Answerbag: Tim Webb's answers

Answer to What are the 100 top selling beers in the United States?

Sun, 10 Sep 2006 09:47:42 -0700

What are the 100 top selling beers in the United States?

Generally tripe, sadly.

Answer to What's the difference between draft beer and canned/bottled beer, other than the type of container it is in?

Sun, 10 Sep 2006 09:43:13 -0700

What's the difference between draft beer and canned/bottled beer, other than the type of container it is in?

Bottled beers that ferment in the bottle because they are bottled with live yeast will mature into very different drinks from their draft counterparts. All canned beers and most beers in sealed kegs are free of yeast and so will not mature. As with wine, that the beers with the fullest...

Answer to How many brain cells does one can of beer kill?

Sun, 10 Sep 2006 09:32:55 -0700

How many brain cells does one can of beer kill?

It depends on the size of the can, the density of the metal and the height from which the can is dropped.

Answer to Why does France have so few Stouts and Porters?

Sun, 10 Sep 2006 09:29:06 -0700

Why does France have so few Stouts and Porters?

The last answer is very good and I do not disagree with one word of it. But to illustrate further the point that was made about beers "originating" somewhere there is a real life example happening in France right now, which is directly relevant ot the question. The...

Answer to How much alcohol is in beer?

Sun, 10 Sep 2006 09:20:30 -0700

How much alcohol is in beer?

How much alcohol IS in beer is generally what it says on the label. This may sound stoopid but is not as straightforward as you would think. In some countries there is no obligation to state the alcohol content while in others it does not need to be stated unless it goes above a certain...

Answer to Is it true the British love warm beer?

Sat, 06 Nov 2004 10:41:46 -0800

Is it true the British love warm beer?

There is a sound reason why British ales should be drunk at a temperature of 55-56 degrees Fahrenheit (14-15 degrees Celsius). This is that many of the most important flavour and aroma chemicals are most volatile and active at that temperature. This maximises the taste. Many modern...

Answer to What are 'lambics'?

Sat, 06 Nov 2004 10:33:53 -0800

What are 'lambics'?

Lambic beers are wheat beers that are fermented in a unique way, the yeast used having been derived from the atmosphere, rather than being pitched into the beer. Only one traditional producer still allows the yeast to "fall from the night sky" onto their cooling brew. The other eight...

Answer to How long can you store beer before it goes bad?

Sat, 06 Nov 2004 10:19:23 -0800

How long can you store beer before it goes bad?

In practice, beers that are quite strong (say over 7.5% alcohol by volume), which are made with 100% malted barley and have high hop content can age remarkably well over up to twenty years. Much mass-produced beer is far from 100% malted barley and has very little hopping. It is true that...

Answer to What is Trappist beer?

Sat, 06 Nov 2004 10:03:02 -0800

What is Trappist beer?

I don't fully agree with the last answer. The bit about the Authentic Trappist Product logo and licence is correct. However the bit about it being brewed by Trappist monks is partly myth. Under the current agreement a Trappist beer must be brewed within the grounds of a Cistercian...

Answer to Is "St. Bernadus" Belgian beer a trappist ale?

Sat, 06 Nov 2004 09:53:56 -0800

Is "St. Bernadus" Belgian beer a trappist ale?

No it is not. The term "Trappist" is licensed for use by six brewing abbeys. All are Belgian and brew beers under the brand names Chimay, Westmalle, Westvleteren, Achel, Orval and Rochefort. All may use the term "Authentic Trappist Product" on their labelling and most do....