/2023/04/04/fermentery-form-cited-for-health-inspection-failures/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fermentery-form-cited-for-health-inspection-failures Wed, 05 Apr 2023 01:34:00 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=10980
Fermentery Form Announces Temporary Closure

Fermentery Form Announces Temporary Closure

On March 31st, 2023, Fermentery Form announced that they would be temporarily closing starting on April 1st of 2023. You can find our original article about it all here: Fermentery Form Announces Temporary Closure.

Posted by Fermentery Form at 2:06PM March 31st, 2023 on Facebook:

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Fermentery Form will be closed to the public until further notice. Fear not, all is not lost, we just need time to weather a season.

Thank you to everyone who has enjoyed this place and brightened our spirits. We will rise again in an even more resplendent form, soon enough. Til then, howdy and good day. 🙏Fermentery Form – Facebook Post

There is no word yet on the duration of this hiatus, or what it all fully means. No word from Fermentery Form themselves about the reasoning behind their closure.

Since their post they have received an outpouring of support on their social media platforms. We hope they can soon turn things around (in whatever capacity that means) and are able to soon re – open. We hope nothing but the best for all involved.

Health Inspection Failure

It appears the reasoning for their temporary closure is due to failing several health inspection requirements.

The above is a few pages of the Health Inspection report on Fermentery Form. It was completed on March 31st (the day Fermentery Form announced their temporary closure). You can find the full PDF report here: Food Establishment Inspection Report.

Luckily this gives them a guideline on what they need to do to fix their business and turn things around, which means this should truly be a temporary closure and nothing long term. (Unlike how its looking with Separatist Beer Project’s Announcement of Temporary Closure for Both Locations.)

Its disappointing and disheartening to see health code failures by some of our favorite breweries, but it does give them a blueprint and a way to remedy and make themselves better. Which hopefully leads to them continuing this in the future, and will only continue to make their brewery and business better.

No time table has been announced for their re – opening date or when they are planning anything. They have still not commented since their initial post about the temporary closure.

Fermentery Form

As per Untappd, Fermentery Form is a micro brewery from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They have 91 unique beers with nearly 16,000 ratings. They have a global average rating of 4.15 (as of 4.4.23). Their Untappd description reads: We are a small artisan brewery opening soon in West Kensington, Philadelphia. We focus on wood aged beers fermented with our own mixed cultures.

You can follow them at these social media pages:

Brewery News

Interested in finding out about many other brewery openings, new locations, closings, movings, and in general brewery news? You can check out our links below:

Thanks For Reading

This is certainly not a good news article, but its far from being a horrible or bad article either. I never like to hear about breweries or any restaurant failing health inspections, and it always makes me feel “icky” or “yucky” inside when I hear about it. BUT – it does provide them with a clear cut path to getting their business and brewery back on track and to open again soon.

This then makes it truly look temporary only, and they just need to make fixes, adjustments, and weather the short term storm. Whereas the Separatist Beer Project announcing a “temporary closure” for both locations, looks a bit worse. Especially since its both of their locations and not just one. That feels like its more of an issue with the whole brewery / business model rather than a temporary issue. But who knows, only time will tell I suppose.

Thank you for everyone who read the article and made it to our blog. We pride ourselves on writing good content and to helping people learn about craft beer, breweries, non-alcoholic craft beer, and all things brewing related.

If you enjoyed this article please like, subscribe, and follow us. Share the content if you find it relevant and want to show it off. Leave a comment if you have any questions, concerns, comments, suggestions, or anything to say. We love hearing from our readers. Let us know what your favorite non-alcoholic beers are in the comments!

Currently right now we are in the Finals of our Battle of the Breweries (2023). You can check out the final four breweries left in the Finals Fatal Four Way here and vote:

In the upcoming two weeks I am going to do a more thorough look at the full tournament, breaking down the votes and how well each conference winner did. I will also do a full write up on each of the breweries in the Finals Fatal Four Way too, where I will list what articles we’ve done about them, and my visits to each of those places.

