Best beers to drink this summer
Celebrate summer with some of the healthy and delicious beer that has made it to our list of favourites.
Mumbai: If you are one of those people who love summer and your favourite beverage for the season is a chilled beer, then here are few exciting new different types of beer that will add an extra zing to your life.
Since Summer and beer go hand in hand, it's the perfect time of the year when some of the bestest beers are introduced into the market, thanks for its high demand.
Yes, a cold beer is ever so refreshing but did you know that it also has some health benefits? As per the Oregon State University study, certain compound found in the hops, one of the main ingredients of beer, can help lower cholesterol level, weight gain and also blood sugar.
Another study suggests that the phenols and antioxidants in beer could help in the cancer prevention. So deck your table with loads of food, don in your comfortable pair of pajamas and celebrate summer with some of the healthy and delicious beer that has made it to our list of favourites.
- Skywalker
Style - Kolsch
This beer is brewed in Cologne, Germany. Kolsch is a refreshing golden ale, which is often fermented at around 13 to 21 °C (55 to 70 °F). The fermentation of this brew is quite similar to European beers.
Skywalker's first sip will leave you with a grainy taste and malty aroma with a hint of bitterness clinging to your tongue. The colour of the brew is of a yellow hue which is quite similar to the standard German pale lager. To put it simply, Kolsch flavours are subtle and delicate, and is light in both body and appearance.
Wondering why to pick it? Because this brew demands no specific time or occasion and can be enjoyed at anytime, anywhere and with anyone.
"The brewing process takes time and patience, you just can't serve anything to your consumer, one needs to let the brew settle and take time. The hops you use indeed places a very important role," says Anand.K.Morwani, Co-Director and Head chef of Brewbot, Mumbai.
- Floating Head
Style - Amber Hefeweizen
This beer has its origins deeply rooted in Bavaria, Germany. Hefeweizen
literally means “yeast wheat”. In German, Hefeweizen is commonly popular as Weissbier which means “white beer”. This beer is usually unfiltered and the yeast remains in the suspension. This is the reason that the beer has turbid kind of look.
Weissbier, which is clear and filtered, are known as Kristallweizen which means "crystal wheat". The dark wheat beers are often called Dunkelweizen which literally means dark wheat.
Most Hefeweizen contains majority proportion of malted wheat and the rest is malted barley.
“It is perfect throughout the day, cloudy in appearance, full bodied & malty on the palate,” says Vaibhav Anand Rao Asharani, the brewmaster of Brewbot.
- Mojo Rising
Style - Mid-Western Pale Ale
This thirst quenching hops forward beer has a caramel malt flavor with a floral aroma. It originates from the Mid-Western region of the United States.
It’s hazy light copper in colour with some sediment. The fragrance of the brew is sweet caramel malts with a bit of citrus.
With the slight sweetness of the aroma, the taste of Mojo Rising is mostly filled with bitterness. It is crisp and light, however, this beer is one-dimensional and you don’t taste different notes while drinking it.
"Most of the hops are not available in India, we often need to export them, and the quality makes a ton of difference. For example, a certain brew might be served to you at various breweries but the texture and taste will differ. Some might use more proportion of barley while less proportion of malted wheat, that itself makes a great difference," says Morwani.
- Black Mamba
Style - Chocolate Oat Cream Stout
This British-inspired beer style is full bodied, smooth & creamy on the palate with hints of dark chocolate & coffee. The most exciting thing about this brew is that chocolate is not even used while brewing it, however when you drink it, you get chocolate notes and without a doubt, it’s worth a try.
"The fermentation plays a very important role. Unless the brew is not matured enough, one shouldn't even think about serving it. It takes away the very taste, notes and texture of the drink," says Asharani.
Botwork Orange
The Botwork Orange takes over two months fermenting. It is brewed using the finest and most premium ingredients sourced from Belgium. Pale yellow and cloudy in appearance, the Belgium Witbier is layered with a low hop bitterness with a noticeable wheat profile. Already a crowd favorite, the brew is smooth and has a creamy texture to it.
The spice and coriander are prominent in the brew which leads to a zesty orange fruitiness on the palate. It's best enjoyed when paired with the chef's special Charbroiled Prawns and Pan Seared Basa.
"Brew brewery is a new concept in India, while in Germany, UK, it has been there since ages. People now in our country are adapting to this new trend and trying new fresh beers and are loving it. There is a variety of brews available, try out some and you will definitely find the one you like," says Morwani.