Checklist to avoid beer bloat

Hyderabad: Ever suffered a bloated stomach after a glass of craft beer? Here is the reason. If the pH value of the beer drops below 4, it will taste sour and look cloudy or hazy. This happens if the fermentation is not done well. The low pH value of the beer causes stomach bloating or continuous burps, distended abdomen or gas and other discomfort, though most of it is temporary.

A master brewer explained, “As known, the brewing process starts with barley malt or wheat malt, (as per the requirement) which is crushed to extract the starch. The end product is converted into sugar, with the help of enzymes. At different temperatures, the starch turns into sugar. The mixture goes into filters to extract the juice which is boiled in ‘wort’ and sterilised. While boiling different acids are added to get the bitter taste; this process takes 6-7 hours. During boiling, if the exact temperature needed is disturbed, pH value drops which is the primary cause for the beer to sour.”

He adds, “Further, the mixture is kept for fermentation that requires another 9-10 hours. Fermentation is an important part of brewing; the mixture must be cleared properly for a good end product.  If contamination is not removed, the haziness remains in the beer, thus causing uneasiness.” Hyderabad is gradually entering in the niche group of cities that offers different varieties and flavours of beer, with an increasing number of microbreweries.

These companies facilitate production and consumption on the same premises and their installed capacity do not exceed 1,000 bulk litres per day as per rules. The draught beer produced by them is not to be bottled and sold outside the premises and only be served in glasses or pitchers. The shelf life of the beer manufactured in a microbrewery will be for 36 hours only. While drinking at a brewery or beerhouse, a manufacturing unit that makes and sells beer, one should keep a check on the 'sour' taste and haziness of the beer served.