We are currently starting to work on creating maps of all the breweries in each state, starting geographically with Maine. So be on the lookout for these great resources to soon be popping up on the blog. Hoping to get a state done every 2 – 4 days. (Some will be quicker and easier than others, but 50 states, plus Washington D.C., will certainly take some time!)

Here is a list of some of our most recent articles:

And here is some of our more popular articles:

Thank you all for visiting. I hope you enjoy the site and the blog. And I hope you have fun voting in the tournament.

As always, once again, thank you all so very much for reading. If you’ve enjoyed this article – please click the like button, please subscribe and follow our page, and please share our content. It really helps us and means so much to us!

Every like, share, subscribe, follow, comment, etc helps us with the algorithm and also helps us to know what you – our readers – enjoy and want to see more of. So let us know in the comments what you want to see and read. We love hearing from you all!

If there is anything you would like to see, let us know. I have a few more articles that will be probably posted today and tomorrow (it looks like tomorrow is going to be a rainy day, so perfect to get some writing done.) One is about the Guinness Brewery in Baltimore, some are about various Pennsylvania breweries and their newest releases. Plus, I am hoping to get the first map done tomorrow – Maine. Fingers crossed.

Cheers Everyone!

-B. Kline

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer ReviewsHike ReviewsBook ReviewsBrewery News, Brewery OpeningsBrewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – FacebookFacebook GroupTwitterInstagramYouTube, and Influence. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

]]>
10980
What is Craft Beer? https://thebeerthrillers.com/2022/12/20/what-is-craft-beer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-is-craft-beer Tue, 20 Dec 2022 23:16:15 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=10092
What is craft beer?

What is Craft Beer?

It sounds like an easy answer… but its answer can actually be quite elusive. Ask five different people and you might get five different answers. “Good beer.” “Quality beer.” “Independently owned beer.” “Small brewery beer.” “Good ingredients, hard work, small quantity, good tasting beer.” Are all of these answers right?

Definition… Definition… Definition…

Let’s start with the Brewer’s Association definition of craft beer:

Craft beer is generally made with traditional ingredients like malted barley; interesting and sometimes non-traditional ingredients are often added for distinctiveness. Craft brewers tend to be very involved in their communities through philanthropy, product donations, volunteerism and sponsorship of events.

Brewer’s Association – Definition of Craft Beer and Craft Brewer

Is that all there is to it though? I think we can all agree there’s a bit more depth to the definition of craft beer than this. With this definition breweries like Anheuser-Busch or Coors or Heineken would fall under the purview of ‘craft beer’. (Shudders).

Digging a little deeper, Brewer’s Association gives the following:

Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less (approximately 3 percent of U.S. annual sales). Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to rules of alternating proprietorships. …

Less than 25 percent of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by a beverage alcohol industry member that is not itself a craft brewer.

Brewer’s Association – Definition of Craft Beer and Craft Brewer

This helps us narrow it down a bit more. Now we have a quantity amount (no more than six million barrels of beer) and an ownership detail – less than twenty – five percent of the brewery is owned or controlled by a beverage alcohol industry member that is not itself a craft brewer.

These numbers will certainly pop up in different ways for different reasons (the amount produced, ownership, etc.).

Interestingly enough, in my search for deeper meaning and knowledge and truth on the subject (a normal day of soul searching and internet searching for myself), I’ve encountered several articles, one of such was from Dictionary.com itself, entitled “What Does Craft Beer Really Mean?” They give some background information on the term “craft beer”:

Beer is an alcoholic beverage made by brewing and fermentation from malted barley, oats, or other grains, and flavored with hops (or historically in some cases, herbs) for added taste. Generally speaking, a craft is “an art or trade that requires a special, usually manual skill.” The term has evolved into an adjective to describe a food or beverage made with such abilities. It’s an old term, first recorded before the year 900 and stemming from the Old English cræft (“strength, skill”) and related to the German Kraft.

The compounded term craft beer was coined by Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Vince Cottone in the mid-1980s. Around this time, microbreweries were proliferating around the United States, and the success of their products was beginning to challenge large alcohol conglomerates like Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors for refrigerator space in consumer grocery stores.

