This is the Coldest European Beer

In Europe, there is a beer competition that is open to all types of beer that have their origins in Europe. Awards are given to breweries that best fulfill the criteria on taste and quality and considered as the most impressive. In 2012, more than 1,300 types of beer were tasted which was 23% over the last year. Tasting is carried out by independent beer experts all over the world and the rating is based on consumer taste and quality. However, is there is a competition on the coldest beer in Europe? 

How to achieve of the title of Europe’s coldest beer?

In order to ensure that beer is served as cold as physically possible it is important to store beer inside a refrigerator with digitized indicators that will inform you if the temperature is -4^oC. If you plan to drink beer in a picnic or while camping, make sure you bring along a cooler with lots of ice. Canned beers easily gets cold compared to beer in bottles and they can be more convenient and easier to carry; but survey results reveal that 77% prefer beer in bottles to cans although 62% will buy beer in cans when they go camping. However, don’t get the impression that all people prefer to drink their beer cold. There will always be individuals who prefer to beer at room temperature. 

What is the right temperature when serving beer?

One of the finer points in enjoying beer is to ensure that is served at the right temperature. The specific temperature brings out the flavor of beer; if it is too cold, it may mute the flavor which affects the drinking experience. Quality beers should be served no colder than 44 degrees Fahrenheit. Quality ales should be served between 44 and 52 degrees Fahrenheit. Stout beer which is dark beer made from roasted malt or barley should be served at 55 degrees Fahrenheit which is a British cellar temperature. Premium lagers should be served between 42 and 48 degrees Fahrenheit. 

In the United States, beers when served are often too cold to be seriously appreciated. When a beer is too cold it ruins the good flavor. Since the average temperature of a refrigerator for food storage is 38 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, beer that has been stored in this temperature tends to have several negatives. The palate becomes too numb to enjoy the beer’s flavor. The colder the beer, the less carbonization is released meaning it reduces the aroma that is given off. After all, why bother drinking beer if you cannot taste it flavor or smell its aroma? 

Beers that have more alcohol are better drunk at a warmer temperature to enjoy the complexity of flavor and aroma. Strong beer is sipped slowly while weaker beers are simply consumed as refreshment and can be served cold so that you will hardly taste the difference. The weather conditions will also dictate the temperature of your beer since you certainly will not appreciate an ice cold beer on the coldest day of winter.   

Heineken VS. Carlsberg: The Taste Test

Heineken Lager Beer or simply Heineken is produced by a Netherlands brewing company Heineken International. This popular beer is made from purified water, malted barley, hops and yeast and the brewing process in its early years is still being used today. On the other hand, Carlsberg beer is a flagship brand in Copenhagen, Denmark and a leading best seller worldwide. Carlsberg has two breweries in China that supplies both China and Hongkong markets. Heineken and Carlsberg beer are both benefiting from their competition in cost and taste differentiation. Both companies have the potential to use their knowledge and expertise to their advantage so as to create more awareness among beer consumers.  

Results of a blind taste analysis on Heineken vs. Carlsberg

Can consumers tell the difference between Heineken and Carlsberg? Heineken is the closest competitor of Carlsberg but can consumers identify them through taste? A blind taste test was set up in Raffles, Singapore with 30 individuals between the ages of 18 and 35. Based on interviews, 67% had the impression that Heineken was lighter in taste and less bitter than Carlsberg beer. However, during the blind taste test, 70% identified Heineken as heavier which negates the previous perception of the beer being lighter. 

From the 30 participants, 67% failed to tell the difference in taste between Heineken and Carlsberg beers. This is due perhaps to the similarity in taste of both beers and due to infrequent beer drinking habits and they do not actually remember the actual taste of the beer they were drinking. Those who were able to tell difference between Heineken and Carlsberg beers, 33% thought that there was only a very slight difference in taste. 57% though preferred Heineken beer over Carlsberg beer particularly among the young adults whose ages were below 30. The results of the blind taste test shows that people buy beer based on their perception and not due to the brand.

There are cultural differences in beer preference.

