Beer Or Wine?
I'll start this article with a question, Between the two, whatll you choose, Beer or Wine? Rowdy teenagers gulp booze, sophisticated individuals sip wine. What!?! The former gets their stash from the nearest 24-hour joint while the latter gets their beverage from the exclusive California wineries. Again, what!? This may be true at some extent but one cannot gauge the attitude or the status of the person through the fluid they drink. Drinking either wine or beer, doesn't make you more or less of a person (though gulping an entire bottle of wine or keg of beer will certainly turn you into someone that you're clearly not or someone that you clearly are.) Now let's see which is truly better
In the blue corner, beer: Malt, hops, water and yeast---these are your main ingredients. Said drink is a product of the fermentation of malt derived from the digestion of germinated barley grains. Actually there are 5 grains that may be used to make beer namely barley, wheat, oats, maize and rice. Though barley is the favorite among the five. Second would be the hops, which adds bitterness as contrast to the sweetness of the malted barley. Of course you'll need a solvent, this is where h2o comes in. This comprises more than 90% of the beer. Last would be the yeast, the fermenting agent. These are present to convert the sugars in the wort (or the liquid product of mashed malted barley) into alcohol.
Who says that beer cannot be refined? FYI, with the proper glassware and in the proper temperature---beer drinking can be a very elegant experience. But let's see the beer in its simplest form---ice cold. In a summer day with a dog or brat at your disposal, what'll you choose, beer or wine? I reckon it would be the former. It seems that beer matches summer foods better than wine. With spicy cuisine, same applies---Singha anyone? Generally, a beer's alcohol content is lower as compared to wine. However, this does not mean that you can chug a 6-pack in one sitting. Remember, not all beers are manufactured in the same manner or using the same amount to yeast, malted barley, etc. Have you heard of craft beers, ales or stouts? Lindemann's Frambois Lambic, Xingu, Sam Adams and Guinness are a few of the better tasting, honest to goodness Brew. Try those, don't limit yourself to cans of Budexpand your horizon. Always be prudent with regard the amount of alcohol in your body. Drink for the taste, not to be drunk. Now, let's go to the other side.
In the red corner, wine: Grapes (or other fruit juices like peach, apple, elderberry, etc), water and yeast. Actually, the grapes themselves already possess the needed acids, minerals, sugars and juice. Though wine sellers and makers add yeast to increase alcohol content. During fermentation, sulfur dioxide is added to regulate the growth of wild yeast. The quality of the ingredients, controlled by the temperature and the contour of its surroundings---these are the characteristics that makes wine oh-so refined. In wine making, it is a necessity that you purchase quality grapes. If your main ingredient is below par, same will reflect in the outcome, ok? First step is to create a must. This is the combo of pulp and liquid that was produced when the grapes (stem removed) have been stomped or crushed. The must then will be pressed, squeezing the life out of every single grape in the bunch. The pressed liquid will now be placed inside a vat to separate the juice from the sediments, pulp and stems. This process will be made a few times for further settling. Same will be left to age. Through proper aging, these barreled liquids can be transformed into cult wines or collectible wines, even into rare wines.
Before, I neither eat nor drink something that I cannot pronounce. Then comes the wine. The always present drink in special occasions like weddings, birthdays, new beginnings, etc. From Merlot to Cabernet Sauvignon, from Chardonnay to Riesling, from red wine to white wine. This is the strength of wines, its variety. And with this, said drink may cater to almost every palate (its pricetag, however, may sometimes be a burden). Though there are affordable wines, I'm not sure if you're going to trade your beloved Lindermann or Sam Adams to a cheap bottle of wine. This is also applicable on the other side. One may not be willing to give up his Merlot or Chardonnay to a Budweiser.
Various surveys have been conducted, the results seem to be swinging back and forth. One says that it's beer, the other reflects that wine is more preferred. My answer would be, it depends' After a long summer day of working like heck, it's good to have an ice-cold Bud or Ale beside you with your chips and remote control. Though I'm not taking anything away from the elegance that is wine. A chilled sauvignon to go with your grilled snapper is a perfect combo. Like I said, it would really depend on the situation. What kind of wine? What kind of beer? Presented with what combo of food? What season?