In 1987, in a guide book to breweries of the Pacific Northwest, Cottone explained his reasoning for selecting the word craft to describe such career zymurgists, writing, “I use the term Craft Brewery to describe a small brewery using traditional methods and ingredients to produce a handcrafted, uncompromised beer that is marketed locally.”

The phrase caught on quickly, popping up in industry trade magazines and at conferences, eventually making its way into the title of the annual Craft Brewers Conference in 1996, a yearly gathering of American artisan brewers. By the end of that decade, the Institute of Brewing Studies— which eventually was absorbed into today’s dominant brewing industry trade group, the Brewers Association—formalized a definition of craft beer.

Dictionary.com – What Does Craft Beer Really Mean?

They go on to list the four criteria that the Brewer’s Association requires for a craft brewer, which are:

  • have a federal brewer’s notice – a license to brew beer
  • only sell beer made with less than 10% adjuncts (such as fruit, chocolate, coffee, or other non-traditional beer ingredients)
  • do not use artificial ingredients
  • no ownership of 30% or more by a large macro brewery

Now this article was written in 2020 and references that this is a 90’s era criteria. Noticeably, the 30% has been moved to 25% as shown above.

The 10% adjuncts and the ‘no artificial ingredients’ have also become… well… a bit flexible over the years. Ask several breweries how they make their sours and you might find some interesting information that may or may not go against the above criteria.

Wikipedia has a very large an in – depth article on Craft Beer and Craft Breweries on their massive encyclopedic site. Their opening paragraph on the Craft Beer page reads:

Craft beer is a beer that has been made by craft breweries. They produce smaller amounts of beer, typically less than large breweries, and are often independently owned. Such breweries are generally perceived and marketed as having an emphasis on enthusiasm, new flavours, and varied brewing techniques.[2][3][4]

The microbrewery movement began in both the United States and United Kingdom in the 1970s,[5][6] although traditional artisanal brewing existed in Europe for centuries and subsequently spread to other countries. As the movement grew, and some breweries expanded their production and distribution, the more encompassing concept of craft brewing emerged. A brewpub is a pub that brews its own beer for sale on the premises.[7]

Wikipedia – Craft Beer

They have the article broken down into sections on countries / regions, as well as style of breweries, and even go so far as to discuss non – alcoholic beers.

So is it really that simple?

So is the definition really that simple on what makes beer “craft beer” rather than beer? Sort of. Yes. Maybe. Kind of. Yes and no.

Clearly the best source of what qualifies as craft beer and a craft brewery is the Brewer’s Association. That is going to the top of the academia field and asking “etymology” is or “existentialism”. While you will get a relatively concrete definition; there will be some flexibility.

There is also some room for debate, and many still do. You will also notice how the field goal posts get moved over time.

Posted back in April 2022, the most recent “Top 50 Craft Breweries by Volume” from the Brewer’s Association shows the top fifty largest producing craft breweries as of 2021. The top ten are:

  • D.G. Yuengling and Sons Inc.
  • Boston Beer Co.
  • Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
  • Duvel Moortgat USA
  • Gambrinus
  • Bell’s Brewery Inc.
  • CANarchy
  • Artisanal Brewing Ventures
  • Stone Brewing Company
  • SweetWater Brewing Co

As of 2020 it was reported that Yuengling produces 2.6 million barrels of beer per year (annually). (Also for reference, Troegs Independent Craft Brewing Company comes in at number 24, and produces around 118,000 barrels a year (as per a Beverage Master article from October 13th, 2022 — Troegs: Not Your Ordinary Brewery.).

What Is Your Definition of Craft Brewing?

A wide variety of craft beers and styles

This is where the fun is. We all have our own ‘personal’ opinions on what craft beer is. It probably roughly follows along with the Brewers Association’s guide and criteria, but yours or mine might differ a little. Some don’t consider Yuengling and Sam Adams craft beer (anymore). You might have different requirements than the Brewers Association; maybe yours is more stringent, or perhaps yours is looser.

I’d love to hear what your personal definition of “craft beer” and “craft brewery” are; let me know in the comments section here on the blog. It will be very interesting to see everyone’s personal views and takes on what craft beer and craft brewing is to them.

