 | Guy Bower
is the host of "The Good Life Radio Talk Show," Food, Wine and Fun for Your Ears on KNSS Newstalk 1240 AM. His show, in its 12th year, airs from 9-10 a.m. Saturdays and is a "who's who" of the food, wine and beverage industry. Guy is a retired Air Force officer with 20 years experience flying fighters. Now a pilot for FedEx, he is flying the Airbus. Throughout his career in the military, which involved many years living in Europe, he has been a dedicated food and wine enthusiast and home chef. Associated with the radio program, Guy regularly attends national seminars and wine tastings as both enthusiast and participant. A published writer, he has authored many articles on the enjoyment of food, wine & the "Good Life." He currently teaches wine appreciation classes at WSU's Continuing Education Center and is the founding chair and past chapter chair of the American Institute of Wine & Food, Wichita. |
Midwest Beerfest
2003-10-01 11:23:00
When was beer invented?
QUESTION: Can you tell me more about beer and its origins?
ANSWER: I am an avid beer enthusiast, and as such, I feel fortunate to have come of age during the American beer revolution. In the late 1800’s there were more than 3,000 breweries in the U.S. Then Prohibition hit and the number dwindled with little chance of recovery. Afterward, the mega-breweries took over and by the 1970’s, there were only about 50 breweries in America. But a revolution was on the horizon. Since this revolution started, there has been a dramatic increase in small producers brewing big flavors. Now, there are more than 1,500 beer producers in the U.S. alone. While I call it a revolution, it's really a return to a grassroots production of handcrafted, creative and flavorful brews. If sales are an indication, this move is a winner with consumers. These sales prompted even giant Anheuser-Busch to come up with a great line of "crafted" brews. For beer lovers, it's a "win-win" situation. If you haven't joined in the flavor explosion available, now is the time. It's easier to select the brews you like if you have some taste profiles and the vocabulary to help in your selection. Here are a few taste tools to help in your quest for big flavor. Maltiness - Malt is derived from grains, generally wheat and barley, and is the part of the beer that is fermented. There are several varieties of malt, with varying flavors. Many people find a malty flavor to be somewhat sweet.Hoppiness - Hops are a plant that is also added to beer, and it's what gives beer a bitter flavor. Pale ales are generally the hoppiest beers available in the U.S.Fruitiness - Most ales have some degree of fruity flavor present, even though there is no actual fruit in the beer. The fruity flavor is a by-product of the yeast fermentation in the brewing process. There are two basic categories of beer styles: top-fermenting beer and bottom-fermenting beer. Generally speaking, top-fermenting beers - ales - are more complex with fruity characteristics and include wheat beer, stout, porter and ale. Bottom-fermenting beers - lagers - possess a cleaner finish and include bock, Oktoberfest, pilsner, American lager and malt liquor. In America, most of the beer consumed is of the bottom-fermenting lager style, but top-fermenting beers have gained popularity in recent years. It's a craze that continues to grow, and if you haven't joined in the fun now is a great time to start. Beer is best when enjoyed with food. Some of the most familiar pairings include pizza, hot dogs, brats, chili and all variety of salty snacks. But try it with more complex dishes that you may initially think of pairing with wine. How about a thick, rich Porter, with a juicy steak? Where do you think they got the name "Porterhouse Steak?" Nothing goes better with spicy food than a cold refreshing brew. Mexican, Caribbean, Chinese and Thai food beg for the palate-cleansing effervescence of beer. There are no hard and fast rules to beer enjoyment. Gather some friends, have everyone bring their favorite brew, fix food you like and relax. Or better yet, mark your calendar for the 3rd Annual Midwest Beerfest, Oct. 17 & 18. Friday, Oct. 17, is the World Beer Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Wichita featuring guest speaker Don Russell, otherwise known as "Joe Sixpack" - the award-winning beer writer from the Philadelphia Daily News. Saturday, Oct. 18 is the biggest beer event in Kansas. Join other beer lovers from 1-5 p.m. at the Grand Tasting, Century II, Wichita, with more than 250 beers, a silent auction with proceeds benefitting Starkey Inc., live music, great beer-friendly food, seminars, cooking demonstrations and so much more. As they say, so many beers, so little time … hope to see you at the Beerfest!
