Beer From The Keg – The Natural Choice

Beer is a well loved and revered beverage that’s been part of society for hundreds of years. No matter the style, beer is enjoyed by millions of people every day. The brewing of beer has remained much the same over time, but how it reaches the consumer has changed dramatically over the last century.

Along with just about any other technology, brewing technology has improved since brewing first started centuries ago. The general process remains the same. Beer is a mix of ingredients like hops, malt, grains, yeast, water, and often other specialty ingredients, mixed and fermented together over time. The biggest changes in the beer industry have been how brewers package their product and how it reaches the end consumer.

Bottling, Canning, and Kegs

In the early-mid 1900′s, bottling and later canning of beer became extremely popular. After Prohibition was repealed in 1933, the beer industry began consolidating from literally thousands of local breweries producing fresh, local beer to large regional brewers who could reach a larger market. That consolidation continues today, notwithstanding the brewpub craze of the 1990′s. Advances in packaging and transportation have allowed large brewers like Anheuser-Busch, Miller, and Coors to distribute nationally and internationally.

With the consolidation in the beer industry, small local breweries began to close, and with it went the concept of fresh, local beer. It is fair to say that most consumers now drink beer just as they buy it, directly from the bottle or can. We are a society of convenience, and it’s convenient to consume beer directly from the packaging. However, beer wasn’t meant to be consumed this way.

Beer is a perishable food product, and like any food product, beer doesn’t improve with age. Bottled beer and canned beer are pasteurized and added carbonation is injected to ensure a long shelf life without need for refrigeration. While there’s nothing wrong with this process as it allows product availability to a wider spectrum of consumers, it is not beer in its natural state.

The result of keg beer not requiring preservatives is a clean, smooth, natural taste. This is how beer is meant to be enjoyed. If you’ve ever been on a brewery tour, notice how you’re served your samples – direct from the keg, i.e. off the tap. This is beer at its best – freshly brewed with no preservatives.

Try this experiment, just for fun. The next time you’re enjoying beer, consume it only from the bottle or the can. Then, the following time, consume it only from the keg (on tap) in a glass. Be sure to notice which gives you more intestinal gas from carbonation! The beer you consume direct from the keg will be smoother, better tasting, and easier to digest.

Keg beer is the way brewers want you to experience their beer. Keg beer is natural beer, with no preservatives. Next time out, enjoy your beer directly from the tap and notice the difference.

About the Author:

Jim Hofman is a beer lover who learned the benefits of keg beer from his father. Jim owns a new website devoted to keg beer , beer trivia, and beer resources.