For More Information

Some of the articles we researched and linked here in this article can be found here:

Looking For More Great and Informative Articles From The Beer Thrillers?

Then check these fine articles out:

Thanks For Reading

Thank you all for reading! Kind of wanted to pop this article out the other day when the idea hit me, but spent more and more time researching and reading and stuff, and tried to fit it around Scarlet (my one month old) Emma’s naps and fussing. So here it comes today, just a day or so later than I intended.

Josh Doncevic and I were recently on Central PA Pour, you can check them out there at their Facebook page. They were a fun bunch of guys to hang out with and chat and drink some beers with. So when that podcast comes up I will make sure to link it here on the blog for you all to be able to hear and see it (because it was also recorded).

We’ve also started up an affiliateship with Pretzels.com, so be sure to check out the article on that: The Beer Thrillers and Pretzels.com for more information. Or you can check out the video here: The Beer Thrillers and Pretzels.com YouTube Video.

The year is winding down but that doesn’t mean The Beer Thrillers are. We’ve done recent trips and done a fair bit of recent articles, so be sure to follow us on Instagram to see what we’re up to, and as well as on Facebook. Also be sure to like, subscribe and follow the blog here. Lots of great content here; beer reviews, book reviews, end of the year lists, news and updates, brewery happenings, and all kinds of things. Also always be sure to select to have notifications on so you’ll find out right away, same thing with the e-mail list, sign up to find out right away!

And we are always wanting to hear from you; leave a comment, reach out to us through the Contact Us page, send us an e-mail at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com or comment on our Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter posts. Thank you all so very much for making this such a tremendous and great 2022 and I can only imagine 2023 will be even better!

Cheers All!

-B. Kline

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer ReviewsHike ReviewsBook ReviewsBrewery News, Brewery OpeningsBrewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – FacebookFacebook GroupTwitterInstagramYouTube, and Influence. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. Also check out our good friend Josh over at MasterMind X Studios – a great collaborator and buddy of ours.

We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

]]>
10092
How to Pair Craft Beer with Food https://thebeerthrillers.com/2022/12/08/how-to-pair-craft-beer-with-food/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-pair-craft-beer-with-food Thu, 08 Dec 2022 15:52:21 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=12689
Food and Beer…. Beer and Food… What could be a better pairing?

Beer and Food or Food and Beer… What Could be a Better Pairing?

Food and beer pairings are a great way to elevate your dining experience. When paired correctly, food and beer can enhance each other’s flavors and create a truly memorable meal.

Some Tips on Pairing Food and Beer

If you’re new to craft beer pairings or looking for some inspiration, here are a few tips:

  • Consider the flavor profiles of the food and beer. What are the dominant flavors in the food? What are the dominant flavors in the beer? Try to pair foods and beers with complementary flavors. For example, a sweet food would pair well with a bitter beer.
  • Think about the body and weight of the food and beer. Lighter foods pair well with lighter beers, while heavier foods pair well with heavier beers. For example, a grilled fish would pair well with a light-bodied pale ale, while a steak would pair well with a full-bodied stout.
  • Experiment and have fun! There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to food and beer pairings. The best way to find pairings that you enjoy is to experiment and try different things.

Some Specific Food and Beer Pairings

Beer and Food Pairings

How to Pair Craft Beer with Food

Food and beer pairings are a great way to elevate your dining experience. When paired correctly, food and beer can enhance each other’s flavors and create a truly memorable meal.

If you’re new to craft beer pairings or looking for some inspiration, here are a few tips:

  • Consider the flavor profiles of the food and beer. What are the dominant flavors in the food? What are the dominant flavors in the beer? Try to pair foods and beers with complementary flavors. For example, a sweet food would pair well with a bitter beer.
  • Think about the body and weight of the food and beer. Lighter foods pair well with lighter beers, while heavier foods pair well with heavier beers. For example, a grilled fish would pair well with a light-bodied pale ale, while a steak would pair well with a full-bodied stout.
  • Experiment and have fun! There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to food and beer pairings. The best way to find pairings that you enjoy is to experiment and try different things.

