Top Healthy Reasons to Drink and Enjoy Beer

More often than not people think that alcohol consumption only harms the body. Alcohol is usually associated with drunkenness and its health benefits are rarely discussed.

Anything taken in excess may harm you but beer has some healthy features which cannot be ignored. As long as you consume your favorite beverage in moderation, you will be able to enjoy its several benefits.

To discover the several perks you can enjoy along with having fun, read on.

Healthy Heart

Recent studies suggest that the human heart loves the beer. Many scientific studies have proven that alcoholic beverages help reduce bad cholesterol levels. Additionally, beer, when taken in moderation, replaces this bad cholesterol with good ones thereby giving you a healthy heart.

Cleanses Your Kidney

Interestingly enough, soon after you have had your german beer stein, you have the urge to relieve yourself. This is not an inconvenience, but proves that alcoholic beverages have the tendency to act as a diuretic. The beer, therefore, cleanses your kidney of substances famous for making kidney stones.

Strengthens Your Bones

Beer has a high concentration of silicon which helps boost the bone strength. With each sip you take off your beer steins, you help increase your bone density. Women going through postmenopausal stage can boost their bone density by having a beer in moderation.

Avoid The Silent Killer – Diabetes

Diabetes has been a silent killer for many years now and affects millions around the world. Many scientific studies reveal that drinking beer in moderation can reduce your chances of getting the disease. Put simply, drinking beer can reduce the sugar level in the body. Studies also suggest that beer drinkers are twenty five percent less likely to develop diabetes as compared to non beer drinkers.

Helps in Digestion

The fact is hardly mentioned anywhere – by those who drink beer or otherwise. Beer is said to contain the fire. This simply means that the popular beverage, when taken in moderation, allows you to comfortably cleanse your colon enabling you to achieve a better bowel movement.

Low in Carbohydrates

Although beer is not necessarily free of carbs, it is not the most carb filled alcoholic beverage. In fact, a small bottle of beer is said to contain no more than five grams of carbohydrates. Therefore, you can avoid gaining weight while drinking and enjoying a good night out with friends.

Delicious Delicacies

Not totally healthy but definitely good for your taste buds. Mixing beer with ice cream can be extremely delicious. You can mix a pint of your favorite beer with a vanilla bean ice cream and enjoy a good time with friends.

Beer does give you good health reasons to enjoy, but it must be kept in mind to consume it in moderation and not go overboard with drinking.

Trot to the Best Beer Festivals of The World

The love for beer around the world is not a hidden fact. Every beer lover would choose sampling choicest of beer from all over the world than sitting in a bar and ordering from a limited range of mediocre beer. Beer festival is not just Oktoberfest anymore and you don’t have to wait until October or travel to Munich to sample some of the finest beers of the world.

Many countries have come up their own version of beer festivals and they are quite exceptional, too. Whether it’s the UK or New Zealand, China or Belgium, there is one beer festival or the other to boost your spirits. Here’s a list of some of the well known beer festivals of the world.

The Great British Beer Festival

This festival – self described as the biggest pub in the world – is held for five days every August since the 1970s. The annual beer festival sees an influx of around 60,000 people from around the world who sample more than 800 different ciders, foreign beers etc and drink up to 350,000 pints of beer throughout the major event from. It is held at the Olympia Exhibition Centre in Earl’s Court.

Oktoberfest

People from around the world descend upon Munich to celebrate the Oktoberfest which goes on for two weeks from September end to the first weekend of October annually. Visitors can be seen enjoying the best of beers in the traditional german beer stein.  Visitors come here for a common purpose – to have fun by indulging in singing, dancing and overindulging in beer and this makes Oktoberfest one of the best beer festivals in the world.

Pilsen Fest – Czech Republic

The self explanatory name suggests the beer festival is held in the Czech Republic to honor the first brewed Pilsner in 1842. The small town of Pilsen in Czech Republic has the Pilsner Urquell Brewery -which is one of the oldest in the world – holds the event for two days annually.

Qingdao International Beer Festival – China

Although a bit underrated, the Qingdao International Beer Festival is held on such a grand level that the local venue is often dubbed as the Qingdao Beer City. This is the largest beer festival in Asia and is also one of the cheapest in the world. With traditional beer stein used throughout the event, you cannot go wrong on your Tsingtao Beer in China.

The Belgian Beer Weekend

When it comes to celebrating beer tasting, Belgium cannot be left far behind. The annual beer festival is held on the first weekend of September and the Marketplace in Brussels turns into a mini beer city. This festival features over 350 Belgian beers and is a sort of celebration of Belgian beers.

