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NDTV
11 hours ago
- Health
- NDTV
7 Fascinating Beer Facts Every Food Lover Should Know
Beer has come a long way from its ancient roots in Mesopotamia to becoming one of the most widely consumed beverages across the globe. Despite its ubiquity, beer often gets the short end of the stick when it comes to culinary appreciation. Yet, this humble brew is bursting with complexity, tradition, and potential for incredible food pairings. For food enthusiasts, chefs, and casual drinkers alike, here are seven nuanced facts about beer that reveal why it deserves a place at the centre of your next dining experience. Also Read: Know Your Beer: A Comprehensive Guide To Beer Styles Why Food Pairing Works Best With Beer 1. Beer Is Chemically More Complex Than Wine - and That Matters for Pairing According to the American Society of Brewing Chemists, beer can contain over 800 unique flavour and aroma compounds that include fruity esters and spicy phenols, toasty malts and bitter hops. Each ingredient contributes differently: hops add floral or citrus notes, yeast produces fruity or clove-like aromas, and malts can bring anything from caramel to coffee tones. This diversity allows for incredibly precise food pairings, where the beer doesn't just accompany the dish, it amplifies it. 2. Beer Is Among the Richest Dietary Sources of Silicon, Essential for Bone Health Beer is a particularly rich source of orthosilicic acid (OSA), the readily bioavailable form of silicon, an element vital for bone formation and connective tissue health. Studies have shown that the silicon content in beer correlates positively with bone mineral density in men and postmenopausal women, suggesting that beer's silicon mediates this beneficial association. The pale malts used in many beer styles, especially hoppy ales, tend to retain higher levels of silicon due to reduced heat stress during kilning and mashing. While beer shouldn't replace a balanced diet, its unique contribution of bioavailable silicon makes it a surprising ally in maintaining healthy bones- just another reason to appreciate the science behind your brew. Click here to know some more surprising health benefits of beer. 3. Hops Are Nature's Preservatives - and the Original Reason for the IPA Boom In the 18th century, British brewers added extra hops to beer intended for long journeys to India. This led to the creation of India Pale Ales (IPAs), designed to survive the journey from England to India. Hops are naturally antimicrobial, which means they help prevent spoilage by inhibiting bacterial growth. This preservative power made hops critical to the survival of beer in the pre-refrigeration. 4. Wheat Beers Are Your Best Friend During Indian Summers Wheat beers, especially Belgian Witbiers and German Hefeweizens, are brewed with a high proportion of wheat, giving them a light, creamy body and a natural haze. What makes them perfect for hot climates is their low bitterness, refreshing citrus zing, and subtle spice notes (like coriander and clove). They also pair beautifully with spicy or tangy Indian dishes like fish curry, lemon rice, or even pani puri. Unlike heavier ales or strong lagers, wheat beers hydrate and refresh while enhancing, not overpowering, local flavours. Also Read: 5 Surprising Ways To Use Leftover Beer Beer pairs well with a fresh, delicious pizza. Photo Credit: iStock 5. The Shape of Your Beer Glass Can Transform the Experience Just like wine, beer benefits immensely from proper glassware. The shape of a glass affects head retention, aroma concentration, and even how the beer enters your mouth. A tulip glass, for instance, is ideal for aromatic ales like saisons or Belgian tripels, while a snifter enhances the bold character of imperial stouts. Tall pilsner glasses showcase clarity and carbonation, while a classic mug is great for lagers but not for nuanced sippers. Using the right glass elevates your tasting experience and brings out the full potential of the brew - something every food lover should appreciate. 6. Beer Is Arguably the Oldest Fermented Beverage on Earth Dating back over 5,000 years, beer is one of the earliest recorded recipes in human history. The oldest known reference is a Sumerian hymn to Ninkasi, the goddess of beer, inscribed in cuneiform on an 1800 BCE clay tablet. This recipe called for fermented barley bread soaked in water, rudimentary, yes, but foundational to modern brewing. Beer has since been embedded in nearly every culture, from German monks perfecting lagers to Japanese brewers incorporating rice. This ancient drink has always evolved alongside food and civilisation itself. 7. Foam Isn't Just Aesthetic - It Amplifies Flavour That frothy top isn't just for looks. Beer foam, also known as "head," plays a crucial role in the drinking experience. The bubbles help release aromatic compounds, which are essential to how we perceive flavour. A good foam also acts as a barrier, slowing the beer's exposure to oxygen and keeping it fresher, longer. Whether it's your first pint or your hundredth pairing experiment, beer offers much more than meets the eye (or tastebuds). It's a story of craft, culture, and culinary potential - and it's time food lovers gave it the stage it deserves. So next time you crack open a cold one, take a moment to appreciate the centuries of science and flavour in your glass. And here's a fun fact to toast with: Cenosillicaphobia, the fear of an empty beer glass, is real! While it might sound like a joke, it's a legitimate term for that unsettling moment when you find your pint drained, just waiting for a refill. After all, we all know there's nothing quite as satisfying as the first pour of a fresh brew - so let's raise a glass to never let that glass go empty! Also Read: 6 Foods That Are Best Served With Beer About the author: Ms. Shatbhi Basu is the Independent Director with Mount Everest Breweries Ltd. She is credited as India's first female mixologist. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. Advertisement For the latest food news, health tips and recipes, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and YouTube. Tags: Beer Alcohol Food Pairing Show full article Comments
Forbes
29-04-2025
- Forbes
The Ultimate Beer Road Trip: America's Top IPAs