Making a choice between Heineken and Carlsberg beers

Heineken has ensured that quality will prevail in all aspects of the brand. They have continued to explore new ways to ensure a good beer drinking experience through the fresh and fruity aroma with a mild bitter taste that enhances the beer’s drinkability. Heineken endeavors to fit the pulse of modern beer drinkers through their innovative brand. Heineken is presently available in the new embossed green bottle, in cans, on draught or in the innovative Draught Keg.

Carlsberg is the quintessential pilsner beer with its golden color and delicate smell of hops and malt. The beer is medium bodied and dry with the characteristic hop bitterness. Carlsberg as claimed is the beer that you will enjoy with family and friends on any event even if it is simply some bonding moments in the patio. Carlsberg claims it is probably best beer in the world but the consumer always has the last say. The choice of beer brands is usually based on taste and price. Packaging hardly matters since the objective in buying beer is to enjoy it.  

Does Beer really cause a Beer Belly?

Beer has an image of a high-calorie and high-fat drink that can result into a beer belly. However, is it really beer that should be blamed for the pot belly or is it oversized proportions of food? Beer drinking is also regarded as a vice and not a component of a healthy diet but beer that is drunk in moderation can provide health benefits. If you consume packs of beer in one sitting, you will certainly gain weight which will be very obvious in your belly. In many instances, it is not the calories that beer contains that transform a trim waistline into a protruding belly but calories from food that is taken with beer. 

What do some people have big bellies?

Big bellies are the result of too much calories and the calories do not always come from drinking beer although it always gets the blame. A typical bottle of beer contains 150 calories which you can easily burn off but if you are eating pizza or chicken wings with your beer, you are taking in more calories that you can burn. If you want to have a trim body, make sure to exercise to burn off all the extra calories from beer and food you have taken at a party. Men tend to store more fat in their bellies because they have less subcutaneous fat. On women the extra calories are stored on their hips, thighs, arms and buttocks as well as on their bellies even if they do not drink beer. Age also has an effect on the accumulation of fat on the belly so that beer bellies are more prominent among seniors because they are less active and their metabolism has changed. Hormone levels also decline with age meaning older people tend to store more fat in their bellies. Extra fat on the thighs or hips is not risky but not if you have waistline of 35 inches for women and 40 for men. This is an indication that you have increased risk to have heart disease. 

How to eliminate the beer belly

Even if you abstain from drinking beer, your beer belly will not disappear like magic. The only way with which to lose beer belly is to lose weight through exercise. Diet alone is not enough; you need to do some sit ups, running, swimming, cycling or tennis to help reduce the fat on your belly as well as other parts of the body. The good news is when you start losing weight through proper diet and exercise, it starts on the midsection. If you want to enjoy a bottle of beer, leave out the calories from food that drowns in sauces. Choose seafood instead or a moderate amount of nuts. Sugar is also one of the culprits and it is hidden in most processed foods. Cut down on your sugar intake. If you want something sweet for your taste buds, try fruits instead. Once you lose your beer belly, you will be more confident wearing your swimsuit and you do not have to go one size up when you buy pants.

Do you prefer Beer or Wine? What does that say about your Character?

Do you know that your choice of drink reveals your character? Beer is the drink for people who are not afraid of talking to strangers. You order a bottle a beer from a British pub and soon enough you are making friends. Gender plays a key role in the choice between beer and wine since men prefer to order beer while women will go for wine. Beer has always been a traditional choice for men but America which is a beer-drinking nation has finally acquired a taste for wine. Americans now have an equal affection for beer and wine. 

Do men drink beer for health reasons?

Men love alcohol and on the average American drink about 23 gallons of beer, 15 pints of wine and 10 pints of spirit every year. Over 200 million barrels are produced annually which is worth $116 billion. Men are not afraid to consume beer considering the health benefits provided to the body. In moderate amounts, beer is good for the heart. A study undertaken by Emory University revealed that both men and women who consumed 1.5 drinks daily had 50% lesser chance of suffering from heart failure. However, drinking large amounts of beer can be unhealthy since it can impair judgment. 

