Ninkasi, you are the one who soaks the malt in a jar
The waves rise, the waves fall.
You are the one who spreads the cooked mash on large reed mats,
Coolness overcomes.
You are the one who holds with both hands the great sweet wort,
Brewing [it] with honey and wine
When you pour out the filtered beer of the collector vat,
It is [like] the onrush of Tigris and Euphrates.
The Hymn to Ninkasi is the oldest recipe for brewing Sumerian beer from barley which was inscribed on a tablet in a 3900 year old tablet. It was a poem to honour Ninkasi, who is considered as the
Sumerian goddess of beer.
Sumerian goddess of beer.
Beer was mainly brewed on a domestic scale where women brewers dominated the production. However, after the commercialisation and industrialisation of beer, this changed.
The Ingredients
Beer is the third most popular drink today, after water and tea. The basic ingredients of brewing beer are ...
Water
Beer contains more than 90% water. So the water profiles of various regions of the world play an important role in the taste of the beer. High concentrations of certain minerals, like sulfate, in the local water source could make the beer taste more ‘hoppy’. For example, the water in Burton in UK has high levels of such minerals, and the ‘hardness’ of this water makes the English pale ales brewed there more ‘hoppy’.
Malt
Malt refers to the cereal grains that have been dried in the Malting process. Malting helps convert the starches from the grain into various types of sugars.
Hops
Hops are the flowers of the Hops plant Humulus Lupulus. They add flavour to the beer and stabilize it and also add bitterness. They also act as a natural preservative.
Hops are the flowers of the Hops plant Humulus Lupulus. They add flavour to the beer and stabilize it and also add bitterness. They also act as a natural preservative.
India pale ales brewed by the Bow brewery, on the Middlesex-Essex border, became very popular among the East India Company traders in the late 18th century. These beers had higher proportions of the hops to survive long voyages by sea better than other styles of beer.
Yeast
Yeast
The Yeast mixed with the sugars are an intergral part of the malting process and creates more yeast. However, the brewers are more interested in the by-products of this process – alcohol and CO2 (which adds fizz to the beers).
The Process
To get an idea of the brewing process, you can refer to the diagram below:
The location
The latest instalment of The Beer Cafe, which has opened up at High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel, seems like something out of Captain Haddock's handbook; where adventure meets the high seas, and of course, BOOZE being the stimulant! The walls, with strokes of subtle blue waves with ships and steering wheels, with a wall of beers right over the counter, which honestly, left me drooling!!
We entered the venue for the Beer appreciation workshop, hosted by John Eapen. John took us through the history of beers, understanding why beers from various cities taste different and understanding the brewing process of beers. We also got to taste a few of the beers served at the outlet. We were served beers in 'cutting chai' glasses so that we don’t get #tastingkenaampetalli
The Contenders
Each beer we had was accompanied with a starter or some chakna to help relish our beers even more! The starters served were a combination of contrasts and compliments to the accompanying beers.
So we started off with the Praga Pilsner, a 200 year old Czech brew. Refreshing as it was, Praga Pilsner has lower amounts of CO2, which makes the beer light and less filling on the tummy. The flavor has a bit of spice along with mild hop bitterness.
It was served with Beer battered Onion Rings, which went famously with the light hoppy flavor of the brew.
Next up, was the Zen from our very own Gateway Brewing Company. Gateway is a fast growing brewing company based out of Mumbai which has been brewing classic styles of beers with local ingredients.
Micro-breweries never fail to impress us with the styles, flavors and tastes they experiment to come up with new brews. The Zen, a classic style wheat beer did just that, with its flavors of banana and citrus which was refreshing and alluring.
Wheat beers go well with sea food or anything with cheese. So, of course, I went for the Italian Job Pizza which was, in itself, a slice of heaven!
We then moved on to Hoegaarden. This is a beer which needs no introduction. It is available with most pubs and bars, and might have been part of your drinking scenes.
It is a sparkling bright yellow beer with a light bitter- sweet taste which has a nice frothy foam. It is light bodied and very refreshing. The feel is definitely on the sweet side of the beer spectrum.
This was accompanied with the neatly presented Falafel & Tzatziki which worked like a charm!
Shepherd Neame Spitfire, my new favorite, is a dark amber colored clear beer, having aromas of toffee, dryfruits and a little lemon. On every sip, it starts off a tad bit on the sweeter side with a sudden punch of hoppy bitterness towards the end. It is a light bodied beer so its easy on the belly!
This was paired with BBQ sausages. The barbecued sausages gave a sweeter twist to the malty and hoppy bitterness of the beer. I think I gulped down the delicious beer and swallowed the perfectly grilled sausages! Couldn’t have asked for a better combination.
We then moved on to Shepherd Neame & Co.’s India Pale Ale, a copper colored beer with a thin creamy head which went down within a minute. This beer tastes a bit nutty, with a nice malt body and a slight spicy aftertaste.
