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Unbelievable but true: the loudest beer-related world records

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While some people show their love for beer in beer restaurants, others are looking for more original ways to prove themselves. And thanks to this, the centuries-old history of beer, one after the other, includes the names of those who have stepped forward, invented something new, or simply happened to be the fastest among the competitors. Today we will talk about these fighters of the invisible beer front, as well as about the amazing records they set.

Brewers

Many beer brewers are concerned about finding new brews and combinations, but some of them create beverages so original that they secure a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. For example, the strongest beer in the world is the British Famous Falling over Water, which contains 17.3% alcohol. Also British Roger and Out with 16,9% alcohol is again a contender for the title of the most hoppy beer.

The bitterest beer in the world is Hoop, created by Peter Flower. Its bitterness level according to a special scale equals 323 units.

Another achievement of the producers, which is worth mentioning, is a beer without malt and hops, but with milk! The drink contains kefir, milk sugar, milk bacteria and extract additives. This unusual drink was created in Augsburg, Germany, and the producers themselves called it "driver's beer.

 

Collectors

Every lover of beer drinks probably has a small collection of beer mugs. But it turns out that you can collect not only beer cups. For example, the Norwegian Jan Solberg can boast a collection of 350 thousand beer labels, the Austrian Leo Pisker has brought from 155 countries almost 140 thousand beer mug stands, and in the house of the British David Maund there are almost 30 thousand miniature beer bottles. By the way, on such a hobby you can make good money - the largest collection of unopened cans and bottles of beer (a total of 2503 pieces) sold in 1990 at an auction for a handsome sum.

The fastest

In 1977 a record was set for the speed of drinking, which has not been broken until now. Stevenson Petrosin drank a liter of foamy drink in 1.3 seconds. So far, only a resident of Moscow came close to him - he managed to drink the same amount of beer in 1.4 seconds.

An unusual record was set by the famous Russian actor Alexander Filippenko. He sniffed out a mug of Guinness dark beer for 12 hours and was listed in the legendary Record Book. How the degree of sniffing was measured - history is silent, but doctors say that sniffing quality beer is even useful.

Many records are also set during the so-called beer races. For example, in 1981 an American Ozi, who worked as a barman in a local bar, ran the 15-metre distance with 5 pints of beer in each hand in 4 seconds. And she didn't spill a single drop!

And a runner named João Manuel de Sosa covered 132 kilometers with beer in his hands. He carried a tray with two bottles of beer and two glasses for 22 hours. It is true that the beer got hot on the way, which was not appreciated by the mayor, who was supposed to taste the drink at the finish line.

In the meantime, the Belgian brasserie chain Lambic does not set records, but simply offers the highest quality beer from around the world. Come and try it!

 

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Bitter! Let's understand what IBU is and how bitterness affects the taste of beer

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If you’ve scrutinized craft beer labels, you’ve definitely seen the mysterious IBU abbreviation on them. This indicator plays a key role in shaping the flavor of the beverage. Let’s find out what it means and why bitterness is one of the main criteria for evaluating beer. What is IBU? IBU (International Bitterness Unit) is an international indicator of beer bitterness. It indicates the concentration of isohumulone, an alpha acid found in hops, which gives the drink its characteristic bitterness. The higher the IBU, the more bitter the beer will be. However, the perception of bitterness depends not only on this indicator, but also on the balance with malt sweetness, strength and aromatic additives. Why do you need the IBU index? Before the advent of industrial brewing, a beverage could be either too sweet or, conversely, too sour or bitter. To achieve a harmonious flavor, brewers began to adjust bitterness with hops. In the past, herbs (thistle, mint, juniper) were used to soften sweetness, but today the main source of bitterness is hops. It is added at different stages of brewing to: — compensate for the sweetness of the malt;— add complexity and flavor to the beer;— increase shelf life (isohumulone has antibacterial properties). The first to calculate the bitterness of beer were the people of Great Britain, using the formula «pounds of hops per quart of malt». The modern IBU standard was developed to accurately categorize beers. How to calculate IBU? The bitterness index is determined using a mathematical formula: G = D × E D = (A × B) / (C × 0.1) Where: A — mass of hops (in grams); B — alpha acid content of hops (%); C — wort volume (in liters); E — loss factor (production time and beer density are affected); G — final IBU. The longer the hops are brewed, the more alpha acids pass into the wort, increasing bitterness. IBU scale: from lager to IPA Beer bitterness is measured on a scale of 0 to 120+ IBUs, but most beers are in the 5-90 range. Beer Style IBU Level Characteristics Pale Lagers 8–15 Light, smooth, minimal bitterness Wheat Ales 10–20 Fruity notes, low bitterness Porters/Stouts 30–50 Coffee, chocolate tones, moderate bitterness American IPA 50–80 Strong hop bitterness, citrus and pine notes Imperial IPA 80–120+ Extreme bitterness, high alcohol content Why is IBU not the main selection criterion? A high IBU does not always mean that the beer will seem too bitter. For example, sweet stouts (30-50 IBU) seem less bitter than IPAs due to caramel and chocolate notes. And light lagers (8-15 IBU) may be perceived as more bitter due to a lack of malt balance. How do you choose a beer based on bitterness level? If you don’t like bitterness — choose lagers, wheat ales, Belgian trippels (up to 30 IBU). If you like balance, try porters or amber ales (30-50 IBU). If you like a rich hop bitterness, an IPA or Imperial Stout (50+ IBU) is ideal. You can try any of these varieties in Lambic beer restaurants. Come — we will find something to surprise you!

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