Solera Beer The Solera system is a dynamic aging method that was developed in Southern Spain, in the mid 18th century. Solera describes a fractional blending system originally used for sherry production, where a number of casks containing the wine are stored for consecutive ages. A group of containers, criaderas (nurseries) are filled for each...
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What is a cuvée? Originally a French wine term, cuvée is derived from the French word cuve which means vat or tank. Used frequently to describe wine and champagne, cuvée is becoming a common beer term too. A cuvée often denotes a specific blend or batch, alluding to a product of premium quality. Winemakers will...
India Pale Lagers There’s no question that IPAs rule the craft beer world, but after dominating beer trends for the last decade, there is renewed interest in less intense, more palatable brews. The India Pale Lager, a substylistic hybrid of both the IPA and lager, offers the best of both worlds with an approachably hoppy,...
There’s a lot of “hop talk” that gets thrown around when discussing beer. So, what’s the difference between dried hops and a dry hopped beer? And, are fresh hops and wet hops just two different names that mean the same? Dry Hopping & Dried Hops A common misconception is that dry hopping involves harvesting and...
A lager is a light, crisp and refreshing beer. It’s fairly easy to taste the difference between a lager and ale, but what sets these two apart from a brewing perspective? The defining difference between lagers and ales is based on yeast strains, as well as length and temperature of fermentation. An ale uses a...
A contentious topic of conversation in the beer world is whether IBU ratings need to be accessible to the beer consumer. Many beer drinkers use the IBU scale as a reference tool, so they can judge the relative bitterness of a beer. On the other hand, most brewers argue against publishing IBUs, as they are...
Originating in Wallonia, Belgium, the saison is an elusive beer with a diverse history. Instead of pertaining to a specific flavour or brewing technique, a saison describes a loosely related family of beer. Historically, saisons are thought to date back to the start of agriculture when beer was brewed during colder months for consumption during...
Prior to technological advancements in the mid-nineteenth century, all beer was to some degree, sour. Poor sanitation and naturally occurring yeasts and bacteria were to blame for infecting beer, giving it an undesirable sour quality. The advent of pasteurization and refrigeration really changed the beer game, allowing for clean, crisp beers to take the main...
In the mid 2000s, brewers became obsessed with making the most bitter and palate crushing IPAs possible. This style of American IPA, or West Coast IPA, is a hoppy beer that primarily showcases hop flavours and bitterness. The East Coast IPA was created in part to offer a softly bitter, more palatable alternative to its...
In North America, craft beer is ubiquitous and local distillers are also carving out their niche in the craft spirits world. As consumers, we want to support local craft products, but why? What does it mean to be a craft brewery or craft distillery? Microbrewers make beer in single batches to ensure that each recipe...