Beer makes the world go around
According to some, “money makes the world go around”. But, that’s not entirely true. And, today is proof that beer makes the world go around, for it’s international Beer day. And, what a busy week. Yesterday was national IPA day. But, that was very specific. Today, the whole world celebrates an elixir that has been around as long as societies have existed. Money comes and goes in different forms, denominations, and values. But, money is merely a token that represents something. Beer is a real tangible thing that can be bought, sold, bartered, and traded anywhere in the world. Although, you probably can’t buy a yacht with it. But, if you sell enough of it, you certainly can.
Of course, if you drink enough of it, you probably won’t be buying anything (or you shouldn’t depending on your state of inebriation). But, beer is what brings people together. Artifacts dating back to 6000 BC depict communal consumption of what we assume is beer. It is the great unifier and divider throughout the world. Even our own politicians, who publicly seek to destroy each other, have been known to sit down after a long day of debate and bond over a cold beer. And, beer reflects the diversity of the world by appearing in multiple variations. Unfortunately, most people only drink one type: lagers. Well, today is the perfect day to explore the world of beer.
Table of Contents
What kind of Beer makes the world go around?
While a good lager is something to behold, it is far from the height of brewing excellence. Lager is a lighter ale/beer that is cold brewed and served well chilled. It is refreshing, crisp, and clean in most iterations. Lagers are a favorite of the sporting crowd: fans and participants alike. Brands like Budweiser, Miller, Corr’s, and Heinekin are all examples of lagers. The mass production of beer, especially lagers brings beer into households, bars, restaurants, sporting and entertainment venues the world ’round. Most of it is low alcohol and similarly flavored. But, it’s not just an American phenomenon, beer is a worldwide obsession.
The earliest proof of beer brewing dates back to 5000 BC where clay pots with beer residue appeared in archeological sites. The theory is that when cereal grains were domesticated, they encountered airborne yeasts which create a fermented cereal. Add water, and you have beer. Obviously, refrigeration was not an option in those days. So, the fact that we drink mostly cold fermented beer today is a wonder in and of itself. But, let’s not forget the multitude of other varieties out there.
Variety is..
Yeah, yeah, the spice of life. How cliche. How about the hops of life or the barleys or grains? For, lager is far from the only game in town. If you want to make a small step from lager, try a pilsner. They have a similar golden hue and chilled drinkability, but with a creamier texture. Then there are dozens, if not hundreds of other varieties of ales in the world. There are India pale ales, American pale ales, ESb, Saisons, Bitter, dubel, triples, porters, stouts, rye, red, brown, white, wheat, amber, hefeweisen, Kolsch, lambics, bocks, and more ,more more.
You may be asking, what is the difference between ale and beer. Thanks to the development of modern brewing, the terms are pretty much interchangeable. Originally, beer was hopped and ale was not. But, that distinction disappeared centuries ago. So, the general difference today is in the fermentation process. All ales and beers start with grains mashed into a “wort” that is then fermented. But, beers like lagers, bocks, and pilsners use a bottom fermenting yeast that works best at low temperatures. Conversely, ales like IPA, stout, and brown ales use a top fermenting yeast and develop at warmer temperatures.
So, technically, all ales are beers. But, not all beers are ales. But, does it really matter? In yesterday’s IPA article we brought up the descendents famous line from “suburban home”: “I want to be stereotyped, I want to be classified.” The sentiment holds true today. If it’s fermented grains and hops, it’s all good. So drink up.
Outsourcing alcoholism
When most people think about beer, they immediately picture Irish or Canadians. But, that is not an accurate image of who drinks the most beer in the world. In fact Neither Ireland, nor Canada made the top ten list of top beer drinkers in the world. That’s right, the wily Chinese have taken away more jobs to make them the world leaders, yet again. China consumes over 20% of the world’s beer. The United States is second fiddle at 12%. Brazil is 3rd with about 8%. Although, Germany and the UK did make the top 10 list. But, they, along with Russia, Mexico, Japan, Vietnam, and Spain all come in under 5%. I suppose, technically, Ireland would be part of the UK. But, it’s still a disappointing showing.
I guess we can thank Mao Zedong for the cultural revolution that led to their dominance in the world marketplace. And, with all that oppression and propaganda, it’s no wonder they drink so much. But, It’s time for the US, Canada, and Ireland to reclaim the market. So, do you part and start drinking! Remember: Beer makes the world go around and with enough, you can at least experience the room spinning. So, go out and get some Labatts!
Lets make sure Beer makes the world go around in the future
As mentioned in the opening segment of this post, Beer started as a communal thing. And, it still is. Those Chinese who drink the most beer cite almost 3/4 of the beer they consume is at gatherings of friends and family. And, in America, most beer drinkers congregate at sporting and entertainment events with the purpose of enjoying time communing with society. Remember the 70’s ad about buying the world a coke. The hell with that. If you really want to make friends, buy them a beer.
So, today, let’s think about all things beer and keep the golden elixir flowing around the world. Whether you drink imported, domestic, micro-brew, artisan, local, or even homebrew, keep up with the suds. Enjoy a variety of beers. Branch out beyond lager and pilsner. Know there is a whole world of zymurgic exploration before you. For more on beer, check out some of our past explorations of beer here, here, and here. And, remember, you need something to eat with beer, try some of these beer friendly recipes.
Ganbei, Cheers, Slainte, Salud, vashe zdorovʹye, Gaja, Salute, Prost!
