Bottled or draft: which beer is better?
High-quality beer, if it has been stored correctly, cannot be bad in principle. And when a favorite beer is found and a beer restaurant is checked, you should not expect any unpleasant surprises. But if the bar offers the same drink both in a bottle and on tap, many still begin to doubt - what way to serve it, to get the maximum pleasure from the taste? Let's find out how bottled beer differs from draft beer, and which of these options is better.
In a bottle.
Bottled beer is valued primarily for its authenticity. Simply put, it is the same shape, volume, and taste that was once intended by the producer. You can go to any city or walk into any bar and you are guaranteed to get the same result. In addition, even at home you can play with the serving temperature, thus revealing even the most complex flavor nuances.
On tap
The situation with draft beer is more unstable. Even if beer restaurants are on the same street, there is no guarantee that the taste of the same drink in them will be the same. It should not be like that, but in some establishments, especially budget format, they often neglect important things. For example, they don't clean the bottling structure in time, they store kegs with beer not in a specially equipped room, but just under the bar, they serve beer that was connected to the tap many weeks ago. All this affects the taste of the drink in your glass, especially if we are talking about complex brews.
What do you prefer?
In order not to take risks, in unfamiliar places it is better to order only light varieties from the tap, so it is less likely that they can be spoiled. And if you want to enjoy a complex drink, to feel every nuance and nuance, you should not rely on the seller's conscientiousness - it is better to take a bottled beer and insist that it is served chilled to the right temperature. For example, it is better to try lambic for the first time in a bottle - the drink itself has a very specific taste, and the wrong serving can easily spoil the first impression. But an ordinary lager can be ordered from the tap in any bar - it is the most popular beer, and the probability that it is stale is almost zero.
You can try drinks that won't disappoint, no matter how they're served, at the chain of beer restaurants. We carefully control the conditions of beer storage and cleanliness of drafts, serve drinks only at the right temperature, and recommend dishes that help to further sharpen all the nuances of taste and flavor. Come and see for yourself!
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Craft beer glasses: your guide to serving beer properly
Why is traditional kölsch beer in German beer restaurants only served in narrow, elongated, small glasses? Why is it that local brews in other countries are served, for example, in pint glasses? It’s not a marketing move — the point is that in a properly shaped vessel beer better reveals its flavor and aroma, as well as retains a stable foam. And if you choose the right container, you can even at home to get maximum pleasure from your favorite varieties. To help all beer lovers — our guide to glasses! A pint of Nonic Suitable for styles: india pale ale, porter, brown ale, cider This is a versatile glass that is ideal for drinkable, low-alcoholic varieties. There are three types of pint glasses, the most popular being the 0.6 liter Nonic from the UK. It is a container with slightly curved walls that widen slightly at the bottom. Snifter Suitable for styles: stout, porter, barleywine The same «pouzat» glass that is also often seen in beer restaurants. The deep bowl retains the distinct flavor of the drink well, and the short stem allows it to be slightly warmed by human body heat, thus bringing out the aroma. The snifter is ideal for aromatic brews such as strong ales. Tulip Suitable for styles: Belgian ale, wild ale This glass is somewhat like a snifter, but with an elongated rather than narrowed neck. The tulip retains foam well, and the container also helps to capture volatile substances. A great choice for strong styles, although experts say it’s the perfect shape for any variety if you plan to drink just one glass. Pilsner Suitable for styles: lager, pilsner, bock A glass for serving all light lagers, including pilsners. It has a long shape with pronounced straight lines and a slightly tapered neck, which helps to stabilize the foam. The pilsner is also ideal for showing off the color and carbonation of the drink. Weitzen Suitable for styles: hefeweizen, witbier A smoothly shaped glass with a wide neck, originally from Germany. It is ideal for serving a variety of wheat beers, such as Hefenweizens and Belgian Witbiers. In such a glass, the flavor of the beverage will unfold well and a lush, high foam will be retained. Teku Suitable for: double IPA, saison, lambic This 0.3-liter glass is a relatively recent development and rather resembles a version of the famous tulip, but with sharper corners. The container well reveals the flavor of the drink and preserves the foam, and the long stem prevents it from heating up. By the way, in Lambic restaurants beer is served only in the right glasses. Come and see for yourself!
27 March 2024
Learning how to properly store beer so it doesn't lose its flavor
Has it ever happened that you buy expensive and seemingly high-quality beer, but it doesn’t live up to expectations? Often the taste qualities are affected not only by the manufacturing process, but also by transportation and storage of the drink, and not only in the manufacturer’s warehouses, but also at home. And if you can’t influence some moments, then every responsible beer lover should understand the rules of home storage. We tell you how to properly store beer so that it retains its true flavor. No hot rooms Many people put beer in the fridge just before drinking, but before that they simply store it in drawers in the kitchen. This can be done, but not for long — after a few weeks, even at room temperature, beer will inevitably start to lose its flavor. The ideal storage temperature for beer is about +1 °C. Some varieties can be stored at 10-12 degrees, but if you are not ready to understand the subtleties — it is better to choose a cool place for beer. And even more so, beer should not be stored in hot rooms, for example, next to a radiator — it will quickly become unusable. Out of the sunlight The flavor of beer can be spoiled if it is constantly exposed to sunlight. Brown glass bottles cope best with direct rays — they keep out about 98% of the radiation. Green bottles, on the other hand, are only 20% impervious. It is undesirable to store beer in transparent bottles; it is better to consume it immediately after purchase. Therefore, the optimal storage method for all varieties is a dark space. Ideally a cellar, but a cupboard in the pantry will also work. Don’t open it! Leaving the beer open to finish it tomorrow is a bad decision. In the air, the drink quickly wears off and loses its flavor. By the way, oxygen can also get into closed bottles, if, for example, the production technology is broken. But this will immediately indicate an atypical odor — cardboard, paper or wax. Such a drink can not only not give pleasure, but also harm your health. And be sure to check the expiration dates even on tested varieties. How do you store draught beer? The average shelf life of draught beer is 3 days if the storage rules are followed. Such a short period of time is due to the fact that during bottling beer comes into contact with air, the bottle is not airtight and sterile. How long can you store draft beer in the bottle so that it does not spoil? Here are some tips. Of course, beer should be kept in the refrigerator. Strong beer should be stored at a temperature of no more than 15 degrees, low-alcohol beer — no more than 10 degrees. If the beer is not stored in the refrigerator but in another cold place, take care to keep it dark. Bacteria are more active in the presence of light. Bottles should be stored vertically. Because quality live beer has yeast sediment, storing it in the refrigerator is strongly discouraged. At low temperatures, the yeast dies, which also affects the flavor. Live beer is best consumed immediately after purchase — it is not pasteurized and therefore does not keep for long. Better still, come and try it at any Lambic beer restaurant. We take a responsible approach to beer storage and guarantee its excellent taste!
27 March 2024