Franconian Beer Message Board

Back to the main page
Back to parent post

Bamberg visit - Mahr's & U

Posted by Barry on 2010-01-03 07:23:25

Does bright beer still exist? Thought that was beer which was pasteurised and then served by electric pumps under Co2 blanket pressure - stuff that used to be delivered by tankers and stored in huge tanks in pubs. This seems to me quite different from 'lagered' beer, which is essentially natural, and which casuses my wonder at why extra CO2 needs to be added. I thought (maybe I'm wrong) that the effect of bottom fermenting beers as opposed to top fermenting ales was that it took longer for the former to ferment out, thus requiring the long lagering process. As a result, the CO2 from the secondary fermentation remains longer, thus giving the beer a longer 'shelf' life, which is as you state. So, why do most pubs in Germany serve with added CO2? Surely they could dispense direct from the barrel? I know from my experience as a publican that the life span of a real ale is probably about 10 days from cask filling. After delivery, one day to settle, then broach the cask, leave for a day (if possible), then serve. After that, in good conditions, it should last 4 to 5 days, even longer with higher gravity beers. I'm just drinking the last of my naturally conditioned, sedimented Hirschbrau Helles, which has a 'best drink' date of Dec 27 - and it still tastes as good as ever 1 week late! I calculate that this beer was bottled at least one moth ago, which surely confirms my contention above? Sorry to bang on about this - as I say, just trying to come to some understanding of German beer practice!

Bright Beer, Conditioning, etc. by Nick B. on 2010-01-04 00:53:40

Bright Beer, Conditioning, etc. by Barry on 2010-01-04 08:48:52

Bright Beer, Conditioning, etc. by Uncle Jimbo on 2010-01-04 13:32:40

Bamberg visit - Mahr's & U by Mark Andersen on 2010-01-04 15:10:17

Bright Beer, Conditioning, etc. by Nick B. on 2010-01-05 01:22:34

Bamberg visit - Mahr's & U by Nick B. on 2010-01-05 01:40:22

Bright Beer, Conditioning, etc. by Barry on 2010-01-05 03:18:42

Bamberg visit - Mahr's & U by Barry on 2010-01-05 03:47:49

Bamberg visit - Mahr's & U by Mark Andersen on 2010-01-05 06:16:41

Bamberg visit - Mahr's & U by Mark Andersen on 2010-01-05 07:02:19

Natural carbonation in beers by Uncle Jimbo on 2010-01-05 10:22:09

Buzzards Bay by Uncle Jimbo on 2010-01-05 10:31:31

Bright Beer, Conditioning, etc. by Fred Waltman on 2010-01-05 17:08:46

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by Joelle on 2010-01-11 09:03:37

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by Mark Andersen on 2010-01-11 12:35:18

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by Joelle on 2010-01-11 13:10:47

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by Fred Waltman on 2010-01-11 14:17:07

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by Joelle on 2010-01-12 07:55:11

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by Uncle Jimbo on 2010-01-12 11:08:54

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by Nick B. on 2010-01-12 23:32:06

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by TreinJan on 2010-01-13 00:26:32

Weyerman's Smoked Malt by Nick B. on 2010-01-13 02:08:48