What does the choice of beer say about a person’s personality? 

·     The all-American Budweiser – men who choose this brand of beer are sensible, grounded and practical. They live for the moment and do not plan their lives in advance. They are not afraid of authority and certainly do not fear to “live outside of the box”.  However, that goes for Americans drinking Budweiser. The beer has a more up-scale image abroad and packs quite some punch with online alcohol delivery providers in Singapore.

·         Blue Moon – it is said that men who drink Blue Moon have an attitude of being better than others. They do not like moral authorities and take pleasure in being sarcastic. You can easily notice them driving a hybrid car or buying organic food.

·         Heineken – men who drink Heineken are a good catch with their taste for luxury clothes and flashy cars. They are the men that women dream about since they are obviously smart, successful and of course, good looking.

·         Bud lights – drinkers of Bud light tend to be outgoing and easy to get along with. You are probably familiar with their personality since they are usually great in social settings.

·         Special Beers – People who enjoy Belgian specialty beers are seen as culturally astute and interested in the world around them.

The shift from beer to wine

Wine is becoming America’s choice of drink except for older people who are diehard beer drinkers. Women and the young have shifted their affection to wine and it is a surprising worldwide trend. Is it because wine has suddenly become affordable and imported beer has become more expensive? There has been a serious decline in the cheaper light beers that have been relatively popular 10 years ago. Are Americans becoming more health conscious that is why wine has gained a sudden popularity? The shift to wine has become more pronounced due to health reasons. Red wines from France and Sardinia contain high levels of procyanidins that reduces the risks of diabetes, cataracts and colon cancer. Resveratrol in red wine helps prevent damage to blood vessels and reduces bad cholesterol.

Beer Drinking Habits across Cultures

People will continue to drink beer even if there is an economic crisis. It would take more than just a recession to stop people from imbibing their favorite drink. Beer is a part of German culture with approximately 1,300 breweries producing over 5,000 brands of beer. It was also in Germany where the beer boots originated from when a general promised his troops that if they win the battle, he will drink beer from his boots. When his troops won, he had a beer boot fashioned from glass so as to fulfill his promise without the taste of his own feet. During gatherings beer boots passed hands for a festive drinking challenge.  

Beer drinking in the United States

Based on Gallup’s Annual Consumption Habits poll in July 2014, it was found out that the drinking preferences of young American adults have shifted from beer to liquor and wine. Polls in the early 90’s revealed that 71% of adults under 30 prefer beer but now only 41% drink beer on the same age group. However, there were no changes to the beer drinking habits on the older age groups. Over the past two decades, younger adults have moved exclusively to liquor but the brewing industry remains to generate billions of dollars for the economy and benefits tens of thousands of individuals. 

Drinking beer in a British pub

Great Britain is widely known for its pubs where in 2006, every Briton over 15 has drunk an average of 240 pints even if some have noticeably consumed more beer than others. Based on statistics, there are 82,000 British pubs meaning that almost every town or village had one. In recent years, beer drinking has declined due to the increasing costs but still the British pubs continued to serve beer and other alcoholic beverages. In fact, Britain produces the widest range of beers all over the world with the draught beer on taps or drawn from kegs and the Guinness whose popularity never waned. Aside from its draught beers, Britain has its share of canned and bottled beers including pale and light ales. 

The Czech Republic and its beer drinking habits

The Czech Republic tops the list of countries with the highest beer consumption per capita. Pale lagers of the pilsner type are the most common among the Czech beers. Czechs love their beer and almost every town has its own locally produced beers. At the brewery museum in the town of Pizen, the culture of drinking beer is evident from the past to the present. In the town of Budweis, any beer that is produced is called Budweiser which has become the trademark of America’s largest selling beer. 

How Asia surpassed America and Europe in beer drinking

Asia is now considered as the biggest beer-drinking continent and has obviously surpassed America and Europe. Although this part of the world is not widely known for producing beer, increasing amounts of beer are being consumed. Part of the reason for the increase of beer drinkers in Asia is its new found prosperity meaning that drinking beer has become correlated to economic growth.