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!
Coffee and beer - a match or a flop? Exploring the myths about the famous combination
Coffee and beer are drunk at different times and on different occasions, but they have much more in common than meets the eye. Beverages that were considered ordinary 10 years ago have now become gourmet products: craft beer and specialty coffee have won millions of fans. But what if you mix the two? Let’s find out how justified this combination is and what myths are associated with it. How did the combination of coffee and beer appear? Experiments with coffee and beer began in the middle of the XX century, when brewers and bartenders began to look for new flavors. But the real boom happened in the nineties and noughties due to the growing popularity of craft beer. The first successful variants were coffee stouts and porters — dark brews with deep flavors that perfectly complemented the coffee notes. Brewers added coffee at various stages: — during brewing — for a rich flavor;— during fermentation — for softness;— into the finished beer — as a cold coffee infusion. A good example of such a recipe is the Japanese beer Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout, which can be tasted in Lambic beer restaurants. It’s a flavorful, dense ale brewed in the style of American imperial stouts with coffee beans added for espresso. Bartenders, too, have contributed to popularizing this unusual combination, creating original cocktails from coffee and beer. The most popular is the Black & Tan, which includes stout, lager and espresso. Today, such mixes are part of the craft culture. Is it true that coffee helps sober you up? One of the main myths is that coffee supposedly neutralizes alcohol. In fact, caffeine only masks intoxication. It creates the illusion of liveliness, but coffee does not actually lower blood alcohol levels. In addition, a cocktail of coffee and beer can increase the strain on the heart. If you drink coffee before alcohol, it will temporarily increase the activity of liver enzymes that break down ethanol. But this does not mean that it is necessary to increase the dose. Coffee with beer: harm or benefit? In moderate quantities, low-alcohol coffee beers (for example, stouts with 4-6% strength) are relatively safe. If you want to try such a mix, choose drinks from quality ingredients. For example: — Dark beer (porter, stout) and cold espresso.— Lager or ale and light coffee syrup. There are contraindications for such cocktails. Mixing coffee with beer is not recommended for people with hypertension, heart and GI diseases, as well as those who use drugs incompatible with caffeine. The combination of coffee and beer is an interesting gastronomic experience, especially if you respect the measure. Come to Lambic — we will treat you to interesting drinks without harming your health!
20 May 2025
Bitter! Let's understand what IBU is and how bitterness affects the taste of beer
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!
20 May 2025