The Wisdom of Beer Dude 2000

We invite you to take advantage of the Beer Dude's wisdom. Each week or so the Beer Dude will answer your questions.

Send a question to the Beer Dude.

June 28, 2000:

My Question is: For the first time I purchased a single bottle of Murphy's Irish Stout at the liquor store just to taste it. When I finished I noticed a little white, transparent ball at the bottom of the bottle. What is the purpose of this plastic ball inside the bottle??

Answer: More or less it is a marketing scheme. It is called a widget. When you open the beer, the pressure forces beer through a small opening in the widget and produces a fine stream of bubbles, which in turn produces a thick creamy head which seems to last forever. It was produced to simulate draught beer. You can find them in cans and bottles, but mostly in English and Irish beers. Cheers, Beer Dude

May 12, 2000:

My Question is: I would like to know how the Non Alcohol Beverage "beers" are made? I have been discussing with friends, some think it is brewed like real beer and then the alcohol are extracted. Others think it is from "used grains"(low sugar low alcohol). Can you help clear this up? None on us plan to try to brew just wanted to know the process to settle a bet! Thanks

Answer: Non Alcohol beer is made through reverse osmosis (Filtration). The beer is forced by pressure through fine pores in a membrane. These pores are tiny enough to prevent alcohol from passing. This process is very expensive. That's why you only see Non-alcoholic beer made by very large breweries that can afford such a beer. Cheers, Beer Dude

April 15, 2000:

My Question is: In serving a beer (regardless of from bottle or draft), is it necessary to have a head? If so, would a nickel or dime's worth be best? Like many others I'm looking into home brewing. Any tips? Thanks.

Answer: The head formation depends on the style of beer, and is also a must in some styles. Most of the time you try and shoot for the two-finger rule (The head is two fingers above the beer itself). Stout tends to have a creamy head, Belgian ales have a rocky head, and true English bitters most of the time have no head. The two major factors that decide the fait of the head are how and what it was made with and how it is poured. Good luck with the homebrew.Cheers BeerDude

March 22, 2000:

My Question is: Hi BeerDude, What would be the upperlimit of temperature for storing/aging beer? I have a number of fine Belgian 750 ml bottles that I would like to age for about another year; however, I do not have a cooler/refrigerator that will maintain a constant temperature, and during the summer months my basement gets up to about 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Are they safe, or should I drink up before the summer? Thanks

Answer: Sounds like your basement is the best place unless you want to buy a wine refrigerator. You can always pick up a used household fridge for about $75.00 and put it out in the garage. To get really precise temp control try getting an external, secondary temp control from a local homebrew shop or from one of the advertisers in the back of a magazine the likes of Zymurgy. Cost will be 30 to 75 dollars and they just plug right in...great things these! I think the best temp is 45 to 55 for most ales and 35 to 45 for lagers. Beers with yeast sediment that were carefully bottled will last longer under harsher conditions. Good luck. BrewDude

March 7, 2000:

My Question is: I have a severe food allergy to pine nuts, which as the name implies, come from certain pinecones in certain pine trees that grow in arid areas around the world. Do you know if hops, which I know come from cone-shaped "flowers" and are in some way connected to deciduous trees, are in any way related to the types pine trees responsible for pine nuts? The answer would certainly make me a lot easier about getting more into beer. Thanks a lot.

Answer: The only relations that Pine trees and hops share are in the fact that both produce cones, that’s it. Hops (Humulus lupulus) are a member of the Mulberry (Moraceae) family. A family of deciduous or evergreen trees and shrubs, often climbing. Another interesting relationship the hop plant holds is with the Cannabis sativa or in English, Hemp. Both Hemp and Hops are members of the same Class (Magnoliopsida) and Order (Urticales), yet different families, Hops (Moraceae) and Hemp (Cannabinaceae). Hops even contain small amounts of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). That’s today’s Biology lesson. Cheers, Beer Dude

March 1, 2000:

My Question is: Hello Mr. Deer Dude-What are your thoughts on Bass Ale? I don't really know much about it and would like to hear what you think. Thanks!

Answer: Bass Ale is a lightly hoped pale ale with a soft, flowery, and nutty character. It's not overly aromatic or bitter. Bass Ale has been around for some time. The Bass Ale Red Triangle was the first registered trademark (1883) in England and possibly the world. Bass Ale is British-style pale ale and is brewed by one of the largest breweries in England, Bass Brewers Ltd., which was founded in 1777. The first recorded import of Bass Ale to America was in 1799. The US import version is slightly stronger in alcohol then its English counter part.

Feb 3, 2000:

My Question is: Dear BeerDude, I as recently informed that Samuel Adam's new beer Millennium is the strongest beer in the world at 20%. Is this true? --Buzzbomb

Answer: Brian, The Samuel Adams MMM may very well be the strongest beer in the U.S, but I know of a beer in Gwent, England brewed by Newport Brewhouse called Uncle Igor's at 21%. There are many beers through out the World that are very strong, but unknown to many. I guess that is one of my goals; to provide global beer information that is available to everyone. Cheers Beer Dude

Jan 30, 2000: