Expert: Ed Westemeier - 6/22/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello, Ed.
I've noticed you know something about bear (the drink).

I came from Ukraine (republic of former USSR). There was a bear factory positioned literally on a spring of a groundwater in a small town. Its bear was known around the country. It was made of water, hops, east, and that was it. When I first tried Holland and German bears, it tasted as water with gas to me. So I was looking for bear without barley malt. Is there such bear?

Thank you,
Alec


ANSWER: I think you're confused about the Ukrainian beer. You said it was only water, hops, and yeast, but that would not make beer. It would only make a very bitter sort of tea. All beer must be made with grains. Normally, that is barley which has been malted, but there are some beers made with wheat, spelt, and other grains instead of barley.

The reason beer must be made with grain is that the function of the yeast is to ferment sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The sugar comes from the grain, since there are no sugars in hops.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hmm ... Thank you. I didn't know that. Yeah, but an open beer was left in a fridge and tasted as a beer next day. Dark Heineken, if take away the bitterness, reminds me that beer. Can you suggest a beer?
Thank you,
Alec

Answer
I can only guess, but here's what it sounds like to me.
Leaving an open beer overnight will make it go flat. If that is more to your taste, then it might be that you just don't appreciate the high carbonation level of most beers today. That's very understandable. It's also what makes draught ales so popular in England, since they have very low carbonation levels.

I can't suggest particular beers because I don't know where you live and what is available. But here's an idea. Next time you open a beer, be sure to pour it right down the center of a large glass. That will create a big head, and release much of the carbonation. You might find that the lower carbonation level makes the beer more drinkable, since the mouthfeel will be changed.

If that works, then you have a good start at fixing the problem.