When it comes to enjoying a beer at its best, there are numerous dos and don’ts floating around, some of which hold water, while others are more myth than matter. Let’s dive into the essential tips for keeping your beer in peak condition before enjoying it, and debunk a few myths along the way.
Keep It Refrigerated
- Fact: Strive to keep your beer at a consistent temperature. Frequent and significant temperature fluctuations can hasten the aging process and potentially affect the beer’s taste and stability over time.
- Myth: Allowing cold beer to reach room temperature before re-refrigerating it will harm the beer. While it’s best to avoid drastic temperature changes, bringing a beer to room temperature and then cooling it down again does not damage it even if it’s done a few times. (Shout out to Pints and Panels for the reminder.)
- Do: Store your beer in the refrigerator to maintain its freshness. Keeping beer cold slows down the aging process, preserving its intended flavors for longer.
The Crowler Conundrum
- Fact: Crowlers of beer are best consumed as soon as possible, but it’s more because a brewery sends their beer out when they believe it is the optimal profile for consumption than the container it’s packaged in.
- Myth: There’s a belief that once a crowler (a canned growler) is filled, it must be consumed within a few days. However, if properly sealed and filled, a crowler’s contents can remain fresh, flavorful, and carbonated for more than a month. The sooner you drink it, the fresher the taste, but don’t stress if you can’t crack it open immediately.
- Do: Keep an eye on those who are filling your crowler up. They should be filled to the top and capped-on-foam; as in, there is a bit of foam that is pushed out and down the sides of the can as the lid is placed on top of it and the can is sealed. This helps ensure as minimal amount of oxygen in the can as possible, which leads to a longer-lasting crowler of beer.
Bottle And Can Bias
- Fact: Technology is so advanced now in breweries that draft beer and package beer regularly taste the exact same. That said, over-fruited sours tend to be better in cans because you can easily roll the can and disburse the puree throughout the liquid again, which is much more difficult to do with a 1/2 barrel. (If you order an over-fruited sour from a brewery after it’s first tapped and then you order it again a week later, you will experience two entirely different mouth and flavor profiles of the same beer.)
- Myth: Some argue that beer tastes better directly from the bottle or can, claiming it’s how brewers intended it to be consumed. However, this practice actually mutes the beer’s aromatics, leading to a less flavorful experience. Pouring beer into a glass not only enhances its aroma (a significant component of taste) but also allows you to appreciate its color, clarity, and carbonation. Drinking from a glass is the best way to fully experience your beer’s profile.
- Do: Drink right out of the can if it’s a beer you don’t like but also don’t want to make it a drain-pour. 😛
Additional Tips For The Ultimate Beer Experience
- Pouring Matters: To maximize your beer’s aromatic profile, pour it into a clean glass at a 45-degree angle, gradually straightening the glass as it fills. This technique ensures the right amount of foam, which helps release the beer’s full range of aromas and flavors. It’s fact that beer produces a better experience for you in a glass than it does within the can or bottle.
- Freshness Factor: While many beers are designed to be enjoyed fresh, some styles, like barleywines or imperial stouts, can benefit from aging. Know which beers to save and which to savor sooner in our blog post on aging beer. (Worth a read is Vintage Beer: A Taster’s Guide To Brews That Improve Over Time)
In the world of craft beer, knowledge is as important as taste. Understanding how to properly care for your beer and debunking common myths can significantly enhance your drinking experience. Remember, beer is more than just a beverage; it’s a sensory experience best enjoyed when properly preserved and served.
Cheers to a better beer experience!