This was paired with Chilli Paneer which was not a bad combination at all. The slight spicy flavour of the beer helped get the complete taste of the Chilli Paneer.
And finally ,came the Murphy’s Irish Stout. This medium bodied creamy and silky beer was a sight for sore eyes. It stood tall with its creamy flowing froth, with aromas of coffee and dark chocolate. The can comes with a nitrogen widget which bursts and gives the creamy finish to the beer.
This was paired with a delicious Brownie topped with a Vanilla Ice cream. At first, we thought it was an unusual paring. Like, who mixes beer with dessert?! But we stood amazed yet again.
5 Steps for Sampling:
We had the privilege of being guided by Mr. John Eapen throughout the session about how to appreciate and identify the beauty & individuality of each beer; but for you to try it out for yourself... just follow the steps below !
Before you start the process, make sure you have the right glassware that is clean. Pouring the beer in a glass lets the beer breathe. The perfect way to pour it is...
If you are sampling a range of beers together, always sample from light to dark and lightest in alcohol content to the heaviest. Have a glass of water between samples, not food.
1. Appearance (Color, Clarity, Head)
Raise your glass to the light and look at your Beer (Color, Clarity, Head Retention) What does the beer look like when poured? How much head does it have?
2. Aroma (Malt/Hops/Yeast)
Bring the glass to neck level and pass it under your nose from right to left and back.
Then take a short sniff of your beer. What does the beer smell like? Is it sweet, smoky, toasty or nutty – any hints of chocolate or caramel or fruity? The Hops – grassy, citrusy, herbal, piney, resin-like or floral? Are there fruity or spicy notes from the yeast?
3. Taste
Take a big enough sip to cover your entire palate. What flavors can you pick out? Often the aroma will give you a few clues. What flavors do you start with, what they evolve into and think about the finish – the aftertaste.
4. Mouthfeel
What sort of body does the beer have (watery/light, medium, heavy) and how much carbonation is in it – is it crispy on the palate or creamy?
5. Overall
This is your opinion of the beer. Did the beer smell a lot different than it tasted? Did you like or dislike something, in particular?
Example: A Stout will be darker in color, have a chocolate/coffee like aroma, low hop content, have a similar taste – roasted bitterness, full bodied with some carbonation.
Another important thing to know here would be the difference between the two main styles of beer
Beer-o-sphere
We also got a chance to experience some amazing Must Have gadgets by The Beer Cafe first hand !
The Spin Chill
When your friends suddenly drop in for a can of beer, don't make them wait to get the party started. SpinChill gets warm drinks cold in 3 miuntes. Get the party started fast: Just clip the beer bottle on it, stick it in the ice, and spin it for a 3 minutes.
Beer Foamer
We had the privilege of being guided by Mr. John Eapen throughout the session about how to appreciate and identify the beauty & individuality of each beer; but for you to try it out for yourself... just follow the steps below !
Before you start the process, make sure you have the right glassware that is clean. Pouring the beer in a glass lets the beer breathe. The perfect way to pour it is...
If you are sampling a range of beers together, always sample from light to dark and lightest in alcohol content to the heaviest. Have a glass of water between samples, not food.
1. Appearance (Color, Clarity, Head)
Raise your glass to the light and look at your Beer (Color, Clarity, Head Retention) What does the beer look like when poured? How much head does it have?
2. Aroma (Malt/Hops/Yeast)
Bring the glass to neck level and pass it under your nose from right to left and back.
Then take a short sniff of your beer. What does the beer smell like? Is it sweet, smoky, toasty or nutty – any hints of chocolate or caramel or fruity? The Hops – grassy, citrusy, herbal, piney, resin-like or floral? Are there fruity or spicy notes from the yeast?
3. Taste
Take a big enough sip to cover your entire palate. What flavors can you pick out? Often the aroma will give you a few clues. What flavors do you start with, what they evolve into and think about the finish – the aftertaste.
4. Mouthfeel
What sort of body does the beer have (watery/light, medium, heavy) and how much carbonation is in it – is it crispy on the palate or creamy?
5. Overall
This is your opinion of the beer. Did the beer smell a lot different than it tasted? Did you like or dislike something, in particular?
Example: A Stout will be darker in color, have a chocolate/coffee like aroma, low hop content, have a similar taste – roasted bitterness, full bodied with some carbonation.
Another important thing to know here would be the difference between the two main styles of beer
Beer-o-sphere
We also got a chance to experience some amazing Must Have gadgets by The Beer Cafe first hand !
When your friends suddenly drop in for a can of beer, don't make them wait to get the party started. SpinChill gets warm drinks cold in 3 miuntes. Get the party started fast: Just clip the beer bottle on it, stick it in the ice, and spin it for a 3 minutes.