Here are a few specific food and beer pairings that you can try:

  • Pizza and IPA: The bitterness of the IPA helps to cut through the richness of the pizza cheese.
  • Burgers and stout: The rich malt flavors of the stout complement the savory flavors of the burger.
  • Fried chicken and gose: The tartness of the gose helps to balance out the richness of the fried chicken.
  • Fish and chips and pale ale: The light and refreshing flavor of the pale ale pairs well with the fish and chips.
  • Tacos and Mexican lager: The crisp and clean flavor of the Mexican lager pairs well with the bold flavors of the tacos.

These are just a few suggestions to get you started. With so many different craft beers and foods to choose from, the possibilities are endless. So get creative and experiment with different pairings to find your favorites.

Some Good Articles to Read

A Series of Craft Beer Articles

This is just one of several in a series of over arching ‘craft beer’ related articles. Several alone in a ‘flagship’ series. In the next few weeks there will be some more that come out as well. I would like to have this general level of different ‘craft beer articles’ that everyone can kind of jump to and read and use for informative purposes, and give a better understanding for the other articles on the site.

Some of these articles are about definitions (like “What is Craft Beer?“) and others are about Craft Breweries in general like the Top 50 Producing Craft Breweries, etc.

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer ReviewsHike ReviewsBook ReviewsBrewery News, Brewery OpeningsBrewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – FacebookFacebook GroupTwitterInstagramYouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

]]>
12689
Master the Art of Describing Craft Beer Like a Connoisseur https://thebeerthrillers.com/2022/01/19/master-the-art-of-describing-craft-beer-like-a-connoisseur/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=master-the-art-of-describing-craft-beer-like-a-connoisseur Wed, 19 Jan 2022 16:08:37 +0000 https://thebeerthrillers.com/?p=15471 Master the Art of Describing Craft Beer Like a Connoisseur

Types of Beer Snobs (photo courtesy of Thrillist – Types of Beer Snobs)

The craft beer world has exploded in recent years, evolving into a rich tapestry of flavors, styles, and brewing techniques. From the intense bitterness of West Coast IPAs to the tropical, juicy notes of Hazy IPAs, the spectrum of craft beer offerings is more diverse and exciting than ever.

But with so many options, knowing how to accurately describe what’s in your glass has never been more crucial. This skill enhances not only your personal tasting experience but also your ability to communicate with fellow beer lovers. Being able to articulate the nuances of your favorite brew allows you to share recommendations, debate preferences, and deepen your appreciation for the craft.

So grab a pint, and let’s dive into the world of beer tasting and description, one flavorful sip at a time.

Key Takeaways

  • Understanding and describing a beer’s appearance, aroma, mouthfeel, and flavor are key to fully appreciating its complexity.
  • Comparing beer flavors and aromas to everyday experiences can significantly enhance your tasting vocabulary.

The Fundamentals of Beer Tasting

Beer tasting is an immersive experience, where every detail matters. Even before the beer touches your lips, the journey begins with its appearance and aroma. Once it does, the mouthfeel and taste complete the sensory experience, giving you a comprehensive understanding of what the beer offers.

Appearance is your first clue to what lies ahead. The color, clarity, and head of a beer can reveal much about its style and quality. From the pale golden hue of a pilsner to the deep, inky darkness of a stout, each visual element offers hints about the flavors you’re about to explore.

Aroma is where the experience deepens. A good sniff before your first sip can uncover layers of beer character. Whether it’s the citrusy punch of hops in an IPA or the sweet, bready notes of a Belgian ale, the aroma sets the stage for what’s to come.

Mouthfeel describes the sensation of the beer in your mouth—an often overlooked but crucial aspect. From the light, crisp carbonation of a lager to the creamy, velvety texture of a stout, mouthfeel can dramatically affect how a beer is perceived.

Describing Beer Like a Pro Brewer

If you’re serious about honing your beer description skills, look no further than the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) guidelines. This globally recognized standard helps both brewers and enthusiasts describe beer with precision, making it an invaluable resource.

Appearance is the first factor to assess. Consider the beer’s color, the quality of its head, and its clarity. These visual elements are the first indicators of the beer’s style and craftsmanship.

