Beer is one
of the most popular and widely consumed beverages ever invented, and today it
can be found in every corner of the globe.

Sometimes
there’s nothing better than an ice-cold beer on a warm afternoon, or evening,
or night. But, with so many styles of beer out there, it can be tough to choose
which one to enjoy. Understanding beer fundamentals, along with the two basic
types – ales and lagers can be a task.

Also Read | Things you should know if you are drinking beer for the first time

However, the
major difference between types of beer comes down to the type of yeast used to
ferment it, and the ingredients infused in the process. To create beer, grain
undergoes a process called malting – It is moistened and forced to germinate,
and then the grain is kilned to dry it. Once this is done, the grain has become
a malt. 

The colour
of beer comes from the malt. However, you can’t judge a beer by its colours –
Dark-coloured beers are not always strong, bitter or heavy, and light-coloured
beers are not always light on the palate. The colour comes from the roast level
of the malt used in the recipe.

Also Read | How well do you know your beer?

Abhinav Jindal, Founder, and CEO, Kimaya Himalayan told Opoyi, “Colour plays its trick to appeal the mind and palate of the consumer. The aroma of craft beer descends from the hops, malt, and yeast strain. To get a sense for the beer’s mouthfeel and, if you’re really into flavor appreciation, exhale a bit while you taste and try to distinguish the aromas as you exhale. Hops are infused for a perfect bitterness and aroma that can enhance flowery and fruity flavors in the beer. “

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The
delightful aromas, flavours, and bitterness are produced by hops – a kind of
spice used for the beer. This bitterness helps balance out the sweetness of the
malt and creates a more complete flavour in the beer.

Under the
broad ale category, there are numerous types of beer, including pale ales,
porters, India pale ales (IPA), stouts, and wheat, and Belgian styles. Lagers
encompass a range of styles, including the pale Pilsners, and the darker
American lagers.

India has a rich history of homegrown ferments. With the recent surge in the microbreweries
and craft variants, it is noticeable that home brewing has taken the lead in
the market.

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Craft
brewers, known for their unique beers and styles, tend to be more
environmentally conscious, be involved in their communities, and maintain a general sense of independence from corporate interests.

Craft beer
tastes quite different from the mass-produced variants, if consumed at the
right temperature it’s a different experience altogether. Craft brewers
emphasized on brewing a unique and refined experience for the customers and
handcrafted drinks that almost feel ‘especially’ made.

These brews
are prepared in small batches using specially curated recipes, not formulas,
thus called craft. Brew which is unique in taste, with their distinct flavours
hitting just the right taste notes, flavours, and textures. The quality
ingredients such as grains, rice, hops are carefully selected to provide the
texture and mouthfeel to the beer.

For a craft
beer, it’s all about freshness. Nayan Shah, Founder, Drifters Brewery tells us, “There are so many small and big factors which can affect the texture of
beer such as carbonation levels of your beer, packaging procedure, package
container quality, cleanliness of glassware you are pouring in to and handling the temperature of beer from packaging until drinking.”

“A new trend
going on in India is a Craft beer trend. Microbreweries are growing very fast
and consumers also prefer to drink new beer styles like craft Lager, Ale,
Stout, Porter, IPA against regular commercial beers. Also, the consumer in
India prefers to drink beer as a social beverage more than as a party beverage.
Still, the majority prefer to drink light and easy beers like Wit beer over bitter
& hoppy beers like IPAs. But we cannot deny the fact that in India the
number of consumers is growing very fast who prefers Hoppy and bitter IPAs. The
trend is changing and people are more open to trying something new,” Shah tells
us.

Beer is
enjoyed most at the right temperature anywhere between 6-8 degrees; there is
nothing like a chilled brew provided any setting.