Beer From The Keg - The Natural Choice
Sunday, January 13th, 2008Beer is a well loved and revered beverage that’s been part of society for hundreds of years. No matter the style, beer is enjoyed by millions of people every day. The brewing of beer has remained much the same over time, but how it reaches the consumer has changed dramatically over the last century.
Regardless of style, beer is brewed essentially the same. There are subtle differences of course, but all beer has a mix of ingredients mixed and fermented by brewing experts with the help of technology. Technology has revolutionized the beer industry, not so much through brewing techniques, but packaging and transportation methods.
Canning and Bottling Beer
In the early-mid 1900’s, bottling and later canning of beer became extremely popular. After Prohibition was repealed in 1933, the beer industry began consolidating from literally thousands of local breweries producing fresh, local beer to large regional brewers who could reach a larger market. That consolidation continues today, notwithstanding the brewpub craze of the 1990’s. Advances in packaging and transportation have allowed large brewers like Anheuser-Busch, Miller, and Coors to distribute nationally and internationally.
Yet, something important has been lost, and that is the freshness and taste of local, direct from the keg beer. Walk into any bar today, and chances are you’ll see people drinking beer directly out of the bottle. While perhaps convenient, beer wasn’t meant to be consumed right from the bottle, or the can for that matter.
Beer is a perishable food product, and like any food product, beer doesn’t improve with age. Bottled beer and canned beer are pasteurized and added carbonation is injected to ensure a long shelf life without need for refrigeration. While there’s nothing wrong with this process as it allows product availability to a wider spectrum of consumers, it is not beer in its natural state.
The result of keg beer not requiring preservatives is a clean, smooth, natural taste. This is how beer is meant to be enjoyed. If you’ve ever been on a brewery tour, notice how you’re served your samples - direct from the keg, i.e. off the tap. This is beer at its best - freshly brewed with no preservatives.
Here’s a little experiment to try the next time you’re out enjoying beer. First, enjoy your beer only from the bottle or can. Now, the next time out, drink beer only on tap (from the keg). Notice the difference in how your digestion is affected. You’ll have less intestinal gas (burping!) from keg beer, as there’s no additional carbonation added. The beer is smoother, mellower, and less carbonated, making for a better tasting experience.
Keg beer is the way brewers want you to experience their beer. Keg beer is natural beer, with no preservatives. Next time out, enjoy your beer directly from the tap and notice the difference.