The 12 Joys Of Beer

Instead of the 12 days of Christmas, why not ponder the 12 Joys of Brewing? It often strikes us, as brewers, that the folk that actually buy and drink our beer miss out on an enormous amount of the sensory enjoyment that can be had from beer. After all, the beer you are served in a pub, or pour for yourself at home is the final product of a painstaking process lasting weeks…

1. Chewing fresh, crushed, Marris Otter Pale Malt. Opening a sack of fresh malted barley and breathing in the homely, rustic aroma is a joy of brewing, but it’s not until a handful has been scooped out and chewed on that the full character of the primary ingredient of beer can be assessed. It’s a bit like enjoying a cup of crunchy Ovaltine.

2. Mashing in. On a cold winter’s morning, the process of mashing-in (the mixing of the grain and hot water) fills the brewery with a wonderfully warming and reassuring aroma of warm cereals. It also serves as a great way of getting warm, standing over the Mash Tun, paddle in hand, engulfed in the rising hot vapours usually leads to a stripping of layers down to t-shirt.

3. Tasting the first runnings. The hot, sweet wort that runs off from the base of the Mash Tun is an amazingly delicious drink. A sure fire cure-all for any ailment. A few sips and you’re set up for the day.

4. Weighing out the aroma hops. Surely one of the most enjoyable parts of any brewday; fetching the various bags of hops from the store and opening them up, releasing the myriad of stunning, aromas from varieties such as Nelson Sauvin, Citra and New Zealand Hallertau Aroma.

5. Late Hops. The last of the kettle hop additions is the one that has the greatest impact on the senses. As the hops hit the hot-wort they release their aromas and the brewery becomes suffused with tropical fruit, pine and berry.

6. Casting. Another aroma unique to the brewing process. Freshly cooled wort running into the fermenter releases a strangely complimentary bitter/sweet combo. All the bitterness from the hops, with all the sweetness from the malt yet to be fermented away.

7. The yeast bucket. Yeast has an aroma all of its own including hints of the beer from which it was previously cropped, plus its own inimitable yeasty freshness. It is also pleasing to the eye, with its pale caramel mousse like appearance. Pitching into the fermenter, the brewer carefully measures the appropriate amount; just enough to consume the readily fermentable sugars, and to provide for subsequent brews.

8. Beer checks. The beer ferments for up to a week, and needs tender loving care throughout this period with particular attention given to gravity and temperature. Raising the fermenter lid often results in a harsh blast of suffocating CO2, readily replaced by the heady aroma of beer at high Krausen. Daily measurements of the gravity require a sample to be drawn off, and a tasting is compulsory. The gradual transformation from wort to finished beer is beautifully described by the changing character of the warm, cloudy liquid.

9. Skimming. The scrupulous cleanliness required to ensure a successful cropping of a beer’s yeast means that this part of the brewing process is characterised by the smell of alcohol wipes and sanitising gel. Fortunately, once skimming commences, the aromas of the yeast bucket, previously described take over.

10. Dry-hopping. A worthy contender for title of “Best Part Of Brewing Ever”. The startlingly pungent and fresh aromas of hop pellets before being pitched into the beer are massively enjoyable. This also serves as a tantalising curtain-raiser to the expected character of the finished beer.

11. The tasting. An assessment and evaluation of the fully fermented beer as it is racked into casks, or filled into bottle. The final piece of the jigsaw slots neatly into place, and a sense of “job well done” prevails.

12. The drinking. At last, the finished product in the hands of the discerning consumer. Weeks of work culminating in the ephemeral enjoyment of a quick pint, or a lengthy endurance session. Either way, we’re delighted that you’re enjoying our beer.

Cheers!