You probably know a thing or two about drinking beer. For instance, you know that you should abide by house rules when playing Beer Pong. Or that when an English guy threatens to “glass you” in a pub, that means he’s a violent psychopath, and you should run like hell. But just because you drink a lot of beer doesn’t mean that you know a lot about beer itself. To help change that, we spoke with Dave Forrest, head brewer and owner of CraftHaus Brewery in Las Vegas, and author of Tasting Beer: An Insider’s Guide to the World’s Greatest Drink. Here’s what he taught us:
1. The Great American Lager Is Only Mostly American
Turns out it’s no coincidence that Budweiser, the self-proclaimed King of Beers, is a royalist. Anheuser-Busch is actually owned by a foreign multinational company that’s headquartered in Belgium, which is practically France.
2. There’s A Right Way To Pour Beer
Before you get to the pour, you should choose the right beer glass to help accentuate the flavors and aroma of your beer. For example, a Belgian ale — aw, not the Belgians again! — is best served in a tulip-style glass. Darker, barrel-aged beers work best in goblet-style glasses. Of course, we’re limited by what’s available, so the only hard-and-fast rule is to make sure whatever glass you use is free from dishwasher detergent film. Nothing kills a fine head of beer faster than that stuff.
Three steps for the perfect pour:
1. Hold your glass at a 45-degree angle.
2. Let the beer hit the side of the glass.
3. When the glass is 2/3 full, tip the glass upright and finish the pour.
3. Beer Is Actually Food
Beer is derived from grains and is sometimes referred to as “Liquid bread.” In fact, centuries ago monks even used brewed beers to get through fasts during Lent. Bock, a rich and malty beer originally brewed in the German town of Einbeck, is thought to be the original “liquid bread.”
4. Don’t Frost Your Beer Glasses
Unless you’re drinking a simple Pilsner or some of the lesser lagers (like Natty Light), that frosty mug will just kill the flavors and fragrance of your brew.