The World’s Best Beer Festivals

There is not a bar or pub in the world where you will not notice friends having a good time over some cold ones. Beer comes with a certain communal aspect which attracts hundreds of thousands of people to a myriad of festivals around the world.

While there is absolutely no shortage of beer festivals that are hosted all year round, this list talks only about the best ones that promise unforgettable experiences!

1.The Oktoberfest – Munich, Germany

When one talks about the world’s best beer festival, the Oktoberfest is bound to crop up in your mind. Most definitely the largest beer fest the world has seen, this 16 day event involves consumption of a whopping 6.9 million liters of beer by about 6.2 million visitors. In addition to the exquisite beer, this festival is also known for its traditional German foods and Bavarian costumes. This is also a great place to get hold of some great beer steins for sale. In addition to being hosted in Germany, it is also popularly celebrated in Brazil, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

2.The Great World Beer Festival – New York City

This two day festival is often nicknamed as the ‘United Nations of Beer’.  This fascinating festival is designed to promote craft beers and proves to be a haven for those who love to try new things. At a small fee, you will be able to get a glass beer stein or a mug with which you can sample as many samples as you like by over 100 micro-breweries.

3.Modial de la Biere – Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Considered the country’s largest beer festivals, this fest invites breweries from around the world to come and showcase their brews. Majority of the beers served here are for regional sales only, and most often brewed exclusively for restaurants. This festival also draws a lot of crowds for the workshops that are held on beer making by teachers from a local beer school.

4.Constatter Volksfest, Stuttgart, Germany

Even though this is labeled as a beer festival, it is for most part an autumn fair. In spite of this, it is considered the second largest beer drinking event right after the Oktoberfest that is held in Munich. This is also a great occasion to taste some local German beer and purchase some authentic beer steins for sale. Other attractions at this event include the world’s largest portable ferris wheel and oompah bands!

Other popular beer festivals around the world include the Vermont’s Brewer Festival, the Brussels Beer Weekend, the Oregon Brewer Festival and the Bitter and Twisted International Boutique Beer Festival in Australia. Each one of the events promise visitors of unforgettable experiences complete with some exquisite beer tasting!

Different Types of Beer Glasses you must own!

Ask any beer lover and he will tell you that the glass you drink your beer from can transform your drinking experience. While there are a ton of glasses to choose from, it would be a shame if your collection did not consist of the following:

1.The British Style Imperial Pint Glass

Known as the Nonic, this pint glass comes with an engraving of the official crown pint seal. This is to let the drinker know that this authentic glass can hold a real 20 ounces. This particular glass is great for almost all kinds of beer and is often used to hold other types of beverages as well.

2.The Belgian Beer Glass

This glass definitely makes your Belgian beers taste and smell better. The shape of the glass is designed to capture and enhance the taste of its contents such as the fruity esters, spices and the alcohol. This glass is also able to support a foamy head, allowing you to smell it better for a longer period of time. The lip of the glass is designed to push the beer right into the middle of your tongue, allowing the drinker to get a taste of the flavor and the sweetness.

3.The German Steins

While the quintessential beer stein may do little to enhance your drinking experience, owning one is a matter of pride for most beer lovers. The German beer stein is essentially made out of stone, ceramic or even glass and comes with an ergonomically designed lid that was traditionally placed to prevent germs from entering one’s drink. Today, the German steins are popular collectible item among museums, individual collectors and beer lovers.

4.Your Very Own Comfort Glass

Keeping aside the science behind selecting the right glass for the right beer, most drinkers also have what we call a ‘comfort glass.’  This could be anything between an old mug to a chalice or a goblet. It could also be your favorite mug that you picked up on your travels. Whatever it is, every beer drinker must have a glass that they can call their own.

5.The Tasting Glass

If your beer drinking habits involve pouring only a few ounces, it is best not to do so in a full size glass. This may compel you to compromise on taste and smell while you wait for the beer to travel through the empty spaces. With a tasting glass, you can comfortable enjoy your half pints in their true essence.

Finally, the quintessential red plastic cup is ideal for house parties after which you do not want to be drowned in the labor of doing the dishes. Recyclable paper or plastic cups make for a convenient addition to a casual party you are throwing at home. Most beers taste great in these and they add to the casual and fun environment that you intend to create!

Guide to Handling and Cleaning your Beer Steins

Owners of custom beer steins often consider their possessions as their most prized collectibles that will be passed on for generations. These ornamental beer mugs are often handcrafted and adorned with some of the most exquisite designs which demand maximum care.

