Beer and Light

Beer GOOD, Light BAD! Bottled beer is almost always kept in dark bottles for a good reason. Light will cause significant changes to the flavor of beer. Although there are a few people out there who consider some beers better a little "skunked" for most "skunked" is not a good description for beer. The light causes a reaction with chemicals created by hops in the brewing process. The by-product of that reaction is a chemical VERY similar to what makes skunk spray smell. All light is bad, direct sunlight can actually "skunk" a beer in under a minute!

WONDERFUL

Ice Cold Beer

A cold beer on a hot day is one of life's little pleasures. How cold that beer should be is a matter of great debate. Most breweries have recommended serving temperatures. Whenever possible you should try a beer at that temp as you are then getting the taste the brewer wanted you to get from their product. However that is not to say you may find you like your beer a bit warmer or colder. In general from coldest to warmest we have Lagers, Ales, Stouts, Porters, Double Bocks.

A Proper Pour

Even the best tasting beer can suffer if it's poured badly. The start of a perfect pour is to have a good, clean, proper style glass. Hold the glass at a 45 Degree angle. Start pouring so the beer hits the side of the glass about halfway up. Avoid letting the beer stutter as it leaves the bottle or can. When the glass is half full straighten it up and let the beer pour into the center of the glass. When you're done you should have a good foamy head about .5 to 1.5 inches tall.

A Proper Pour

Even the best tasting beer can suffer if it's poured badly. The start of a perfect pour is to have a good, clean, proper style glass. Hold the glass at a 45 Degree angle. Start pouring so the beer hits the side of the glass about halfway up. Avoid letting the beer stutter as it leaves the bottle or can. When the glass is half full straighten it up and let the beer pour into the center of the glass. When you're done you should have a good foamy head about .5 to 1.5 inches tall.

Beer

Beer Myths

Beer skunks from temperature changes - Sorry No, Light Skunks Beer. Excessive or extreme heating and cooling cycles will change the flavor of beer and may increase oxidation, aging the beer.

Bottled Beer tastes better Canned Beer - Sorry No, Beer is best in the container it was brewed for, be that Bottle, Can, Keg, Jug, or Bucket. Long ago there were unlined cans that gave the beer a metallic flavor. Now that's no longer a problem for the flavor. Of course the epoxy they line the cans with contains BPA, and we aren't going anywhere near that discussion.