[TR] [6pack] A living testament :)

[Glenn A. Merrell]

Foster, Stan wrote:
>> Chilling to "ice cold"  retards the release of aromas, and hides the taste.
>> Now why would you do that?
>>     
>
> Ed, you would do that if your beer was made with fermented cereals like rice
> and cornflakes and where the list of preservatives is longer than the list of
> the required ingredients for beer (water, malted barley or malted wheat, hops
> and yeast). eg most of the popular American beers from Miller, Bud, Coors etc)
> have to be chilled to make them palatable.
>
> <much longer rant deleted>
>
> Luckily today there is excellent beer available in the US from many
> microbreweries but Americans have been pre-programmed to chill the heck out of
> beer and by comparison English beer seems warm although I have observed that
> over the years there is a lot more chilled lager consumed in the UK than I
> remember from my misspent youth.
>
> As you rightly point out, English beer, particularly the bitters, pale ales
> and IPA's are typically consumed at around 55 degrees F with the stronger
> beers like barley wines usually at room temp.
>
> Yum.
>
> Stan (Former Englishman and part time beer snob)
>   
"I brew, therefore ... I am"

"Worts this all about??"  Are you guys ever off base on this.  Chilling 
beer is for one primary reason - preservation.  When beer gets warm it 
increases oxidation which affects flavor and may allow it to spoil 
quickly, specially when exposed to oxygen.  Most chilled beers have an 
shelf life of 90 days which is what the producer believes is the best 
time to consume and retain the full (and very marginal range) flavors.  
Such beers are typically known as Bohemian  (or Plzner) beers fermented 
with lagering yeasts so they can ferment cold, extending the quality and 
life of flavors in the ingredients.  These beers are seldom "aged" more 
than a few months before being consumed.
Lager beers use lagering yeast (bottom zymosis) which prefer to do their 
work in cooler areas over a longer period of time and will in fact stay 
alive to almost freezing, while ale yeasts (top zymosis) prefer a bit 
warmer temperature to work properly and will die off in very cold or hot 
temperatures, producing very bad flavors in the beer.

-- 
Glenn A. Merrell
Hobby Zymergist & Brewer of quality Ales
Chairman, Triumph Stag Club USA (2007-2009)
The best trophies are miles on the odometer, stone chips in the paint, dead bugs on the windshield!