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How to Taste (and Drink) Beer
Read more: How to Taste (and Drink) BeerTasting beer is about much more than a simple “open up and swallow.” In order to fully understand and enjoy the beer you’re tasting (and drinking), there are a number of simple strategies to employ, as well as some general tips and tricks for getting the most out of your brew.
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Big Beer Brands: What To Know
Read more: Big Beer Brands: What To KnowThe beer industry is dominated by several major multinational companies that own a significant number of beer brands. Here are some of the big brands that own a substantial portfolio of beer brands: This is not an exhaustive list, and by the time this is published/read by you may have changed! I say drink what…
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Hoppy or Bitter: What To Know
From acidic and tart to floral and fruity to citrusy and sour – the world of craft beer has a wide variety of adjectives to describe the vast spectrum of flavours it has to offer. You’ll also come across the word ‘hoppy’ – a term that’s often used to highlight a beer’s bitter notes. Turns…
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Stout: What To Know
Not all stouts—a style marked by the use of roasted malts and barley—are created equal, with alcohol levels, recipes, flavorings and textures running the gamut. From the traditional stouts that emerged after porter rose to popularity in England in the 1800s to today’s kaleidoscope of craft variations, the characteristics found within the category are myriad. To help demystify…
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Syrah: What to Know
What is meaty and fruit-driven and pairs perfectly with robust winter fare and grilled summer favourites alike? The answer: syrah. Beloved for its signature dark fruit flavours, high acid and prominent tannins, this hardy grape variety is responsible for producing some of the most delicious wines on earth. Whether vinified varietally or tossed into a…
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Pot Versus Column Stills: What To Know
Start a conversation about many of the world’s beloved spirits and the subject will quickly turn to ingredients and ageing. Distillation, on the other hand, is often overlooked, even though it is one of the most impactful aspects of spirits production. The varieties to know are pot and column distillation, named after the stills in which they…
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Verdejo: What to Know
Fans of refreshing white wines generally consider sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio to be the obvious choices. However, in the realm of thirst-quenching whites, there are a plethora of interesting varieties to discover. Enter verdejo, central Spain’s claim to zesty white-wine fame. This is what to know about the grape, plus five delicious bottles to try.
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Distillation: What To Know
A modern distillery kind of looks like it belongs somewhere in the Chocolate Factory (maybe adjacent to the “Fizzy Lifting Drink” room?): depending on what’s being distilled, there might be tall gleaming columns connected by a network of tubes or massive, rounded pots that look like giant copper Hershey Kisses. Believe it or not, these…