When it comes to beer drinking, all you need is the right beer to count on an incredible experience. Crack opening a cold one can certainly be the highlight of any day, any place, and any occasion, as it’s the perfect icebreaker, a comfort drink that can uplift your mood, help you relax, and enjoy life anywhere you are.
However, that isn’t to say you can’t make the whole experience all the more special. By elevating your beer drinking with the right knowledge and supplies, you’d be able to make the most of the beer, feeling more of its taste, aroma, and flavour, as much as benefit from an increase in relaxation and enjoyment. Below are some ways you can achieve this.
Consider Your Drinking Vessel of Choice
I get it, there are times when you just can’t be bothered by looking for a glass and instead opt for drinking straight from the can or bottle. Be that as it may, you’re not doing yourself a favour, or the beer for that matter, as drinking from specialised drinking receptacles comes with its own perks.
Speaking of the vessel itself, while there’s a broad range of glasses designed for the different beers, from the iconic pilsner, Weizenbier, tulip-shaped, conical, and nonic pint to the goblet, tumbler, and stange, none can compare to the authentic vintage German beer mugs fit for all sorts of occasions. What makes these stand out from the rest, besides the fact they make for aesthetic standalone décor pieces, is in the design.
In addition to the gorgeous German themes and details, since they traditionally come with lids, they’re incredibly practical. This is especially noted when you’re enjoying a sip in the hot days of summer. Also known as beer steins, these mugs with lids are great if you want to protect your malt liquor from insects, flying leaves, dirt and dust, and enjoy it for longer, taking relaxing sips as you enjoy some food and chat with family and friends.
This sanitation purpose was the main property during the bubonic plague times in Europe when hygiene became of utmost importance, however, the practicality of this feature proved to be so useful that it was kept long after the period of this health issue. Lids also have their own role in preserving the temperature of the beer; simply close the vintage German beer mugs and you can keep the nice cold temperature longer.
The way they preserve the temperature is possible thanks to the choice of materials, such as thick stoneware, ceramic, and pewter. They also preserve the flavour, so no matter whether your choice of drink is German or American lager or bock, you need one of these steins to truly enjoy everything the beer has to offer.
One last reason you might like the authentic German beer steins is the symbolism, given that the design with metal lids was considered a status symbol in medieval times. This makes them the perfect gift for a beer lover or yourself, especially if you buy one of the traditional style steins.
Choose the Ideal Temperature
Remember I mentioned knowledge at the beginning of the text – this is where you’d need it. While you may know and like your beer cold, you may not be aware different beers have different ideal serving temperatures. Some beers may also be enjoyed warm, so it’s all about having the knowledge of which is which.
For example, beers you want to enjoy for the carbonation and finish, like the pale lagers and pilsners as the medium to medium-full bodied beers they are, ideally should be served at 3°C, whereas pale ales that you enjoy for the malty flavour are best served in warmer temperatures, like 8°C. The slightly more alcoholic New England IPAs can even be enjoyed as high as 10°C if you want to experience more of the hops. Old and dark ales and stouts go even warmer at 12-15°C.
Choose the Perfect Food Pairings
Quite like wine, beer is to be enjoyed with food. But with so many options of both beers and foods, it would be of help if you did a little research and reading to see what some of the ideal matches are.
For pale ale fans who are into medium bitterness and a marking hop aroma, the good old combo of fish and chips is the perfect pairing. Grilled steaks, BBQ, burgers, and even blue cheese are other options you can’t miss out on next time you’re raising a stein. If you’re big on hefeweizen for its notable yeast flavour, you can easily enjoy it with smoked meat, as much as seafood, salads, and even desserts like apple strudel.
Those who prefer their IPAs for the bitterness could try out matching them with pizza, BBQ burgers, sausages, steak, as much as Mexican foods. Anyone into stouts for the roasted flavour should have a sip while eating mac ‘n cheese, lobsters, BBQ, and chocolate desserts.
Speaking of chocolate, porters are perfect when enjoyed with BBQ as well as bacon, sausages, and salmon. These are just a few ideas for your menu, so be sure to explore more options to amaze your family and friends at your next gathering!