The myths surrounding beer are so plentiful that the Discovery Channel show MythBusters would have to dedicate a full weeks worth of programming to dispel each of them.
If youre experienced with your home beer making kit, youve purposely or incidentally debunked a few of the biggest myths in the beer world. Weve selected five of the most widespread brewing myths and conducted our own myth busting investigation:
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Myth #1: Darker equals a higher alcohol content.
This is perhaps the most common myth perpetuated amongst the beer-drinking populous. Different beer making supplies are responsible for the color and texture of a beer, and do very little to dictate the alcohol content. A dark stout will contain roughly 4% to 5.5% alcohol, whereas the lighter IPA will come fresh from your beer making kit with an alcohol content of 7% or higher.
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Myth #2: Beer should be ice cold before consumption.
Heres a common rule of thumb: If a commercial tells you to make sure your beer is ice cold before drinking it, that generally means the beer isnt very high quality (sorry, Coors). As beers warm to room temperature, the grains, malt, and other flavors used in the beer making process become more pronounced and apparent. Most brewers recommend that 55 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature to experience every flavor your beer has to offer.
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Myth #3: Beer is simpler than wine.
Just because the names can be harder to pronounce doesnt mean that wine itself is more complex than a beer. In fact, while a wines primary ingredients are grapes, beers can include flavors from coffee to raspberries to chocolate to bourbon. If you own a beer making kit, you definitely know the endless combinations at your disposal.
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Myth #4: For the best home brewed beer, use green bottles.
Brown vs. green bottles is one of the great debates among those frequent users of the home beer making kit. While any colored glass tint is a plus when it comes to preventing exposure to sunlight, brown bottles are much better for the long term health of your home-brewed beer. Green glass simply lets more light in than brown, and still isnt a terrible choice as long as you understand the differences between the two.
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Myth #5: German wheat beers contain real banana and clove flavors.
One of the greatest legal acts in history, the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516, dictates that beer can only be made from hops, malted grains, water, and of course, yeast. Anyone whos made a wheat beer in their beer making kit, or just had a wheat beer in general, knows that banana-like taste that lingers on your tongue. Those flavors are naturally brought out of the types of yeast, grains, and malt present in the beer.
If you are a regular user of a beer making kit, you have first hand evidence that these five myths are exactly as they have been described in this post. So next time you hear one of these falsehoods come up in conversation, dont hesitate to share your acquired knowledge and brewing abilities.
