You Might Be Drinking Your Beer the Wrong Way

Posted on June 23, 2022 by englishivys

You might be doing the whole “beer thing” wrong. So, if you are someone who likes to drink beer, then it is your duty to learn how to enjoy it the most. Review these tips to forever enhance your beer-drinking experiences. With so many styles, flavors, and brands of beer on the market, it can be quite the challenge choosing one to fit your mood. But with the right beer drinking knowledge, you can ensure that any beer you order or take home from the store will be a great-tasting brew. Understanding the proper ways to order, purchase, pour, and drink beer will immediately improve the way you enjoy the overall experience.

Continue below to learn if you’ve been drinking beer the wrong way all this time!

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How to Buy the Best Beer

If you are not brewing your own beer, chances are you are procuring it from a local store or brewery. If this is the case, you need to be on alert and choose a quality product. First, avoid buying bottled beer that is old and covered in dust. So, it is not likely to have the best taste and mouth feel. Always check freshness and expiration dates on all beers, canned or bottled. More importantly, do not buy it if it is too close or passed the printed date.

If you have the choice of selecting beer from a refrigerated area or beer from a shelf, go with the refrigerated products. This is likely to have to the freshest dates and flavors. Although it goes without saying, never buy beer that has been sitting in the sun. Likewise, avoid leaving your beer in the sun unless it is iced and cooled properly.

Also, do not buy bottled beer that has solid debris, flakes, or floaters inside. This is an indication of a poor-quality product. It can also make you sick. If you are drinking beer from a growler, it is important to consume it before it goes flat. Once flat, the taste and quality become compromised. Enjoy your growler within the first day or two of opening.

How to Drink Your Best Beer Yet

Beer should be served at proper temperatures, which vary depending on the style of beer you are drinking, as well as your personal preference. The way you pour and serve your beer also influence your total beer enjoyment.

First and foremost, beers that are lighter in body and color should be served quite cold, between 40 and 44 degrees Fahrenheit. Darker beers should be served slighter warmer than lighter beers, between 44 to 48 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are drinking a high-octane beer, room temperature will uncover its best flavors.

It is best to drink beer from a glass. When poured into the glass, a lot of the CO2 is released, thus enhancing the aromatics. It also reduces your carbonation intake, which is easier on your belly. When drinking beer from a glass, always use a clean one. Any settled dust or invisible pollen can alter the overall experience and reduce foam faster.

When serving beer in a glass, try to use proper style, such as Pilsner glasses, Weissbier glasses, wine flutes, and brandy snifters. Although this is not incredibly important compared to the other tips mentioned above, it can bring your beer-drinking experience o the ultimate level.

When pouring beer into a glass, go for at least 2 fingers of head depth. A fuller head delivers a fuller aromatic bouquet. To get experience the aroma the most, be sure to take a sip before the head dissipates entirely.

Are you craving a cold frosty brew now? Just visit English Ivy’s Pub and Eatery in Downtown Indianapolis for all the best beers and bar specials in town! Join us Tuesdays for $2 domestics, Wednesdays for $3 Corona bottles, or Thursdays for $10 beer buckets!

Does Flat Beer Have Less Alcohol?

Posted on November 9, 2021 by englishivys

We have all come across that random bottle of beer that was somehow forgotten about in your cooler from last summer. Well, there are some things you need to know about that beer before you decide to pop it open and drink it. Not only is beer prone to expiration, but it may also lose its alcohol content if it goes flat. So, would it even be worth the sip?

Continue reading to learn more facts about flat beer and alcohol content, as well as where to get the best beer specials and frosty beverages in downtown Indianapolis!

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Beer Goes Flat Overtime

Like wine, beer ages with time, but this is not a good thing. Although aged wine is a delicacy and something to be revered, aged beer is not. Now, aged beer is not unsafe to drink, but it will taste less appealing than a freshly bottled beer. As time goes on, beer becomes flat because the proteins within it begin to break down; and once beer goes flat, the flavor profile is significantly affected. The multiple flavor notes that once existed begin to dwindle down until a singular flavor is all that can be detected. Many people refer to this single flavor taste as skunky because it is a bit musty and off-putting.