In fact, most owners of ceramic beer steins choose not to put them to use and simply display them as elegant objects of vanity. If you are starting a collection of your own, this guide will help you understand how to best to handle and maintain your collectible investment.

1.    How to Display your Steins

It is best to display your steins with lids that are closed since they typically postpone its aging and continual damage that takes place when the lid is left open. Closing the lid essentially prevents oxidation of the interiors and helps avoid consequent staining which is irrevocable.

2.    Avoid Using the Steins for Consumption

While most connoisseurs would absolutely enjoy drinking their beer in their steins, chances are that doing so will result in staining and damage. Further, the risk of damage increases while cleaning.

3.    Avoid the Dishwasher

Using the dishwasher is an absolute no! Since the dishwashers come with a consistent flow of heat, this may result in the drying of your stein resulting in a hairline crack or worse a complete split. Determining the correct temperatures may be challenging since pewter steins, glass steins and stoneware steins all come with different thresholds. It is thus ideal to avoid using any automated form of cleaning.

4.    Cleaning with your Hands

• Before you start cleaning the steins, it is recommended that you lay out a tick rubber mat as a lining in the base of your sink.
• Also cover the sides of the sink to prevent your steins from coming in contact with a hard surface while being washed.
• Now you can fill the sink with lukewarm water and detergent. Avoid using hot water since there is a chance that the material used to make the stein may expand.
• It is best to clean each stein one at a time. Cleaning more than one glass together increases the risk of damage due to interaction with the harder outer surface of the other steins.
• While cleaning glass steins use a soft sponge and also use a toothbrush in case you are cleaning ceramic ones.
• Soak the steins in soap water for 5 to 10 minutes if required. Avoid scrubbing harshly at all costs.
• After you are done cleaning, rinse your stein in cold water and pat dry using a cotton towel that is soft.

Finally, air dry your steins before putting them back in display. This will help prevent fungal growth in the inner walls.

Essential Guide to being the Practical Beer Stein Collector

The first significant collections of beer steins date back to the mid 1800s where museums sought out examples of exquisite art from the Renaissance. It was after this that private collectors started cropping up willing to pay surprisingly high prices for the right steins.

What Kind of Collector are you?

If you intend to buy a stein only on an occasional basis and are flexible about the nature and type of the stein, then you can simply visit antique shops and shows to find the best pieces. On the other hand, if you have specific objectives with regards to creating a planned collection, it would be ideal to start working towards developing contacts of other collectors and dealers who have the knowledge that you can trust.

Building a Collection Strategy

It is easy make your hobby of collecting German steins a lucrative method of investment. Steins in the 1960s and 70s proved to be extremely good investments when compared to other antiques as well as investment alternatives. This changed in the 80s when the value of other antique items grew more rapidly.  However, the price of antique steins continued to remain steady, proving them to be reliable performers.

Many collectors enjoy creating pairs or sets, especially for steins that are rarer and intricately designed. This arrangement enhances the appeal of your investment and provides potential buyers an additional dimension worth considering.

Also, if you are collector and not an investor, it is important that you consider factors such as size, types and materials to find the perfect balance between the similarities and the diversity of your collection. As a collector you must consider your personal preferences as against what is rare, in fashion or expensive. If you are like your purchase, it will be easier for you to find a way to display it.

Guide to Buying Steins

1.Perform a basic research before you start buying your steins. With a number of publications and online portals that discuss prices at auctions for pieces similar to the ones you are considering. This is a great way to assess whether or not you are receiving a fair value for the money you are spending.

2.Make sure you take it consideration any defects that may exist in the piece. Acquire a fair discount on the stein accordingly. With modern techniques and materials it is becoming increasingly difficult to detect repaired defects. Many sellers do not feel obligated to point out these defects, making it all the important for buyers to get smart while identifying collectible pieces.

Whether you intend to purchase through an auction or online remember that lack of knowledge by the buyer may result in wasted expenses even in situations when the dealer is honest.

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For Beer Lovers, It’s All in the Glass

Most of you would not be aware that the beer changes its aroma, taste and color as it is being poured into a glass.

The glassware that is used to drink different kinds of beer could reflect national traditions, it may be a form of art, or it could be for easy maintenance such as washing, stacking and avoiding breakage. It could also reflect legislation regarding serving measures, used in drinking competitions or used as a novel product to drink.

