Is industrial beer better than craft and why not?
The best beer is the one you have in the fridge. First, let’s be clear, the first and basic postulate of every beer drinker: „The best beer is the one you have in the fridge.“ Point. No further. Another thing, drinking craft beer is not fancy. Beer is not wine. There is nothing fancy, glamorous about drinking craft or any other beer. No ritual, just a special occasion. Whether you want to cool down to +40 with just one, with a couple with the Champions League, or to roll with friends in a pub or at a party at the best man’s house, beer is here to refresh, relax and cheer you up. Whatever. Nothing more and nothing less. (ACHTUNG!!! DON’T DRIVE WHILE DRINKING!!!)
What is it that makes the difference between craft and industrial beer
Now back to my rhetorical question from the title, what is it that makes the difference between craft and industrial beer? A simple experiment, after drinking one glass of good craft beer, try a sip of your favorite Zaječarski or Heineken… You won’t, at that moment, want another. Ok, you’ll drink it, it’s great to throw away, but it definitely remains in the shadow of the previously drunk craft.
The main disadvantage of craft beer is it’s price on the market, which is three times higher than „regular“ beer. Bearing in mind the above-mentioned first postulate, the vast majority of people still decide to buy Zaječarac, Heineken… Is there a solution for that as well? Of course. Which one ?
Well… why don’t you make your own beer
For an initial investment of 50-60 euros, you can make 20 liters of excellent craft beer yourself. In addition to the basic benefit, the growth of reputation in society and the environment when you present your product is not negligible. Of course, making your own beer is a mastery that requires improvement, additional investment, time, patience, learning from mistakes, but once that hobby gets into your blood, there is no going back. Try it and you will see for yourself. I will write an explanation of the production process in the next blog, now I will say, in general, a few words about beer, its history, what it is made of and what makes beer beer.
In Europe, beer arrived from the Middle East
Beer obtained from barley was produced as far back as Sumer and Babylon. The first beer recipes were found in Egyptian tombs dating back to 2400 BC. There are records of Roman historians who say that Germanic, Saxon and Celtic tribes consumed beer.
The preservation of beer production in the Middle Ages was the responsibility of the Catholic monastic orders, who, during long and exhausting fasts, drank beer, considering it liquid bread.
Hops, as an addition to beer, were first used in Germany in the 11th century. A few hundred years later, in 1420 to be precise, in the same Germany, the production of Lager (from the German lagern-to preserve) beer, i.e. beer of the so-called „bottom fermentation“ (during fermentation, the yeast settles at the bottom of the fermenter, hence the name „bottom beer boiling“).
Until then, the so-called Ale of „top-fermented“ beer (you guessed it, the yeast floats on the surface during fermentation). The division into Lager and Ale beers has remained the basic division in brewing to this day.
Two very important scientists who improved the brewing process were the French chemist Louis Pasteur and the Danish botanist Emile Hansen, who discovered the production of pure yeast cultures, necessary for the production of most beers.
So much for history, and now let’s get to know the ingredients needed to make beer
Basically, beer consists of four ingredients:
Barley, or barley malt. The basic ingredient of beer that gives sugars, which later, the yeast turns into alcohol. Malt is also responsible for the color, smell and taste of beer. There are two basic types of malt: basic, which, depending on the recipe, makes up 60-100% of the total amount of malt, and special, which gives the beer a taste, colors it in the desired colors, and gives it a specific taste. It should be noted that wheat, oat, and rye malt can also be used in the beer production process, again depending on the recipe.
Hops. Often known as a beer spice, which is mostly responsible for the bitterness and aroma of beer. The balance between the sweetness of the malt flavor and the bitterness of the hops is what gives beer its character and separates it from other alcoholic beverages.
Yeast. An ingredient that converts malt sugar into alcohol, and creates foam. More than enough.
Water. Unjustifiably the most common villain when you don’t like Jelen because „Vojvodina has bad water“. Let’s face it, the chemistry of water is very complex and important in brewing beer. For larger quantities, it is not enough to collect some water from a well and make beer from it. Even if you find the best quality water, for certain types of beer you would have to adjust it additionally (soften it or enrich it with calcium, magnesium…). So it’s not about water as such, but about technologists and the technological process of water treatment. This applies to industrial production and more experienced craftsmen, for beginners any water that you can drink yourself is good. Therefore, tap water also comes into play, but there is nothing wrong with brewing beer in some bottled or spring water.
A word or two about the types of craft beer and their characteristics
As already stated, there are basically two types of beer: Lager and Ale. The main difference in brewing these types of beer lies in the different yeast cultures used during fermentation.
Lager. Generally the most common type of beer. Almost all the industrial beers you’ve had in your life are Lagers. In this type of beer, fermentation takes place at lower temperatures. It is drunk cold at a temperature of 5-140C, it has a rich foam, full flavor and bitterness. Among the more famous lager beers in the world, the Czech Pilsner and the German Oktobarfest stand out.
But. Top-fermented beer, where fermentation begins at higher temperatures. Generally, these beers are drunk warm, at a temperature of about 200C. They are less bitter and more aromatic than lagers.
There are several types of Ale beer
The most famous are:
Potter – Hardly like black earth, such is its color. Fruity dry taste and higher alcohol content.
Stout – also a dark black beer with aromas of caramel and coffee. The most famous Stout is Guinness
Amber – Characteristic red color, sweet taste
Irish ale – Amber’s twin brother but with a more distinct, bright red color
Pale Ale – Perhaps the most popular type of Ale beer. Lighter skin with more pronounced bitterness and fruity flavors.
Indian Pale Ale (IPA) – In popularity side by side with Pale Ale. Red color, extremely bitter and with a slightly higher alcohol content. The three most famous subtypes of IPA are: American IPA, English IPA and Double or Imperial IPA.
As a special type of beer, I would single out Wheat or Weisse beer
Originated in Bavaria. Very light and drinkable, with a slightly sour taste. It belongs to top-fermented beer, but, unlike other Ale beers, it has a minimum of 60% wheat in its malt. The most famous wheat beers are Hoegaarden, Erdinger and Paulalner.
Most of the listed beers can be found in Niš beer halls, we can help you with that
That would be it, for starters. In the next blog, there will be more words about the craft beer brewing technique.
Cheers!!!
