Whether you’re trying to impress your friends at the bar or you’re an avid beer drinker, Greg Nagel ofOCbeerblog.comand our weekly Brewday Monday: Craft Beer 101 Q&A will give you something to talk about.
Q: What is/is there an ideal temperature to drink beer and does this vary by type of beer?
A: Temperature has a huge impact on beer carbonation. Carbonation plays a huge role in flavor, aroma and mouthfeel. The colder the beer is when served, the longer it will stay carbonated. As temperature rises, more CO2 gas is released bringing the aromas to the top of the beer. A good rule of thumb is to serve refreshing beers in the 40’s, Bigger beers like Barleywine, Stouts, sours and other big beers at cellar temp (mid-50’s). As most restaurants/bars serve draft beer at 38F, this could mean your beer won’t really open up for 10-20 minutes. Drinking cold you will find a less vibrant aroma, prickly mouthfeel from too much carbonation, and a numbed palate incapable of tasting.
Check our Greg Nagel’s event, Firkfest, coming up on March 22!
