Beer

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Your Guide to Buying Beer in New Zealand: Types, Flavours, and Popular Brands

Beer is one of the world’s oldest and most beloved beverages, enjoyed by millions for its refreshing taste and social appeal. Whether you’re looking for a crisp lager, a rich stout, or a fruity ale, the world of beer offers endless variety. With countless brands, styles, and brewing methods, it can be overwhelming to choose the perfect beer for your taste or occasion. In this guide, we’ll explore the different types of beer, how they’re made, and some of the top brands you should know to help you make an informed choice.

What is Beer?

At its simplest, beer is an alcoholic beverage made from four basic ingredients: water, malted barley, hops, and yeast. The brewing process involves fermenting sugars from malted barley (or other grains), with yeast converting those sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Hops are added to balance the sweetness of the malt, providing bitterness, aroma, and flavour.

There are two main categories of beer: lagers and ales, distinguished by the type of yeast used and the fermentation process. Lagers are fermented at cooler temperatures with bottom-fermenting yeast, producing clean, crisp flavours, while ales are brewed with top-fermenting yeast at warmer temperatures, giving them a fruitier and more complex taste.

Beer’s alcohol by volume (ABV) typically ranges from 4% to 6%, but it can vary widely depending on the style.

The History of Beer

Beer has a long and storied history, dating back thousands of years to ancient civilisations in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Early forms of beer were brewed from grains like barley and wheat, with various fruits and spices added for flavour. By the Middle Ages, beer had become a staple of European culture, particularly in Germany and Belgium, where monks refined brewing techniques and created many of the styles we enjoy today.

The Industrial Revolution revolutionised beer production, with advances in brewing technology and refrigeration allowing for the mass production of lagers. Beer became increasingly popular across Europe and the United States, with large breweries emerging to meet demand. Today, beer remains a global favourite, with both large-scale breweries and small craft producers offering an endless array of flavours and styles.

Types of Beer

The world of beer is vast, with a wide variety of styles to suit every taste. Here are some of the most popular types of beer you’ll come across:

a) Lager

Lagers are one of the most common types of beer, known for their light, crisp taste and golden colour. They are fermented at lower temperatures, which results in a clean and smooth flavour profile. Popular subtypes of lager include Pilsner and Helles. Lagers are refreshing and easy to drink, making them ideal for casual settings.

b) Pale Ale

Pale ales are a type of ale known for their balance of malt and hops, resulting in a slightly bitter, fruity flavour. India Pale Ales (IPAs), a popular variant, have a stronger hop character and higher ABV, giving them a more intense bitterness and aroma. Pale ales are a favourite among craft beer enthusiasts due to their bold and complex flavours.

c) Stout and Porter

Stouts and porters are dark beers brewed with roasted malt or barley, giving them rich, chocolatey, or coffee-like flavours. Stouts, such as Guinness, are often creamy and smooth, while porters tend to be slightly lighter but still robust. These beers are perfect for those who enjoy deep, roasted flavours.

d) Wheat Beer

Wheat beers are brewed with a significant proportion of wheat in addition to barley, resulting in a cloudy appearance and a soft, smooth mouthfeel. They are often light and refreshing, with fruity or spicy notes. Popular examples include Hefeweizen from Germany and Belgian Witbier.

e) Sour Beer

Sour beers are intentionally brewed to have a tart or sour taste, often through the use of wild yeast strains or bacterial fermentation. Popular styles include Berliner Weisse, Gose, and Lambic. These beers are unique and often feature fruity, tangy flavours, making them a great choice for adventurous drinkers.

f) Amber and Red Ales

Amber ales and red ales are malt-forward beers with a reddish-brown hue, often featuring caramel and toffee notes. They strike a balance between malt sweetness and hop bitterness, making them smooth and approachable. These beers are ideal for those who prefer a slightly sweeter, maltier taste.

Popular Beer Brands You Should Know

When shopping for beer, you’ll find a mix of well-established global brands and smaller craft breweries offering a diverse range of flavours. Here are some of the top beer brands worth trying:

• Heineken
• Steinlager
• Mac's Brewery
• Carlsberg
• Asahi
• Export
• Tuatara
• PanHead
• Monteith's Brewing Company
• BRB (Boundry Road Brewery)
• Tiger
• Estrella Damm
• Fortune Favours
• Sol
• Corona

 

How Beer is Made: The Brewing Process

Beer is crafted through a series of steps that require precision and expertise. Here’s a brief overview of the beer-making process:

a) Malting

The process begins with malting, where barley (or other grains) is soaked in water to germinate, then dried in a kiln. This creates malted barley, which is the primary source of fermentable sugars in beer.

b) Mashing

The malted barley is then mashed in hot water to extract these sugars, creating a sweet liquid called wort. This process is crucial for determining the beer’s flavour and body.

c) Boiling and Hopping

Next, the wort is boiled, and hops are added. Hops provide bitterness to balance the sweetness of the malt and add aroma and flavour. The longer hops are boiled, the more bitterness they impart.

d) Fermentation

After boiling, the wort is cooled and transferred to a fermentation tank, where yeast is added. The yeast ferments the sugars, producing alcohol and carbon dioxide. This process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the style of beer.

e) Ageing and Bottling

Once fermentation is complete, the beer is aged to develop its flavours. It is then filtered, carbonated, and packaged in bottles, cans, or kegs for distribution.

How to Enjoy Beer: Tips and Pairings

Beer is a versatile drink that can be enjoyed on its own or paired with a wide variety of foods. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your beer:

Serve at the Right Temperature: Different beers are best served at different temperatures. Lagers and light beers are best enjoyed cold, while stouts and ales reveal more of their flavours when served slightly warmer.
Pair with Food: Beer pairs wonderfully with a range of foods. Try matching a crisp lager with fried foods, a pale ale with spicy dishes, or a rich stout with chocolate desserts.

FAQs About Beer

1. What’s the difference between lager and ale?
   1. Lagers are fermented at cooler temperatures with bottom-fermenting yeast, while ales use top-fermenting yeast at warmer temperatures, resulting in different flavour profiles.
2. Is beer gluten-free?
   1. Most beers are not gluten-free, as they are made from barley or wheat. However, there are gluten-free beers made from alternative grains like sorghum or rice.
3. What’s the best way to store beer?
   1. Beer should be stored upright in a cool, dark place. Once opened, it’s best consumed within a day or two to maintain its freshness.
4. What are craft beers?
   1. Craft beers are produced by small, independent breweries and are often known for their unique, innovative flavours and higher-quality ingredients.
5. Does beer improve with age?
   1. Most beers are best enjoyed fresh, but some high-ABV beers like barley wines or stouts can improve with age.
6. Can you cook with beer?
   1. Yes, beer is often used in cooking to add depth to stews, marinades, and batters.
7. How is alcohol content measured in beer?
   1. The alcohol content is measured as Alcohol by Volume (ABV), which indicates the percentage of alcohol in the beer.