Drinking from the Bottle

[Scut_Monkey]

It's official. The thing that annoys me most about serving home brew is that everyone thinks it's necessary to drink it straight from the bottle. I explain to people that homebrew and most craft brews are different and will taste best when poured into a glass. I have even shown the yeast sediment to people to try to prove the point and they still think it's necessary to drink straight from the bottle. Now I can understand if there are no glasses around but I bring glasses for people to use when I'm not at home. I find it irritating because its almost as if they are telling me that they know more about my beer than I do.

Am I the only one that has this problem. Is there a good way to help people to understand. I don't see how this is such an abstract concept to grasp!

 

[McKBrew]

You can only try. Some people aren't going to be swayed regardless. For the rest, maybe you could post some tasting instructions with the beer or give them basic judging checklists for appearance, aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, etc... to get them to appreciate it more.

The final option is to start kegging and serve it out of a tap. They'll have to drink it from a glass then

 

[Loweface]

Pour two glasses, one with clear well poured beer and one with the yeast all stirred up like if it was continuosly being sipped from. Show them the difference let them taste the difference, and for anyone who still thinks theres no difference just let them drink the yeasty one and wait for the sound effects....

 

[tspilker]

I always get crap for bringing a glass to people's houses to drink my beer out of. Oh well.

I should start using the mug instead of the pilsener glass... im going to break that thing one day.

 

[Lefty]

I have converted my friends. It can be done.

 

[Revvy]

I wrote this for another thread last year....you could consider it a script....

Yeastie Boyz

A one act play by Revvy

Cast
HB) = Homebrewer
G) = Guest.

Scene, a living room, G and HB are hanging out watching the game.

HB) Hey you wanna try one of my beers?

G) Sure

HB grabs bottle, glass and bottle opener. Proceeds to open and pour beer properly.

HB) I dunno if you know this, but as opposed to BMC's this beer and most micro brews are alive?

G)Huh? Wha?

HB) They're still alive. See the macroswill makers pretty much kill their beers so they last on the shelf. They pasturize them and filter out the yeast, and to me, most of the flavor...that's why I like to brew, and like to go to brewpubs and stuff.

But these beers, and ones like Rogue, and Bell's don't filter, in fact the yeast is still in the bottle and that's how the beer gets carbonated.

B) Really?

HB holds up bottle to the light, showing the dregs.

HB) Yeah, see this stuff at the bottom? That's the yeast....notice how clear your beer is? If I had poured it in you beer it would have been cloudy, but I poured the beer til this stuff got to the shoulder of the bottle, leaving it behind.

HB knocks back the yeast dregs.

Actually the stuffs really good for you it's full of vitamin b and stuff. Sometimes I don't bother leaving it behind and just dump it in the bottle. And some beers like Wheats are meant to be cloudy with suspended yeast. There's different types of beer yeasts, and they give beers different tastes. Some yeast give the beer the flavor of Banana, or cloves.

Or like this beer here the yeast gives it this quality (Hb describes the yeast in the beer guest is drinking.) Can you taste it?

Some of us homebrewers actually capture the yeast from some of the beers, and grow our own cultures with them. Some are really awesome and hard to get.

G)Wow, I didn't know you knew so much about this stuff...cool.

HB) Thanks, didja know that the yeasts are so important to the Belgian brewers that guard their yeast like it was fort knox? Some of them take it so seriously that they actually filter out the strain they fermented with, and then replace it with a different one to bottle carb and condition them? They actually take out one strain (like the BMC'ers do) BUT they still add yeast at bottling time...it's that important to them.

G) What?

HB) Yeah and brewers and even some homebrewers who go to Belgian, actually try to steal samples of the yeast.

G) No ****?

HB) Yeah it's pretty wild, huh? Hey you wanna try another of my beers, maybe a wheat or a belgian that has a really yeasty character?

G) Yeah sure.

HB hands G a bottle, class and bottle openner

HB)Ok dude, I showed you how to pour to the shoulder of the bottle, so why don't you give it a try?

G) Cool! So will you teach me how to brew sometime?

HB) Yeah, I'm brewing this weekend, come on by Sat. Morning.
Smiles knowing he's converted another one to the 'darkside.'

G) SO can I make a beer like bud lite?

HB smacks G over the head with beer bottle

The End

(Just kidding about the last part)

 

[carl spakler]

I find it irritating because its almost as if they are telling me that they know more about my beer than I do.

1) Get over yourself
2) Let them do whatever they want to do
3) If #2 bothers you so much stop offering up homebrew

 

[brian_g]

I've never ran into that before. Once I explain the yeast thing, people are ok drinking from a glass. My wife says she misses drinking beer from a bottle, but she still uses a glass for our home brew. I've been wondering if the right fining agents will get a beer clear enough to drink from the bottle.

I usually explain it like this. Home brew is naturally carbonated, so there's yeast at the bottom of every bottle. If the yeast gets in your beer, it makes it taste funny.

