Ever wonder if dark beer is stronger than light beer, or if beer in a bottle tastes better than beer in a can? We’re here to shed some light on common beer myths.
Myth: Beer is best served cold.
This is not always the case! The ideal serving temperature for beer depends on the type of beer you’re drinking. For example, light lagers and pilsners should be served very cold, while darker ales and stouts are better at slightly warmer temperatures.
If beer is too cold, it can actually mask a beer’s flavor and aroma.
Myth: The darker the beer, the higher the ABV.
The color of beer doesn’t necessarily indicate its strength.
ABV is determined by: the type of yeast used, the amount of sugar available for the yeast to convert to alcohol and the fermentation method. There are pale beers that have a much higher ABV than darker beers, because lighter malts have more available sugar to be converted into alcohol.
Myth: Letting cold beer reach room temperature, then cooling it again, will “skunk” it.
The “skunkiness” is more a result of light exposure than it is about cooling and warming the beer. That’s why so many breweries use dark-colored bottles – it allows less light to get through and impact the liquid.
Myth: Beer before liquor, never sicker.
The old saying intended to guide a raucous night out is false!
The hangover really depends more on how much alcohol you’re drinking and not the order in which you drink it. Generally, all alcohol does the same thing to your body – no matter if it’s beer, whiskey or wine. Though, the amount of certain molecules in your chosen beverage such as aldehydes, sulfites, maltose, chlorophenols or thiol can tip the scale and worsen the effects of a night of drinking.
Myth: Beers can’t go bad.
Technically, this is true. Pathogens cannot live in beer, but a beer’s taste and quality slowly decline over time.
The most common culprits are light and heat, which can lead to a process called oxidation. Over time, oxygen can alter a beer’s flavor for the worse, and warmer temperatures accelerate this process.
Myth: Craft beers are all specialty beers.
Some people hear “craft beer” and assume it’s going to be a specialty beer that can only be found in certain areas. But craft beers are beers that come from independent breweries, meaning that it isn’t made in a large mechanized way by a massive distributor or producer.
Samuel Adams Boston Lager and Brooklyn Brewery’s Brooklyn Lager, though widely available, are both technically craft beers.
So now you know the truth, celebrate with a cold one from Druther Brewing Company.
Cheers!