With all these things said, allow me to rephrase my title, Good Beer or Fine Wine? Or Both? The latter in the left hand while the former in the right. Problem solved.
Kidding aside, from my POV, the difference between beer and wine is not that important as compared to the responsibility that one should have upon drinking the same. Whether its beer or wine, one should know his limitations.
In the blue corner, beer: Malt, hops, water and yeast---these are your main ingredients. Said drink is a product of the fermentation of malt derived from the digestion of germinated barley grains. Actually there are 5 grains that may be used to make beer namely barley, wheat, oats, maize and rice. Though barley is the favorite among the five. Second would be the hops, which adds bitterness as contrast to the sweetness of the malted barley. Of course you'll need a solvent, this is where h2o comes in. This comprises more than 90% of the beer. Last would be the yeast, the fermenting agent. These are present to convert the sugars in the wort (or the liquid product of mashed malted barley) into alcohol.
Who says that beer cannot be refined? FYI, with the proper glassware and in the proper temperature---beer drinking can be a very elegant experience. But let's see the beer in its simplest form---ice cold. In a summer day with a dog or brat at your disposal, what'll you choose, beer or wine? I reckon it would be the former. It seems that beer matches summer foods better than wine. With spicy cuisine, same applies---Singha anyone? Generally, a beer's alcohol content is lower as compared to wine. However, this does not mean that you can chug a 6-pack in one sitting. Remember, not all beers are manufactured in the same manner or using the same amount to yeast, malted barley, etc. Have you heard of craft beers, ales or stouts? Lindemann's Frambois Lambic, Xingu, Sam Adams and Guinness are a few of the better tasting, honest to goodness Brew. Try those, don't limit yourself to cans of Budexpand your horizon. Always be prudent with regard the amount of alcohol in your body. Drink for the taste, not to be drunk. Now, let's go to the other side.
In the red corner, wine: Grapes (or other fruit juices like peach, apple, elderberry, etc), water and yeast. Actually, the grapes themselves already possess the needed acids, minerals, sugars and juice. Though wine sellers and makers add yeast to increase alcohol content. During fermentation, sulfur dioxide is added to regulate the growth of wild yeast. The quality of the ingredients, controlled by the temperature and the contour of its surroundings---these are the characteristics that makes wine oh-so refined. In wine making, it is a necessity that you purchase quality grapes. If your main ingredient is below par, same will reflect in the outcome, ok? First step is to create a must. This is the combo of pulp and liquid that was produced when the grapes (stem removed) have been stomped or crushed. The must then will be pressed, squeezing the life out of every single grape in the bunch. The pressed liquid will now be placed inside a vat to separate the juice from the sediments, pulp and stems. This process will be made a few times for further settling. Same will be left to age. Through proper aging, these barreled liquids can be transformed into cult wines or collectible wines, even into rare wines.
Before, I neither eat nor drink something that I cannot pronounce. Then comes the wine. The always present drink in special occasions like weddings, birthdays, new beginnings, etc. From Merlot to Cabernet Sauvignon, from Chardonnay to Riesling, from red wine to white wine. This is the strength of wines, its variety. And with this, said drink may cater to almost every palate (its pricetag, however, may sometimes be a burden). Though there are affordable wines, I'm not sure if you're going to trade your beloved Lindermann or Sam Adams to a cheap bottle of wine. This is also applicable on the other side. One may not be willing to give up his Merlot or Chardonnay to a Budweiser.
Various surveys have been conducted, the results seem to be swinging back and forth. One says that it's beer, the other reflects that wine is more preferred. My answer would be, it depends' After a long summer day of working like heck, it's good to have an ice-cold Bud or Ale beside you with your chips and remote control. Though I'm not taking anything away from the elegance that is wine. A chilled sauvignon to go with your grilled snapper is a perfect combo. Like I said, it would really depend on the situation. What kind of wine? What kind of beer? Presented with what combo of food? What season?
With all these things said, allow me to rephrase my title, Good Beer or Fine Wine? Or Both? The latter in the left hand while the former in the right. Problem solved.
Kidding aside, from my POV, the difference between beer and wine is not that important as compared to the responsibility that one should have upon drinking the same. Whether its beer or wine, one should know his limitations.
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