Craft Beers and Their Impact on the Brewing Indu
History and Descriptions of Craft Beer PlusGreat Food Pairing Ideas
Nov 7, 2009
The average person can probably name such beers as Miller Lite, Budweiser, Heineken and Corona, but what about the hundreds of lesser known beers that are out there? While college students are busy shot gunning budget beers and bar patrons are guzzling foamy light beers, the industry is trending towards the more exciting craft beers. Premium light beers may be as American as apple pie and baseball, but it’s the craft beers that are making a name for themselves.
The History of Craft Beers
The birth of craft brewing came about in the late seventies when styles brought over by immigrants began to rapidly fade away. The act of brewing beer in the home thrived at that time, as it was the sole way a person in the United States could enjoy beer traditions and styles from other countries. It was then that the image of beer being a mass produced commodity changed into one associated with attention to detail and quality.
The Brewing Process
Craft beers are made using a process of mixing sugars from malted grains, such as wheat and barley, with hop flowers and water. The desired flavors, colors and aromas are created through special recipes as well as the scientific process of fermentation of sugars into alcohol, carbon dioxide and other characters.
Craft Beer Descriptions and Food Pairings
This quickly increasing segment of the market consists of beers such as Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat, Terrapin Rye Pale Ale and Brooklyn Brown Ale to name a few. So what makes these brews so special? Well, besides their unusual names (Rogue Dead Guy Ale, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale and Flying Dog In Heat Wheat), craft beers are characterized by their caramel, cocoa, coffee, honey, spice or fruity flavors and are best when paired with foods, such as those from the country of their origin. For example, for a strong, crisp beer to go with a bowl of spicy chili, Wolavers India Pale Ale might make an interesting choice. If Belgian beers are more the beer-drinker’s style, Blue Moon, the gold medal winner at the World Beer Championships in 1995 (before it was available to the market) can’t be beat. While enjoying a pint in the local bar, it can be immediately detected as the one with the orange slice being served with it to compliment the orange peel and coriander flavors. Want to take a walk (or a drink) on the wild side? Rogue’s Chocolate Stout’s your ticket! Dark and creamy, this craft beer is blended with chocolate malts, oats and real chocolate.
Once a method for keeping one’s traditions thriving, home breweries in the United States have grown into over 1,400 craft breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs. Even large suppliers, such as Miller Brewing Company, have noted the industry’s expansion towards craft beers by launching Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat, Berry Weis and Honey Weis. So for the individual who’s ready to put down their old Coors Light and try something new and exciting, they can join the rest of the country and get crafty!
