Beers at B.I.G. From Around The World

Alright beer-lovers; Oktoberfest is in full-swing and there’s going to be lots of meeting and mingling with strangers, so it’ll be well your worth to know a few talking points for conversations with fellow beerheads. Beginning with the basics, the four fundamental ingredients for brewing beers are yeast, malt, water, and hops. Hops are a cone-shaped flower that provide a refined spicy-bitter taste to beers that contain them. Beers are divided into two categories: the first is ale, which is fermented at high temperatures and carry fruity and floral notes, and the second is lager, fermented in a cooler, carrying lighter malt-flavoured notes.

Different brands craft their beers from variants of the basic four ingredients, along with a huge spectrum of their chosen additional ingredients such as juniper berries or even hemp to give each brand their individual tastes. When you see the words  ‘craft beer’, it simply refers to beer that is produced by an independent brewery of small to medium size. The process of fermenting and flavouring beer is indeed a tedious craft, with minute details such as temperature and air quality affecting a large part of a beer’s quality and taste. Now that you’re a little better informed, let’s hop on to what we’re drinking.

  1. Australia: Foster’s 
    No doubt you’ve heard this name before – established in 1887 by William and Ralph Foster, this beer is enjoyed in more than 150 countries and is one of the many successful beer brands under Carlton United Breweries. The company uses only the choicest ‘Pride of Ringwood’ hops from Tasmania, Victoria, and Myaree (Melville City), brewing them with their secret yeast that delivers their signature crisp taste.

Belgium: Duvel
This iconic beer brand has been presided over by five generations of the Moortgat family, achieving monumental success from humble beginnings in 1871 Breendonk, Belgium. Their 90-day brewing process uses a quality blend of blond malt, Saaz Saaz and Styrian Golding hops, a special strain of Scottish yeast, and water from their brewery’s very own well. The name was coined after reactions to their original recipe brew spawned the phrase “This is the real Duvel (devil)”. You’d duvel to get a round in yourself.

United Kingdom: Fuller’s London Pride
A company with a noble history albeit with eyes always looking towards the future, Fuller’s London Pride is truly a quintessential London beer brewed under the watchful eye of their emblematic gold Griffin. Their famous ale is produced using four homegrown hop varieties, complemented by a trademark crystal malt. The malt flavours the ale with notes of sweet raisin, biscuit and dried-fruit, while the hops embellish with balanced bitterness and a piney herb flavouring. The name ‘London Pride’ was simply a suggestion made by a member of the public in the 1950s but holds up handsomely to this day. 

German: Paulaner 
Makers of classic Bavarian beer and proud partner of FC Bayern München, you’ll find this beer ubiquitous at all Oktoberfest parties. Paulaner Weissbier(white beer or wheat beer) is brewed in Munich under the great care and passion of Paulaner’s Bavarian brewmasters. The recipe was concocted in accordance with the Bavarian Purity Law, using a concentration of 50-70% wheat and a special yeast that lends the beer its refreshing fruity flavour. High standards and good old fashioned brewing has made this beer a global favourite.

Japan: Sapporo

Japan’s oldest brand of beer, Sapporo has been churning out quality biru (beer) since 1876, and are amongst the top Japanese beer brands along with Kirin, Suntory, Asahi, and Orion. Like most Japanese beers, Sapporos are lighter than German beers, and the company takes immense pride in their signature crisp, refreshing flavor and clean taste. Lagers have a mass appeal due to their lightness and suitability to most kinds of food, and this beer is no exception. If you’re cracking open a can of biru, do it local Jap style by munching on something hijau like edamame.

Knowing more about your beers goes a long way in adding to their enjoyment, as you are better prepared on what flavours to expect while appreciating their rich history. Find these and more in the beer section at B.I.G., and as always, drink responsibly!

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