The Head of the Glassware

The froth created by serving a beer acts as a net for many of the volatiles in a beer. Compounds such as all kinds of yeast, hop oils and byproducts like fruity esters, alcohol, fusels and spices are called volatile substances. These tend to escape from the beer while being poured. So a glass that creates healthy foam head helps in trapping these volatiles.

Different Types of Beer Glassware

• Pint Glasses

These are cylindrical with a wide mouth and a slight taper at the bottom. These are the most commonly used glasses.

• Weizen or Stein Glasses

The German, Austrian and Swizz beer drinkers use Weizen Glasses. These are generally taller than the pint glasses. Beer Steins area a traditional mug made of earthenware, porcelain, silver, wood, or crystal glass. German beer mugs stoneware also make for great collectibles. German pewter beer steins come in the size of half liter to one liter.

• Pilsner Glasses

Pilsner glasses are tall, slender and narrow. However, they are smaller than pint glasses and are usually used to serve light beers.

• Snifter

This is a wide-bowled and stemmed glass with a tapered mouth. This glass design is best for capturing the aromas of volatile beers.

• Stange

This tall and slender cylinder/ stange glasses are used to serve delicate beers.

• Beer Boot

Beer Boot glass comes with a lot of history and culture. It is often passed amongst the guests for a festive drinking challenge after a successful battle win.

• Flute glass

These narrow shaped glasses are essentially used to serve fruit beers as it displays sparkling color, carbonation and soft lacing style.

• Chalice

They are large, stemmed, bowl-shaped glasses adequate for serving heavy and big sipping beers.

• Tulip glass

A Tulip glass has large heads and creates a visual and promotes olfactory sensation and recommended for strong beers.

• Krug

Krug means mug or tankard and is referred to a jug or pitcher. It is usually large and made of sturdy glass.

Different formsof glassware designs follow a number of functional and aesthetic requirements. They also complement various styles of beer based on factors such as color, foam; or aromatic volatiles. Also, most beer glassware comes with a stem or handle which prevents body heat from warming the beer.

Your Essential Guide to Drinking Beer – How Temperature Matters

With a myriad of styles and types of beers that exist in the world, the biggest question with respect to serving revolves around the temperature. In most cases, drinkers have their own preferences that may be varying. This is possible since there aren’t many stringent norms with respects to the ideal serving temperatures as experienced with wine.

Said that, this is a general guide on what is the universally accepted norm that is in no way an absolute truth.

Busting Common Myths

Before we venture into the science of serving beers at the right temperatures, it is important to address two myths –

1.    It is a common misconception that all beer needs to be served very cold. Most macro brewers encourage this idea because the sensation of feeling cold slows down the taste receptors on your tongue. Since taste is usually the week point of beer when compared with competition such as iced tea and soda, macro breweries need to position their products on features other than taste and hence it became important for them to find a way to neutralize taste. Good beer in fact should be as far from frozen as possible.

2.    Another common myth is that English beer needs to be served warm or at room temperature. It is actually served at cellar temperature which is between 12- 14 degrees Celsius.

Beer is best enjoyed in your pewter beer stein at a temperature that is between ice cold and room temperature. Also, color is a big determinant of what the temperature of your beer should be. Light colored beers are best served cold. The warmest beers you will have will be big and dark beers such as barley wines, imperial stouts and quadruples.

Beers to be served Very Cold

At 0 to 4 degrees Celsius, beers that you wouldn’t want to really taste are ideal. The Pale lager, Scandinavian style cider, Canadian style golden ale, cream ale, low alcohol and American and Canadian cider fall typically under this category.

Beers to Serve Cold

Hefeweizen, premium lager, classic German pilsner, fruit beer, kolsch, European strong lager, American dark lager, brew-pub style golden ale and sweetened fruit lambics are best consumed at temperatures between 4 and 7 degrees Celsius.
Cool Beers

The American pale ale, California common, Vienna schwarzbier, Irish ale, French or Spanish cider, English style golden ale, sweets stout and stout are usually served at temperatures between 8 and 12 degrees Celsius.

The right beer at the right temperature poured into a classic pewter beer stein is probably the best way to enjoy this beverage. In addition to the correct temperature, the correct glass also influences your drinking experience. Find the right beer steins for sale to make sure your drinking experience is authentic!

Everything you want to know about German Beer stein

German Beer steins are traditional stoneware beer mugs. They are beautifully ornamented and usually sold as collectibles or souvenirs. The word stein is derived from the German word “Steingut” which means stoneware.