Freshly poured beer. The Washington Post via Getty Images As summer approaches, the quest for the perfect beer to sip while basking in the sun begins. India Pale Ales (IPAs) have become the go-to choice for many, thanks to their refreshing characteristics, diverse flavor profiles, and the delightful hoppy aromas that make them incredibly enjoyable on warm days. With their bright, bold flavors often accentuated by fruity and floral notes, IPAs offer a delightful escape from the heat, making them ideal companions for backyard barbecues, beach outings, and casual gatherings. What makes IPAs even more appealing is their distinctiveness as an American original. Born from the craft beer revolution that began in the late 20th century, IPAs have evolved significantly over the years, spawning a variety of styles—from the hazy New England IPAs to the traditional West Coast variations. This evolution speaks to not only the ingenuity of American brewers but also their dedication to experimentation and innovation in brewing. As a result, IPAs proudly represent the spirit of American craft beer, reflecting its boundary-pushing nature and distinctly regional flavor. As the days get longer and the temperatures rise, many are planning are deep into planning their summer vacations. Here is an idea. Why not plan a trip around discovering some of the finest IPAs that America has to offer? It will offer you a chance to journey to some of the most exciting breweries out there and sample some amazing brews. To simplify things for you, here are four award-winning beers from 2024, plus a personal favorite. Grab yourself a cold one and start planning out your next adventure. Fremont Brewing Company, founded in 2009 and based in Seattle, Washington, is known for its commitment to quality and sustainable brewing practices. They must be doing a great job since their Head Full of Dynomite Hazy IPA holds one of the highest scores ever awarded by the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) with a 98 out of 100 points. While not a household name the BTI has been rating all styles of beverages for almost three decades and their beer list is one to dive into if you are looking for some amazing sips. Head Full of Dynomite is a tribute to the vibrant, juicy flavors that hazy IPAs are celebrated for. This brew features a luscious blend of tropical fruit aromas and a smooth mouthfeel, delivering a refreshing experience that captures the essence of the Pacific Northwest. Its balanced bitterness and juicy finish have made it a staple for IPA enthusiasts. While you might find their beers outside the Evergreen State, the best way to enjoy a Head Full of Dynomite is at their two Urban Beer Gardens during a sunny summer day in a city that stays wet most of the year. Once overshadowed by its bigger brewing neighbors to the north and south, San Francisco and San Diego, the city of angels, Los Angeles has arrived on the American craft brewing landscape in a big way. There are over 100 breweries of all sizes pouring golden goodness in the City of Angels, making any visit there worthwhile for a beer lover. One of the more interesting ones is Highland Park Brewery in Chinatown, next door to the LA Dodgers stadium. Founded by Montana transplant Bob Kuntz, the brewery has gone from being one of the city's best-kept beer secrets to one that is winning major awards. Their latest was for their big bold anniversary beer, High 6, which took home the gold medal in the American-Style IPA category at the 2024 World Beer Cup. While you can't get that brew anymore, you can get a pint full of their High 11 West Coast IPA, made with six different IPA varieties that will knock your socks off at their intimate tasting room. 03 September 2020, Bavaria, Wolnzach: Harvesters harvesting hops in a hop field. (aerial view with a drone). Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa (Photo by Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images) dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images Since it opened in 2011 in a small red barn in Brimfield, Massachusetts, Tree House Brewing Company has been focused on doing one thing-brewing ridiculously good beers for its local community. That passion has resulted in a plethora of awards and a fanatically dedicated fan base that continually calls out their beers on all online forums. Their Julius IPA was named one of the top IPAs in America in the recent Untapped Community Awards, one of the many brews from Tree House to be called out by the top online beer rating site in the world. Here is the kicker: Since they self-distribute, the only way you can enjoy their beer is to go to one of their six tasting rooms spread throughout the Bay State. One of the beautiful things about craft beer is that it is the ultimate underdog American success story. Talk to any successful brewer, and they will tell you that an overwhelming passion drove them to dive into the industry. That drive to create something special saw them through all sorts of challenges and is what led to many sleepless nights. That's precisely the story behind Ambitious Ales. Located inside a renovated 71 year old building in Long Beach, California, it is the passion project of its founder Garrett Carroll that took nine years to come to fruition. It opened in 2019 and, to this day, is a small operation that focuses on brewing great beer for its local community; you can only get its beer onsite. I am betting that it's a bit more crowded these days. That's because its Professional Human Being, made with three hops varieties, took home the Gold Medal in the Juicy and Hazy IPA category at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival. Ambitious Ales scored a victory for the little guy everywhere by winning the biggest category at the event. As a long-time craft beer lover who has covered the industry for decades and routinely searches out new and exciting brews when traveling, I figured I deserve the right to add a brew to this list. I was skeptical when I had my first sip of Heady Topper over a decade ago; it was the holy grail of beer that one had heard about but rarely experienced. When I inhaled its sweet floral scents, I knew my trip to its home, The Alchemist Brewery in Stowe, Vermont, was worth the effort. As one of the pioneers of the New England IPA movement, Alchemist helped redefine the IPA category when it opened its doors in 2010. Their fresh, unfiltered IPAs were more floral and less piney than the West Coast IPAs dominating the market at the time and offered layered flavors. These days, there are still lines of people outside the brewery waiting for each Heady Topper release. It still draws people from around the globe in search of a beer that, to this day, is called one of the most coveted beers in America. Follow here for the most up to date information about the ever changing beer, wine, and spirits industry.
