brew pubs

How to Pour Beer (video)

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits

Our partners at the Food Network visited an authentic
Irish pub in Dublin to learn how to pour the How to pour beer. "perfect pint". According to the experts, there are six key steps to do so. Watch the video above and find out why a 45 degree angle is so important, what the "perfect dome" looks like and what happens in precisely 119.5 seconds.

Click here to read our related post on the Best Brew Pubs in the U.S.

Tags: awards-main, beer, beer tap, brew pubs, Dublin, how to pour beer, irish pub, luxist-awards, The Food Network, video

Serving Temperatures for Beer

by Carl Benjamin (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits

The proper temperature for beer is important for taste and your enjoyment. If you serve beer too cold, it might be refreshing, but it will hold back most of its flavor. Serving beer, at room temperature, brings out the best in flavors and aromas. This is usually the best way for judging a beer, in contests.

However, most Americans like their beer cold. That being said, here are some guidelines to follow to bring out the best in your beer drinking.

Fruit beers should be served at between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wheat beers and pale lagers should be served at 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pale ales and amber or dark lagers should be served at 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Very strong ales, such as barley wines and Belgian ales, is 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dark ales, including porters and stouts, should be served at 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

The problem arises, because most brew pubs, restaurants and bars can't serve beer, at a variety of temperatures. Simply put, they don't have enough coolers. Brew pubs tend to serve the house beer, which is usually their specialty beer, at the preferred temperature.

Besides temperature, there is another important factor to consider. All beer should be poured into the middle of a glass. This prevents the loss of flavor and aroma. Many people pour it down the side of the glass, which reduces the foam (also known as "head") on the beer. However, if you let it sit for a few minutes, the foam will settle.

Finally, avoid shaking beer. Remove it from the cooler, with as little shaking as possible. Pulling it out straight up, is the best way to remove it from the refrigerator or cooler.

Tags: ales, beer, beertemperatures, brew pubs, entertainment-pedia, lagers, luxist-awards, main-pedia, outdoor-entertainment-pedia, stouts

Readers' Choice Awards for Best in Entertainment

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits

Is there a coffee house that offers both ambiance and a great cup o' Joe? Do you have a favorite brew pub that makes great-tasting beer and serves good food? What wine bar offers an extensive selection of wines and a knowledgeable staff? What are the best cocktail lounges? Which hotel bars are the best in the world? If you can recommend the best places to enjoy a cup of coffee, a glass of wine or a cocktail, we want to hear from you!

The Luxist Awards Readers' Choice Awards for Best in Entertainment will be awarded based on your nominations and voting. We're currently seeking nominations for the best-of-breed in the following categories:

Best Brew Pub
Best Cocktail Lounge
Best Coffee House
Best Hotel Bar
Best Wine Bar

One nomination per category, please. Submissions can be filed until April15, 2010. Winners will be announced on May 1, 2010.

Tags: awards-main, beer, brew pubs, cocktail lounges, hotel bars, luxist-awards, wine bars