I usually don't have to say more then that. I like to use the phrase "naturally carbonated," it makes it sound much better then "there's gunk in the bottle."

 

[TommyBoy]

When I bottled I always poured them for my friends.

I keg now but still serve them most of the time.

 

[jpowers1]

I've known a couple guys who drink from the bottle, they only pour canned beer into a glass. I guess the bottle is special to some people because it costs more than cans...

 

[Homercidal]

I have friends who only drink from the bottle. Their kid teased me once for doing it, and I have reason to believe that the teasing stemmed from their behind my back discussion on my preference for a glass. The problem is that they drink Labatt's, Heiney, etc. Who needs a glass for that stuff? It's like soda pop!

I could explain that I prefer beer with aroma and that it enhances the aroma, not to mention helps keep the yeast out (Not that I care about drinking the yeast), but I suspect they still think I'm some sort of beer snob.

It would be nice if they were to expand their beer horizons, but I don't really see it happening, so I don't care anymore. People will do what they want. Once you explain the aroma and yeast to them, let them do what they want.

I'll still drink from a glass if it's available, they can get a lower quality of beer drinking experience if they choose to. Frankly, I rarely even drink from a glass if it's Labatt's or whatever. If I'm in the garage and don't have a glass handy, I'll drink from the bottle too. Although, now that I think about it, I really should get some plastic glasses out there...

 

[remilard]

I usually explain it like this. Home brew is naturally carbonated, so there's yeast at the bottom of every bottle. If the yeast gets in your beer, it makes it taste funny.

That is going to come off as condescending to a lot of people.

The local Brewery (which is the sixth largest in the country), Boulevard, bottle conditions and people know this and drink their beer from the bottle. If I said the above around here to someone who had been on a Boulevard tour or read the bottle I would sound like a *******.

A more honest explanation would be:

"I bottle condition my beer, but I am not as good at it as a commercial brewery so there is a metric crapload of sediment in my bottles. Not what you are used to with bottled conditioned commercial beer."

 

[StunnedMonkey]

I wrote this for another thread last year....you could consider it a script....

Ha. Like any real conversation with your average BMC drinker would proceed that way. They'd beat you to death with their Miller Lite bottles before you ever got to the word "dregs."

 

[Revvy]

Ha. Like any real conversation with your average BMC drinker would proceed that way. They'd beat you to death with their Miller Lite bottles before you ever got to the word "dregs."

I dunno...most of the BMC drinkers I know are open minded, and know of my passion for beer, and food (and have sampled both, much to their enjoyment)..and actually like learning stuff, and trying new things..so that conversation has actually happened on occasion, to friends of my family, relatives I don't see regularly, but may be at a holiday gathering where I do a tasting...stuff like that.

Of course also, I have no qualms about drinking BMC (well, Labatts, Strohs, Schlitz) right out of the bottle watching hockey or football with friends....But if I bring out my own beer, or a micro brew, to someone's house, my friends know enough to break out the glasses....

They know from being around me that those beers actually have TASTE and SMELL, and benefit from glasses (proper or otherwise.)

 

[pericles]

Funny. My major complaint is that you can't really drink from the bottle. I like the flavor, I like the heft, and I like the ease of a bottle. Glasses are great for aroma, clarity, etc, but it'd be nice if I could make a homebrew that was clean enough and free-of-sediment enough to justify drinking from the bottle!

 

[lowlife]

Do you other guys that wait a couple months to bottle have major yeast issues like those being described? I like glasses personally but I do drink out of the bottle when mowing the yard (occasionally) and dont really notice excessive yeast.

 

[StunnedMonkey]

I dunno...most of the BMC drinkers I know are open minded...

Heh. I need a better class of friends. My BMC friends are the type to berate me as a pssuy for drinking Sierra Nevada at Buffalo Wild Wings instead of partaking of the Coors Lite pitcher. I never bother trying to explain the irony there.

 

[TrojanMan]

When I give beer as a gift, I always make my own labels. The label ALWAYS reads (in part):

"Contains sediment. Store upright and pour slowly to retain sediment in bottle."


I have seen people read the label and then prompty pop the top off and take a big, violent swig.

All you can do is try but don't worry about it too much. Everybody loves free beer, even if they don't understand what it is.

 

[brian_g]

That is going to come off as condescending to a lot of people.

The local Brewery (which is the sixth largest in the country), Boulevard, bottle conditions and people know this and drink their beer from the bottle. If I said the above around here to someone who had been on a Boulevard tour or read the bottle I would sound like a *******.

A more honest explanation would be:

"I bottle condition my beer, but I am not as good at it as a commercial brewery so there is a metric crapload of sediment in my bottles. Not what you are used to with bottled conditioned commercial beer."

My explanation was for people who aren't used to any bottle conditioned beer or any home brew. Your right it wouldn't be appropriate for people already use to bottle conditioned beer. I'm assuming people who wont drink beer from a glass are in the latter category.

I'm still wondering how commercial bottle conditioned beer reaches the clarity levels. Some are good enough to drink from the bottle. I'm guessing that part of it is longer bottle aging.

 

[Plowboymiz]

It's official. The thing that annoys me most about serving home brew is that everyone thinks it's necessary to drink it straight from the bottle. I explain to people that homebrew and most craft brews are different and will taste best when poured into a glass. I have even shown the yeast sediment to people to try to prove the point and they still think it's necessary to drink straight from the bottle. Now I can understand if there are no glasses around but I bring glasses for people to use when I'm not at home. I find it irritating because its almost as if they are telling me that they know more about my beer than I do.

Am I the only one that has this problem. Is there a good way to help people to understand. I don't see how this is such an abstract concept to grasp!

Na, you are from da burgh. Most yinzers can't comprehend this stuff unless its says Arn Sh*tty on it.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Depending on the style I'll just drink straight out of the bottle!

Centennial Blonde: nope
Blackout Stout: why the poo not?

 

[TampaTim]

I don't give 'em a choice.

Homebrew or Craft. Don't matter. I serve it. Therefore, choose how it's served. Don't wanna drink from a glass at my house? STFU, and GTFO if you don't like it. I control access to the beer fridge as well. Even with a large amount of people over. The last thing I need is some dolt wandering in there and pawing through my collection of craft beer, and finding the rare stuff, and helping himself to (insert something you are saving for vertical tasting or whatever here.)

Just in case, I make sure the featured brew of the evening is arranged prominently in the front of the fridge..front and center so there's no "mistakes" when someone is sent to get a round. Second line of defense is keeping the openers where the group is hanging out. Therefore, they have to come back to the group to get a bottle opened.

 

[Scut_Monkey]

Na, you are from da burgh. Most yinzers can't comprehend this stuff unless its says Arn Sh*tty on it.

It is great having people who drink nothing but Iron City tell me how homebrew dosen't taste as good. As good as what, diarrhea? The only beer I have difficulty drinking is Iron City. Everything else is at least palatable to me.

This really dosen't bother me though because everyone has their own taste and besides these people aren't drinking my beer and wasting it. It's when people drink your beer and tell you it's "no good" when you just told them 30 seconds ago that it should be poured in a glass and why. :cross:

 

[KayaBrew]

1) Get over yourself
2) Let them do whatever they want to do
3) If #2 bothers you so much stop offering up homebrew

Great attitude, bro. Get over yourself.

 

[remilard]

My explanation was for people who aren't used to any bottle conditioned beer or any home brew. Your right it wouldn't be appropriate for people already use to bottle conditioned beer. I'm assuming people who wont drink beer from a glass are in the latter category.

I'm still wondering how commercial bottle conditioned beer reaches the clarity levels. Some are good enough to drink from the bottle. I'm guessing that part of it is longer bottle aging.

Nah, I think at Boulevard it is a week and out the door.

The trick is that they filter the beer, and then dose it with fresh yeast and sugar.

Most of the sediment in bottled conditioned home brew would have been there if you didn't bottle condition. Keggers still get sediment in the keg. In the bottle you get all of that plus whatever is due to the refermentation in the bottle.

 

[McGarnigle]

When I bottled I always poured them for my friends.

I keg now but still serve them most of the time.

Gack, I really hate it when they drink straight from the keg.

 

[ColoradoXJ13]

I have a pretty simple explanation for people who drink beer from bottles. Taste is relegated in large part by smell, you cannot smell what you are drinking when you drink from a bottle. Do you ever see anyone drinking wine from a bottle, no, because without breathing while you drink, you miss out on most of the flavor and aroma of your beverage. Most people listen to me after that...having a doctorate doesn't hurt though.

 

[IrregularPulse]

I have a pretty simple explanation for people who drink beer from bottles. Taste is relegated in large part by smell, you cannot smell what you are drinking when you drink from a bottle. Do you ever see anyone drinking wine from a bottle, no, because without breathing while you drink, you miss out on most of the flavor and aroma of your beverage. Most people listen to me after that...having a doctorate doesn't hurt though.

Oh sure you do!! Maybe not at the beginning of the night, but eventually
but seriously, I am lucky as most people listen to my explanations with actaul interest. I know which freinds don't care, so I don't worry about it and let them drink their Heineken. *shudders*

 

[Joos]

+1 on serving the beer myself.IMost of my friends love my beer,and drink it out of a glass.BUT still pour the WHOLE beer into it.Ah well ! yeasty kolsch is all it takes till you hear"can YOU grab me a beer?".

 

[Brewin_CRAZY]

I just tell people about the yeast and they freak out usually, omg im drinking something alive, or that it tastes funny. Never really had this problem. Then again I usually serve from a keg....