History of the German Stein:

The Government had enacted a law to prevent the great black/bubonic plague from recurring which had hit Europe in 14th century. This law stated that all beverage containers must be covered when the drink is not being consumed. The German beer glasses were a creation which came out of the necessity put forward by this law. Traditionally, these steins were made of stoneware and the lid was made of pewter. Glass started to be used for making steins thereafter.

Significance of the Beer Stein:

German beer steins are mostly given as gifts. However, the history of gifting goes back to 15th century when a father gifted steins to their sons when they came of age.

Owning a German beer glass was considered a status symbol as they were handcrafted and mostly custom made. Customization allowed the family crest to be embossed on these steins thus making it a pride possession. The significance of these steins was measured by the man who owns it and the group he belongs to.

Making of a German Stein:

Most of the beer steins are made of stoneware or porcelain; however you can also find glass steins being produced.

The artist starts with a template of clay carefully carving beautiful designs out of it. Rubber molds are used to duplicate the designs and models. The gypsum mold are dried and then mounted on a centrifuge. This is when creation of actual stein starts. Centrifugal force makes the clay move to all nooks and crannies of the mold creating uniform coverage.  Glazing of stein is done after centrifuge has finished his job.

Making of lid starts after completing the stein.

Oktoberfest and Beer Steins:

These beer glasses were used before the first Oktoberfest in 1810; however these steins have now become an integral part of this annual festival. Many stein manufacturers make special edition steins for this fest.

Traditionally this event is held in Munich, Germany. These steins typically hold 1 liter of beer, are hand painted and cost close to $100. Most of these steins are limited edition. A great variety of beer and beer Steins finds its way in every Oktoberfest.

If you are hunting for authentic steins, you may notice that the market contains a number of Chinese and Taiwanese imitations. Remember that an original German made stein is always distinguished with its traditional designs and with its distinct lid. Make sure you pursue significant research to identify an authenticate stein before you make your purchase.

The Magical Essence of Pewter Beer Steins

One of the most popular materials used for making drinking and eating containers—pewter, has always been the preferred choice for steins. Because of it resistance to tarnish, breakage and rusting, it has been used as a primary material for the making of beer mugs and steins. Contrary to silver, iron and copper; pewter does not impart its unique taste or aroma to the drink served in containers made from the same. This makes it a material of choice for German pewter beer steins and heritage mugs.

In the 1500s, pewter beer stein figurines were engraved, hammered or cast to create hammered reliefs, sculptors and incisions. Their relatively thin handles were made of S-Shaped pieces of pewter. The motifs and depictions on a pewter beer stein usually depicted allegorical scenes connected with German culture, Regimental stories, Biblical anecdotes and other folk lures.

Copperplate engravers and other specialists in relief work created masterpieces in the regions of Nuremberg and Saxony– in the period 1500-1600 AD. Gilded pewter steins made their mark in the 1700s and competed with the ornate designs of glass steins, stoneware and colorful faience.

The magic of pewter steins

Produced in the Walzenkrug shape in the 1800s, these pewter steins contained engravings, tiny zigzag patterns and wiggle work. The neo-Renaissance designs in the form of masks, cartouches, fruit bundles, garlands and other classical designs abounded in the later part of the century. The pewter steins captured the essence of the designs of the Art Nouveau period in the twentieth century and are now branded as collectible items across the world.

Identification of shapes and origin

Pewter steins can be identified by their unique differences in shapes and location of origin. While the footed vases or “Rorken” find their roots in Northern Germany; the pear shaped ones hail from Hungary, Schlesien, Bohemia or southern Germany. The tapered and tall pewter pieces are from Austria. Switzerland and southern Germany.

Basic types of pewter steins

Depending on the materials and percentage of ingredients used, pewter steins come in three basic types. The most genuine of the lot (Lautere), has pale coloration and is manufactured from lead free tin along with small quantities of antimony, bismuth or copper.

Proved pewter, also referred as Probezinn, Reichsprobe, Probe or by other similar names; boasts of a ratio of 10: 1 of tin to lead. Low (Geringen) pewter has a ration of 6:1.

Watch out for…

Many reproductions of these early styles were manufactured during the Historicism period. Though not intended to be sold as fakes; they were devoid of the presence of the manufacturer’s names and were generally cast in plaster/gypsum molds or sand. A careful eye is required to study the purity mad marks of these replications. Black flaking disease/Powdering disease is other concerns which can lead to premature aging, breakage, weathering and creation of holes in the surface of pewter steins.

With a steady increase in the prices of pewter steins worldwide, contemporary collectors are advised to have a good insight into the history, production techniques, marks and identifications of pewter beer mugs and steins—to make their collection all the more priceless and unique.