Beer Foamer
Once there was an innocent beer, who when left alone for a while, stopped making foam. People from the beer fraternity said that it is probably because he has gone bad. Poor little beer, he should have used the Sonic Beer Foamer, which helps you get that aroma and froth back to your beer with its ultrasonic waves. Just add a spoonful of water on the base and place the beer glass over it. Turn on the device and watch the ultrasonic waves get froth back to the beer, in seconds. Together, let's save all the innocent beers from going bad.
The experience
This session has certainly changed my perspective about Beer. From a chill drink with a group of friends to appreciating the feel of every sip of I have, my love of Beer has increased ten folds. Now whenever I sit down to drink, I make sure I give myself a true beer feel, understanding each of its components, respecting the liquid gold in my hand and a giving a complete treat to all my senses.
More Pictures Coming Soon on : https://www.facebook.com/BikeBoozeChakna
About John Eapen
John Eapen is a Beer Evangelist and the founder of Tales Of Froth – a blog that covers Beer & Craft Beer in India and is on a mission to spread awareness about Craft Beer/Beer through his blog, workshops, live events and contributing to various publications.
His exposure to Beer/Craft Beer has been a continual journey over the past 20 years that has taken him to the Middle East, USA and Canada. Besides being a Craft Beer enthusiast, John served on Molson Canada’s consumer panel for 3 years during which he participated in Beer focus groups, marketing feedback sessions, taste tests, brewery tours and product sampling.
Tales Of Froth was launched in 2015 after a year of research and has gathered support from Brewery owners, Brewmasters, Beer enthusiasts from across India. John has conducted workshops on Beer, conducted pub crawls & assisted at Beer events He has written for publications such as the Indian Express, American Express Lifestyle, Little Black Book, explocity.com ,Hungryforever.com and has collaborated/featured on articles for the Hindustan Times & The Economic Times, Spiritz Magazine, Bangalore Mirror, GQ to name a few.
About The Beer Cafe, High Street Phoenix
The Beer Café made a splash with its ninth outlet in Maximum City. Located at High Street Phoenix Mall, Mumbai, the latest launch from India’s favorite beer chain welcomed all aboard for party, plunder and a voyage across various beer and food pairings. With 24 brands of draught beer to sip, the largest variety the country has ever witnessed, the café has already set the city buzzing!
A tryst with everything nautical, an ode to Mumbai’s great mercantile tradition and the sea around, The Beer Café’s ninth outlet in the city created a fun and interactive experience. Paying tribute to the love for adventure and the high seas, guests were enthralled by the cheery white interiors brightened up by splashes of blue, where fun graffiti on the walls, brought alive the world of pirates, blistering barnacles and life on the ocean.
The experience
This session has certainly changed my perspective about Beer. From a chill drink with a group of friends to appreciating the feel of every sip of I have, my love of Beer has increased ten folds. Now whenever I sit down to drink, I make sure I give myself a true beer feel, understanding each of its components, respecting the liquid gold in my hand and a giving a complete treat to all my senses.
More Pictures Coming Soon on : https://www.facebook.com/BikeBoozeChakna
About John Eapen
John Eapen is a Beer Evangelist and the founder of Tales Of Froth – a blog that covers Beer & Craft Beer in India and is on a mission to spread awareness about Craft Beer/Beer through his blog, workshops, live events and contributing to various publications.
His exposure to Beer/Craft Beer has been a continual journey over the past 20 years that has taken him to the Middle East, USA and Canada. Besides being a Craft Beer enthusiast, John served on Molson Canada’s consumer panel for 3 years during which he participated in Beer focus groups, marketing feedback sessions, taste tests, brewery tours and product sampling.
Tales Of Froth was launched in 2015 after a year of research and has gathered support from Brewery owners, Brewmasters, Beer enthusiasts from across India. John has conducted workshops on Beer, conducted pub crawls & assisted at Beer events He has written for publications such as the Indian Express, American Express Lifestyle, Little Black Book, explocity.com ,Hungryforever.com and has collaborated/featured on articles for the Hindustan Times & The Economic Times, Spiritz Magazine, Bangalore Mirror, GQ to name a few.
The Beer Café made a splash with its ninth outlet in Maximum City. Located at High Street Phoenix Mall, Mumbai, the latest launch from India’s favorite beer chain welcomed all aboard for party, plunder and a voyage across various beer and food pairings. With 24 brands of draught beer to sip, the largest variety the country has ever witnessed, the café has already set the city buzzing!
A tryst with everything nautical, an ode to Mumbai’s great mercantile tradition and the sea around, The Beer Café’s ninth outlet in the city created a fun and interactive experience. Paying tribute to the love for adventure and the high seas, guests were enthralled by the cheery white interiors brightened up by splashes of blue, where fun graffiti on the walls, brought alive the world of pirates, blistering barnacles and life on the ocean.