Aroma comes next, where you’ll want to identify the sources of the scents—whether they come from the malt, hops, or yeast. Accurately describing these aromas takes practice but adds a layer of richness to your beer-tasting experience.

Mouthfeel is the texture of the beer—its body and carbonation level. Whether the beer feels creamy, astringent, or somewhere in between, these sensations are key to understanding the full profile of the brew.

Overall Impression is your final assessment, where you consider how all the elements—appearance, aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel—come together. This is where you reflect on the beer’s balance, complexity, and memorability.

Unlocking the Language of Beer Flavors and Aromas

Describing the taste and smell of beer requires a rich vocabulary. The more you explore and refine this lexicon, the better you’ll become at articulating the unique characteristics of each brew.

Malt Flavors

Malts with a hop

Malts lay the foundation for beer’s flavor, offering everything from the light sweetness of a pilsner to the deep, roasted notes of a stout. To describe these flavors, start by identifying common malt characteristics like “biscuity” or “caramelly.”

  • Biscuity/Bready: Like the aroma of freshly baked bread or the toasted edges of a biscuit.
  • Caramelly: Sweet, with flavors reminiscent of burnt sugar or caramelized sugar.
  • Toffee-like: Richer and more buttery than caramel, similar to toffee candy.
  • Roasted Malts: Offering flavors that range from mild coffee notes to intense dark chocolate or charred wood.

Hop Aromas and Flavors

Hops growing on a wooden arbor, full vines.

Hops contribute a wide range of aromas and flavors to beer, from bright citrus to earthy pine. Understanding hop profiles is essential for describing many popular beer styles.

  • Citrusy: Flavors like lemon, orange, or grapefruit, common in many hop-forward beers.
  • Spicy: Notes of black pepper, clove, or even juniper.
  • Floral: Soft, perfume-like aromas reminiscent of blooming flowers.
  • Piney/Resinous: Crisp, fresh pine needle scents or sticky resin aromas.
  • Earthy: Scents that evoke fresh earth or the forest floor.

Fermentation: The Flavor Wildcard

Troegs Brewing’s Dreamweaver Wheat – Open Fermentation

Fermentation, driven by yeast, adds a layer of complexity to beer that can range from fruity esters to spicy phenols.

  • Fruity Esters: Flavors that resemble apple, pear, or banana.
  • Spicy Phenols: Clove-like or peppery aromas that add warmth to the beer.
  • Wild Yeast Characters: Unique flavors like barnyard or cheese, often found in sour or wild ales.

Delving into Conditioning and Body

Homebrews Bottle Conditioning

Understanding conditioning and body can elevate your beer description skills to the next level.

Conditioning relates to carbonation, which gives beer its sparkle and fizz. Describing carbonation involves noting how it affects the beer’s texture and taste.

  • Effervescent: High carbonation that tingles on the tongue.
  • Soft: Gentle carbonation that smooths out the drinking experience.
  • Prickly: Sharp carbonation that accentuates bitterness.
  • Flat: Low carbonation, leading to a smoother, sometimes syrupy mouthfeel.

Body refers to the weight or fullness of the beer on your palate.

  • Light: Easy-drinking and refreshing.
  • Medium: Balanced, with a more substantial feel.
  • Full: Rich and enveloping, often with a creamy texture.

Sharpen Your Beer-Tasting Skills with Sensory Exercises

A flight of beer at your local brewery

Improving your ability to describe beer comes down to practice and exposure. Here are some exercises to help you refine your palate:

  1. Broaden Your Horizons: Try different beer styles to expand your tasting vocabulary.
  2. Focus Tastings: Zero in on one element, like hop flavor or malt complexity, during tastings.
  3. Compare and Contrast: Taste two beers side by side to highlight differences in body, carbonation, or flavor.
  4. Keep a Beer Journal: Document your tasting experiences to track your progress and deepen your understanding.

Raise a Glass to Your Next Adventure

Raise a pint with friends

Now that you’ve honed your beer description skills, why not put them to the test?

Go out and visit your favorite brewery or even visit a brand new brewery and put your skills to the test! Get a style you don’t normally drink and try to pick out the unique and individual flavors as you sip and consume it. Think of what went into the beer, the malts, the hops, the adjuncts, and try to pick them out.

