There he stood, rubber mallet in one hand, a small bunghole plug in the other... yes, this might be considered home brewing beer.
Yes, it was a called a bunghole plug, but it didn't quite serve the purpose one might think. It was about to seal off a keg of freshly brewed beer at Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee, Wis., one of several microbreweries in Wisconsin offering tours of its facilities and a refreshing look at how their beer becomes, well, beer.
Microbrewing isn't a new concept, but its definitely a trend that has picked up speed over recent years and more people have become interested in home brewing and understanding the different styles of beer. Visiting a brewery will give you insight into the process in case you're interested in mashing up your own batch.
When it comes to bare bones of brewing, there are two basic kinds of beer that any beer connoisseur or brewer will want to understand. Beyond that, it branches off into too many styles to count on your fingers and toes, and brewers are probably inventing new ones on a daily basis.
The oldest kind of beer is considered an Ale, and includes styles such as India Pale Ale (IPA), Pale Ale, Stouts, Porters, Wheat beers and Barley Wines.
The other kind of beer you can get your hands on falls under the category of a Lager, and includes styles such as Bock, Dunkel, Oktoberfest and Pilsners.
During a visit to a microbrewery, tour guides often go into details about these two kinds, specifically explaining the styles of beer they produce and passing around the grains and hops to let you take a whiff. You'll also get a sneak peak into the bottling process, which varies based on the size of the brewery. For anyone interested in brewing beer, these tours are a good place to start - the next stop on your list could very well include a home brewing store, such as the Homebrew Market in Appleton, Wis. A simple internet search for home brewing and the name of your city will surely bring up the places nearest you.
No comments:
Post a Comment