Once a beer is bottled and capped, it generally takes around 3 to 6 months to peak in flavor. From there, the beer will begin to break down and go flat. Beers with a greater number of hops are intentionally aged, and therefore have a longer shelf life compared to lagers, pilsners, ales, and other relatively-lighter beers.

Alcohol Content in Old Beer

For some, it is the alcohol that appeals to them rather than the actual taste of a beer. Well, if that’s the case, old beer should be just fine. As beer ages, it is prone to losing flavor and depth, but it will not lose any alcohol content, nor will the alcohol content increase. The alcohol content in a beer is determined and designed during the fermentation process. As beer ages, the fermentation process continues, therefore sustaining the alcohol potency, but not changing it.

Bottom Line: If you come across an ambiguous or antique beer, steer clear just to be safe. It’s not going to taste good anyway!

Do you want to know how you never have to worry about flat beer or inadequate alcohol content in your frosty beverages? Just visit English Ivy’s Pub and Eatery in Downtown Indianapolis for all the best beers and bar specials in town! Join us Tuesdays for $2 domestics, Wednesdays for $3 Corona bottles, or Thursdays for $10 beer buckets!

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FAQS About Beer That Will Surprise You

Posted on February 25, 2021 by englishivys

Sure, there are millions of things to learn about beer. From growing your own hops for a custom home brew, to low-carb selections on the market today, the information surrounding this popular and indulgent beverage is vast. Aside, you might think you have a good grasp on your beer facts, but there are a few beer questions you haven’t thought to ask before! Continue reading to review some uncommon frequently asked questions about beer that might actually surprise you.

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Interesting Beer FAQS You Want to Know

Will Beer Curdle Milk?

Have you ever heard that you can curdle milk by pouring beer into it? Well, here’s what you need to know about that: it’s true. And it’s all due to the acidity in beer causing the milk proteins (known as caseins) to clump together. Just like adding lemon juice to milk, the acidic content in beer will make milk curdle.

Why Does Beer Have Head But Soda Doesn’t?

Whether you order a draft beer, pour a bottle into a glass, or draw from a keg, you want your beer to have a little head. But why does beer form head and other carbonated drinks, like soda, do not? Well, the answer has to do with the proteins in barley malt and hops, which are ingredients used to make beer. One protein of this source in particular is known as Lipid Transfer Protein 1 (LTP1), which repels water. It will form a bubble of C02 to act as its life preserver, taking it to the top of the glass. Beer foam formation is a process known as nucleation, which is basically a fancy word to describe a bunch of proteins reacting to each other.

Why Does Beer Go Bad?

No one likes skunky beer. We know that if we leave beer in the hot sun for a long time that it will get skunky. But what actually makes beer go bad? And does it have an expiration date? Well, hops are used to brew beer, and they contain bitter, light-sensitive compounds known as isohumulones. These compounds both breakdown and combine with the sulfur compounds in beer, causing the tell-tale skunky taste and smell of bad beer. As for an expiration date, beer does in fact expire. At room temperature, it has a 6 to 9 month shelf-life. In the fridge, you can keep beer for up to 2 years. However, once past its prime, it is not necessarily unsafe to drink, but rather, unpleasant.

Does Flat Beer Have Less Alcohol Content?

If you let your beer sit out too long, the carbonation will eventually dissipate, and you will be left with a flat, non-carbonized brew. But a flat beer does not mean a weak beer. The alcohol content remains the exact same no matter how long you let it sit flat. Additionally, beer continues to age after bottling, just like wine, but not in the good way. Once beer goes bad, it might taste and smell funny, and lack carbonation, but the alcohol content is the same.

Looking for a great place to grab a cold beer and a delicious bite to eat? Contact English Ivy’s at 317-822-5070 to hear about our delicious dinner and drink specials we offer at our Downtown Indianapolis bar and restaurant!

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