Frequently Asked Questions

How would you describe the taste of beer?
Beer’s taste varies widely, from the bitterness of an IPA to the sweetness of a stout. It’s a complex mix of flavors from hops, malt, yeast, and additional ingredients like fruit or spices.

How do you write a good beer description?
A good beer description covers the appearance, aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel. Use vivid, specific language and highlight the beer’s style, ingredients, and brewing techniques.

What describes beer?
Beer is described by its style (e.g., IPA, stout), flavor profile (e.g., bitter, sweet), aroma (e.g., citrusy, floral), appearance (e.g., color, clarity), and mouthfeel (e.g., light, full-bodied).

How do you describe the aroma of beer?
Beer aroma can include scents from hops, like citrus or pine, to malt-driven aromas like bread or caramel, as well as yeast-contributed smells like banana or clove.

Some More Informative Articles

Thank You For Reading

If you like this article, please check out our other many articles, including news, beer reviews, travelogues, maps, and much much more. We greatly appreciate everyone visiting the site!

Cheers.

Thanks again for reading everyone. Take some time to check out the site, we greatly appreciate it. We have affiliates and sponsors with Pretzels.com and Beer Drop.com, which can save you money on their products if you are interested. Check out our articles on them. Make sure to check out our beer reviews, brewery reviews, Amy’s weekly column, book reviews, hike reviews, and so much more.

As always, thank you everyone for reading! Leave your likes, comments, suggestions, questions, etc, in the comments section. Or use the Feedback – Contact Us – page, and we’ll get right back to you! You can also reach out to us at our direct e-mail address: thebeerthrillers@gmail.com

Thank you for visiting our blog. Please make sure to follow, bookmark, subscribe, and make sure to comment and leave feedback and like the blog posts you read. It will help us to better tailor the blog to you, the readers, likes and make this a better blog for everyone.

We are working on a massive project here at The Beer Thrillers. We are creating a map of all of the breweries across the United States. State by state we are adding maps of all of the different states with every brewery in each state. (We will eventually get to the US Territories, as well as the Canadian Provinces, and possibly more countries; as well as doing some fun maps like a map of all the breweries we’ve been to, and other fun maps.) You can find the brewery maps here:

We are also working on a project of creating printable and downloadable PDFs and resources to be able to check and keep track of all of the breweries you’ve been to. So stay tuned for that project once we are finished with the Brewery Maps of the US States.

You can check out our different directories here: Beer ReviewsHike ReviewsBook ReviewsBrewery News, Brewery OpeningsBrewer Interviews, and Travelogues.

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – FacebookFacebook GroupTwitterInstagramYouTube, and Influence. As well as our brand new Tumblr page. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

You can now find us on our Discord Server here: The Beer Thrillers (Discord Server). We’ve also joined LinkTree to keep track of all of our social media pages, as well as hot new articles we’ve written.

The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

We have partnered with an affiliateship with Beer Drop.com. You can check out that partnership and receive great discounts, coupons, and more here: Beer Drop. Going here and logging in and ordering will help you receive your discounts and coupons as well as help support our page. Thank you for helping to support The Beer Thrillers and to help us maintain the site and blog and to keep it running.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of August 2024.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

You can also check out our partnership and affiliation with Pretzels.com, where ordering pretzels and using our affiliate code – AFFILIATE CODE IS THEBEERTHRILLERS20 – will help you get wonderful pretzels and help us maintain and keep this blog running. Thank you!

If you would like to reach out to us for product reviews, beer reviews, press release writing, and other media – please contact us at thebeerthrillers@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Thank you for reading. The opinions, thoughts, and expressions of each article posted on The Beer Thrillers represents the author of the content and only themselves. It does not express the opinions, beliefs, or ideas held by The Beer Thrillers or any company in which the author themselves work for. Each piece of written content is written by the creator(s) listed in the authorial section on each article unless otherwise noted. Their opinions, comments, and words on screen do not represent any company in which they work for and / or are affiliated with or any non – profits that they contribute to. Thank you.)

]]>
15471