Southern Fried Chicken and Waffle Bites with Bourbon Maple Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 Lb Boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 pt buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp chopped fresh garlic
- 1 tsp chopped green onion
- 2 Tbsp Cajun Spice blend
- Salt and pepper to taste
- For coating:
- 2 cups AP flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp Poultry seasoning or rubbed sage
- 2 Tbsp Cajun Seasoning
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Oil to fry
- For the waffles:
- 2 cups AP flour
- 1 Tbsp Baking powder
- 3 Tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups Buttermilk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- For syrup
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 1 each cinnamon stick
- 2 cups Maple syrup
- 1 each mini chili
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken: Whisk an egg, add in buttermilk and seasonings. Cut the chicken into equal size 3/4 inch cubes. Put in the buttermilk mix. Refrigerate at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- make the waffles: Mix all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Whisk the eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add the buttermilk and vanilla, continue whisking. Add the dry ingredients and oil. Set aside batter to rest for 20 minutes.
- Mix flour and spices for coating and set aside.
- make the Bourbon maple syrup: Heat all ingredients on a stove over low heat about 15 minutes until all flavors have blended. remove the cinnamon and chili. Put in a squeeze bottle or a bowl to serve on the side. This canbe done in advance and stored in the fridge.
- Heat a waffle iron to medium high. Open and spray with pan spray. Ladle the waffle batter directly into the middle of the waffle iron. Allow it to spread evenly across the plate. Close the iron and flip. Follow the directions on your particular waffle maker. When cooked, cut them into individual cubes.
- Set up a frying station, either use a fryer or a heavy pot over medium high heat. Heat oil to about 350 degrees.
- Strain the chicken from its marinade. Toss it in the flour coating mix. Fry until golden brown. Make sure it is cooked all the way through.
- Skewer the chicken with the waffles, and heat in a 350 degree oven until warmed throughout. Servee drizzled with bourbon maple syrup.
Vegan Lentil veggie Burger
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Diced Sweet Onion
- 1 Cup Red Lentils
- 2 to 4 Cups vegetable Broth
- 1 tsp Chopped Fresh Ginger
- 1/2 tsp Chopped Fresh Garlic
- 1 Cup Peeled and Cubed Sweet Potato
- 1/2 Cup Diced Carrot
- 1/4 Cup Diced Fresh Tomato
- 1 Cup Fresh Spinach
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
- 1 tsp Fresh Chopped Turmeric Root
- Coconut oil for cooking
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Bread or Rolls to serve on
Instructions
- Heat Coconut Oil in a high sided pan. Saute onion, ginger, garlic, and fresh turmeric over medium high heat until translucent. The turmeric will give a yellow/orange color.
- Add in the Sweet potatoes and carrots. Cook for a couple minutes until they begin to soften. Then, fold in the lentils and stir until well coated. Add spices at this time and mix well.
- Add vegetable broth or water and bring to a simmer. Cook until the lentils get soft. Add more liquid if needed. Continue cooking until all liquid is absorbed and all ingredients are soft. Add in tomatoes at this point.
- Fold in the spinach and let it wilt down. Stir to mix well. Season with salt and pepper.
- Allow to cool. Take 1/3 of the mix and puree it in a food processor. Fold it back into the mix. Form the mix into patties. Heat in an oven or pan before serving.
- Spray bread slices or buns with pan spray. Sear on a grille or pan to toast. Place the "burger" on the bread and serve with your favorite accompaniments.
Grasshopper Pale Ale
Equipment
- Car boys, bottling equipment, air locks, and basic brewing equipment
Ingredients
- 6 Gallons Water
- 1 Lb Pale ale Malt
- 1/4 Lb Marris otter Malt
- 1/2 Lb Dingemans Malt
- 9 Lb Golden Malt extract
- 1 oz Crystal Hops
- 2 oz Cascades Hops
- 2 oz Centennial Hops
- 2 oz Helga Hops
- 2 Oz Columbus Hops
- 1 each whirlflock tablet for clarification
- 11.5 Grams Safe ale s-04 Dry ale yeast
- 3 oz Cascades hops for Dry hopping
- 1 Cup Priming sugar
Instructions
- Clean and sterilize all your brewing equipment.
- Bring 3 gallons of water to a boil. Place the whole grains into a brewing bag. Simmer for 30 minutes. Then remove them from the water.
- Whisk in the malt extract and return to a boil. Stir as needed to prevent sticking and scorching.
- Add in the first 3 hops and continue boiling. Stir as needed to keep from bubbling over. Boil for 30 minutes.
- Add the helga and columbus hops, plus the floculation tablet or Irish moss to help with clarification. Boil for another 15 minutes.
- Strain the liquid well to remove all sediment. Use sparging bags and cheesecloth if available. Transfer the liquid to a carboy and add cold water until you get about 5 1/2 to 6 gallons in the carboy. You will lose 1/2 to 1 gallon when particles settle out during fermentation.
- Place a rubber stopper with a bolowout tube on the carboy and put the end of the tube in a container with a little water so the extra krausen can blow off. Leave this on for about 3 days. At this time, the activity level will be quite high. Check it daily to empty the receptacle if it overflows and check the activity level.
- After about 3 days, the activity should be under control. At this point, add in the dry hop pellets. Place an airlock on the carboy and allow to ferment for another 11 days.
- After 2 weeks in the carboy, it is ready to bottle. Sterilize your bottling equipment. Carefully siphon the liquid to a racking tub. Dissolve priming sugar in hot or boiling water and whisk it into the beer. Bottle and cap the beer and place in a dry dark place for another 2 weeks.
- After 2 weeks in the bottle, it is ready to drink. You can age it longer if you want.