Latest news with #lager
Forbes
02-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Why You're Suddenly Seeing Beers That Are All Foam
A Mlíko pour is almost all foam, but that is what makes it delicious, according to enthusiasts. John Robson Emblazoned on the home page of Cohesion Beer's website are the words 'Foam is beautiful.' The Denver, Colorado brewery is focused on brewing Czech-style lagers, using traditional ingredients—their malt is custom-made for them by a local maltster to meet their unique needs—and methods, including fermenting in open vats and conditioning tanks that are horizontal, rather than vertical. Cohesion is just one of a new wave of craft breweries embracing lager styles. The craft beer industry was largely built on ales, most notably hoppy IPAs showcasing a seemingly unending variety of hops. But new craft breweries, and some of the older ones, are now responding to a renewed thirst for lager. In addition to making beers in various Czech styles—from Světlý Ležák (Pale Lager) to Speciální Tmavé Pivo (Special Dark Beer)—Cohesion serves all beers in three traditional Czech formats: 'From a sensory standpoint, the foam captures aromatics and keeps them available for the drinker,' said Eric Larkin, brewer and co-owner at Cohesion during a telephone interview. 'It helps the drinker use all of their olfactory senses and helps everything come together. And it looks beautiful.' Foam on top of any beer is a protective barrier, keeping the beer from oxygen, which harms the flavor of beer in subtle ways. But Czech beer foam is special. Unlike usual beer foam, which forms atop a beer as carbonation settles, foam created in the Czech fashion is wet—if allowed to settle, that foam will settle into much more liquid beer than regular beer foam does. Usual beer foam is a byproduct of pouring the beer, while in the Czech tradition, foam is the point. Because the foam is wet, it has flavor. In a Šnyt or Mlíko, drinking the foam is the point. 'Obviously, the foam comes from the beer,' said Larkin. 'But it is made up differently at a molecular level. It has more protein separated out of the beer which gives it texture like a milkshake, or milk, I guess, which is where the name comes from.' The side pull beer tap is designed to let the bartender change the flavor and texture of beer. Courtesy of LUKR CZ a.s. The taps used to create the foam are different. Commonly referred to as a 'side pull' tap, the lever swings side to side, rather than tipping forward as with the more ubiquitous draft tap. While there are now 'side pull' taps that swing up and down, rather than side to side, the mechanism inside is what allows the bartender to control the amount of foam. And in a Czech-style pour, the bartender always makes the foam first, throttling the tap differently to allow liquid beer to flow only when the perfect foam has already been created, and that beer is only allowed to flow under the foam, so it is never exposed to ambient air and does not disturb the foam. 'There are three, most important parts which make the magic,' said Jan Havránek, international sales manager of LUKR, which makes side pull taps, in a video interview. 'Inside, there is a compensator, which regulates the speed of flow of beer through the tap. The tap handle moves a ball valve inside. This is where the foam is created. A smaller opening results in more foam. And the third thing is a special screen in the nozzle of the tap.' Havránek says LUKR currently sells about 2,000 taps per year. Ten years ago, they sold about 25. Use of the special taps and knowledge of the Czech-pouring tradition, which includes ensuring the glassware is kept wet and at the same temperature as the beer that will eventually fill it, requires specific training. There are even certifications available in Czech pouring. 'It can make your beer taste and feel better in the hands of a trained tapster,' said Havránek. 'On a violin, you need to hear and feel the tone. It's not about set positions. In the hands of a skilled bartender, the tap creates wet and dense foam that is full of beer. It creates amazing mouthfeel; it is not just good taste.' 'We treat the foam and the different pouring styles the same way a barista creates different coffee drinks which all contain the same liquids, but in different proportions and formats to create drinks that taste different,' said Larkin.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Corona beer dupe being sold for just £1 a bottle by major bargain supermarket – just in time for Father's Day
ALDI is selling a brilliant budget beer that's perfect for a Father's Day gift. The budget brew is a bargain at just £1 a bottle and is readily available across Aldi stores. 3 Imitating a summer and holiday favourite Aldi has dubbed their budget beer 'Carista.' The brew sells in four packs for a brilliantly low £3.99 making each bottle just a £1. Budget retailer Aldi describes the beer as a "Mexican style lager" with the beverage obviously taking after summertime favourite Corona. Bottles of the beer boast an impressive 4.5% alcohol volume and carry 330ml of the lager. The packaging describes the beer as a "premium imported lager." It goes on to guarantee goodness with large lettering reading "quality guaranteed." The booze does come with an allergy warning however as it contains gluten. Already on Aldi shelves the four packs can be purchased at any store that has it in stock across the UK. Aldi has also warned that prices may vary with minimum unit pricing applying in Scotland and Wales. Perfect for a budget Father's Day gift the beer is just one of Aldi's many dupes. Carista is based on Corona, a Mexican style lager usually drunk with a slice of lime. It's perfect for hot summer days and a fan favourite holiday tipple. The budget Aldi beer four packs net a total volume of 1.32 litres. With the low price tag this translates to an impressive £3.02 per one litre. More Aldi middle aisle buys IF it's middle aisle buys that you're looking here, some of the new items you won't want to miss. Shoppers recently went wild for Aldi's new 'pregnancy and menopause essential' - and it's only £6.99. Garden enthusiasts raced to nab a £6.99 buy that will add style to any garden in an instant. A £12.99 garden find left shoppers open-mouthed - but you'll need to sprint to nab it. If you're looking to light up your garden this summer, you won't want to miss this £8.99 solar light. The 330ml bottles equate to roughly half a pint making Carista possibly the cheapest pint in Britain. A full pint of the beer, two bottles worth, would cost customers around £2. Sadly the cheap beer can only be bought in stores and is yet to make its way into any pubs. Carista would make the perfect budget Father's Day gift for a dad that likes a drink. Anyone under 18 who hopes to buy the booze for their dad is out of luck though with Aldi warning that they will not sell to anyone under the legal age. By comparison Iceland is selling a four pack of Corona for £6.50 which works out at around £1.60 per bottle. 3
