International Beer Day 2024: 5 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Beer

How many days a year can you drink beer around the world? Given the history and global popularity of beer, there are actually quite a few. In the United States, National Beer Day is celebrated on April 7th to commemorate the day in 1933 when the American President repealed Prohibition and stopped the production of up to four types of beer. Percentage of alcohol by volume. At the end of September, the annual Oktoberfest takes place in Munich, which lasts for two weeks. This festival is now imitated around the world. Then there is Beer Can Appreciation Day (January 24th), Beer Lover’s Day (September 7th), India Pale Ale Day (August), and International Beer Day, which is celebrated every year on the first Friday of August to celebrate beer, bars, and beer culture. Worldwide. This year, International Beer Day is on August 2nd. Before you head to your nearest microbrewery or bar to join the celebrations and toast to India’s burgeoning beer culture, consider these five points to choose the right beer for you and pair it with food:

1. Types of Beer

Beer is brewed all over the world. When it comes to beer antiquities, the Egyptians are of course the leaders. Belgian Trappist beers and German monastic breweries’ beer Andechs have been brewed the same way for centuries. And in India, there are references to a type of rice beer in Vedic times. Most beers brewed today can be divided into two categories: lagers and ales, although there are additional categories and subcategories.

Lager: To brew a lager, yeast is added from the bottom of the container to ferment a mixture of malted and unmalted barley, water and hops. Most of the beers sold in India are lagers. Kingfisher, Carlson, Budweiser, Heineken, Tuborg and Haywards 5000 all sell lager varieties.

Ales: India Pale Ale (IPA), Belgian Ale, Brown Ale, Pale Ale and Stout are all top-fermented ales that tend to be fruity. In terms of colour, they can be darker than lagers and pils, but not always. These beers are sometimes unfiltered and a pint or two will leave you feeling full.

“It’s a misconception that light beers have a lower alcohol content,” says Prasanna Kumar, founder of BLR Brewing Co., which has four branches in Bangalore.

So, the first thing to consider before choosing a beer is whether you want a light lager or a fruity ale. Both are available in bottled and craft versions, and come in different price ranges.

If you also want to try non-alcoholic and gluten-free beers, there are options from beer makers such as Budweiser, Kingfisher, Cobra and Stag. However, these tend to be more expensive.

2. Pairing Beer with Biryani and Other Foods

Beer and biryani is a classic combination. But you can also choose a beer that complements, contrasts or finishes your meal, explain experts. Here’s what that means:

Beers that complement a meal will have a similar flavour profile. For a seafood main course, pair a wheat beer with coriander or citrus peel to bring out the mild, aromatic taste.

Beer contrasts with food, as it has the opposite aroma and flavor to the food. If you’re eating a spicy tikka or kebab, try pairing it with a dry, refreshing lager, adds experts.

Just like having a beer to counteract the heat after eating something spicy like a jalapeño, a beer to interrupt your meal can have a soothing effect.

You can also consider pairing beer with different courses, such as a stout and dessert. A good example is a chocolate brownie with a milk stout (which contains lactose), says Prasanna Kumar.

Milk or milkshake stout is also called ice cream stout, expert said, adding that the lactose in it makes the beer creamier and smoother.

3. Beer Prices in India

If you are looking for a beer that can get you high quickly, there is a good reason why beers like Haywards 5000 are still well-liked in India: they are affordable.

However, craft manufacturers and microbreweries are pushing the boundaries of what drinkers are prepared to pay as yuppie culture spreads across the nation. Numerous experiences are available here, including dozens of beers, imported beers, various beers, small-batch brews, and experimental brews. As an example, consider the difference in the foam formation between nitro beer and beer that has had carbon dioxide injected after fermentation to give it more fizz, according to Prasanna Kumar of BLR Brewing Co.

Imported and experimental beers can cost a pretty penny per pint. Brands such as Duvel, Murphy’s, Chimay Red, Guinness, Leffe Blonde and Schneider Weisse charge a premium for bottled beer, with suggested retail prices sometimes exceeding Rs 500 per pint.

Also consider the amount of enzymes (to aid fermentation), preservatives and sugar in the beer. These tend to be lower in craft beer, but you’ll pay a premium for that.

4. Beer Culture in India

According to the World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Alcohol, Health and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders, released on June 25, 2024, beer consumption has fallen by 3% worldwide. However, in India, microbreweries are springing up in areas such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Gurgaon.

Cheap dark beer (dark in color is achieved by roasting barley at a certain temperature) dominates the market in terms of numbers, but craft beer makers are now popping up all over the country.

Of course, their growth is still limited. For example, industry insiders say the market is very price sensitive. There are also limitations such as the fact that consumers are exposed to a wide variety of beers. For instance, more experienced drinkers may be more willing to try India Pale Ales, which score above 40 on the International Bitterness Scale (IBU index). For comparison, Experts said most beers available in India have an IBU value of 10-15.

The fact that the cold beer market is on the upswing can be seen from the number of beers on wine shop shelves and the number of brands registered in some cities. Reuters reported in June that beer sales are expected to grow by 10% in the summer.

According to expert, 83 beer brands are registered in Delhi alone. While beer sales across India are still dominated by cheap dark beers, the beer culture in some Indian cities with a strong yuppy (young, fashionable, high-income society) presence seems to be enough to attract more artisans to give them the courage to take the deep dive.

5. Bitter-sweet Experience Level

When choosing a beer, one of Prasanna Kumar’s main questions is, “How experimental are you feeling?”

Most of us move on from fairly sweet spirits, wines, and beers to more complex flavors. So if you’ve never had beer, it might be hard to immediately fall in love with a bitter India Pale Ale. A Belgian wheat beer with wheat, coriander, and citrus peel might be better. So is Germany’s Hefeweizen, which is also made from wheat.

Internationally, wheat beer is said to contain 50 percent wheat, which contributes to its sweeter taste. But in India, wheat beers usually have less than 30 percent wheat content, says exert. This has to do with ease of production.

At the other end of the spectrum, more experienced and adventurous drinkers may prefer stronger ales and stouts. Some of you may prefer hoppier (and therefore more bitter) beers, or you may be curious about the type and origin of hops in your beer.

So, the next time you walk into a bar or brewery, think about what you really want to have. A light pilsner, a dark ale, a mild stout, a hoppy IPA, or a good old lager (strong or light). , that you’ve probably known and loved for years. Bottoms up.