Beer Advice: What Beer to Order at a Bar

In a recent interview of Charles Bamforth on Chow.com, the professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences [This exists!?!] at UC Davis explains how best to order beer.
The best beer is locally brewed, poured from a fresh keg whose lines are cleaned nightly.
That's because the beer has traveled less, which means it was brewed more recently; an untapped keg is less likely to be stale; and cleaning the lines reduces chance of bacterial infection which can alter taste.
Second choice? Any beer on tap, where the lines are cleaned nightly.
Never order imported beer, because you don't know how long it took to travel from the country of origin to your country of drinking.
Even cans aren't necessarily to be frown upon. Cans can seal more air-tight than bottles, and the metal protects the brew from light which can degrade the volatile chemicals which make beer so flavorful.

His whole interview is worth a read, go check it out.

Beer Trivia: Reinheitsgebot

In 1516 Reinheitsgebot was introduced as a law in Germany which states that beer may only contain four ingredients: water, malt, hops, and yeast. This law has regulated German beer brewing ever since.

Beer Roll: January

January was a slow month for me drinking beer.
Here's the Beer Roll:
Blue Moon Winter Seasonal
Detroit Brewing Co. Detroit Lager
Spaten Oktoberfest


These are not beers, but like to join the party:
Mike's Hard Light Lemonade
Mike's Hard Punch - Mango

Beer News: 2012 Oberon Mini-Keg Label Released

If you're like me, you longingly await the release of Oberon each Spring. The wheat beer with the subtle hint of orange and citrus. It's the perfect brew on a summer night.
And as an Oberon drinker, I can't beat the economy of one of the Bell's mini-kegs! Wondering what you're looking for? Bell's label for their 2012 Oberon mini-keg was just released.

Beer Video: Buy Local Beer