A traveler’s list of plans around the world would not be complete without the brewery tours. It is not about going from one pub or club to another to taste the local beer. This is about traveling across states or countries where can get a glimpse of how beer is made. A brewery tour would enlighten the curious one on the actual beer making process. There’s usually a treat at the end that beer drinkers would certainly enjoy.
A tour of the brewery or the actual facility in which beer is made, gives the consumers a little background on the beer and how the brewery works in order to give such great end product. Most brewery tours would take about 20 minutes, others about an hour. This tour is frees in most breweries but there are some in the United States and other countries that charge a small fee (about $10). This gives people easy and affordable access to the facility as well as to the secrets of beer making. Generally, people go to such tours because of the free beer tasting session at the end.
As the guide would show one in such tour, the facility not only offers its finest beer at the end of the tour, but also a lot of information not usually found in papers, articles or internet researches. What do people really get out of such tours?
At the beginning of this great adventure a brewery owner or a guide would introduce the brewery to the crowd. This section includes the actually getting-to-know-our-brewery’s-history speech. They would talk about the rich culture in the facility and how their company affects the area and people around it.
The next part of the tour will take the guests to the step-by-step process of beer making. There are six sections. One section comprises the mashing process where malted grains are milled mixed with water to produce the extract called wort. Next process is the lautering or the separation of the extract from its grain with the use of the vessel called the lauter tun. The third section involves the boiling process to make the mixture bacteria–free and safe for consumption. In this process, big skillet-like kettles are used.
The fourth process is fermenting which is accomplished by mixing yeast with the wort and letting this mixture settle in the fermentation tanks of different sizes. Conditioning is the long process to further ferment the mixture. The last part would be the filtering process, which makes use of pre-made filters such as sheets or candles to provide the pure and clean end product that is beer. Last is the actual filling and packaging of the drink in different cans, kegs or bottles.
After the long process, the people get a chance to unwind with the free beer tasting of the best selling products offered by the brewery. Such end puts people to a great understanding and appreciation of beer and would not simply disregard it as a simple drink.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Brewery Tour: Going through the Beer Making Process
The new type of tourist attraction, which most people consider as part of their travel plans is the latest innovative tour of the century: the great brewery tours. The educational tour is open to all ages. Youngsters are not allowed to have a taste during the tour. This travel itinerary has become popular to those on the budget and love to drink beer.
Beer making has been traced from the time of the Mesopotamians. Many varieties of beer making strategies have evolved from generation to generation. In this new highly technological world that we live in, beer making has been raised to a higher notch resulting to a stiff competition in the market. With the popularity of beer, many tourists have become curious about beer making, thus the heightened interest in brewery tours.
Many people who are keen in knowing how beer is made consider brewery tour an adventure.
Tourists learn about beer making and witness the process themselves during the tour. Here’s what to expect during the tour:
One, tour guides line up the people for registration. Guests are also encouraged to ask questions on the regulations inside the facility. Tours can cost up to $10 in most breweries in the word. Guides would also make announcements on any games or contests during the tour and what prize they are offering, if any. After settling these things and getting the attention of the crowd, the guide would then usher the guests to the facility.
Upon entering, the guide would start talking about the historical events in the brewery, the beer and the community. The guide would emphasize the mission and goals of the brewery and its significance to the owner, to its laborers and to society. He or she will also talk about how the brewery started. Then, the guide would lead the people into the various sections the facility while sharing the purpose and function of each area of the brewery.
Each section covers each step of the brewing process. The guide would discuss the most pertinent information about every step and would often also share some trivia to make the tour more interesting.
There are actually six processes involved in beer making:
The different sets of equipment used in each process come in different shapes:
The final leg of the tour is the most anticipated – beer tasting. This is the most famous and favorite of the guests after going through the process of learning how beer is actually made.
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| Brewery tours in Copenhagen |
Beer making has been traced from the time of the Mesopotamians. Many varieties of beer making strategies have evolved from generation to generation. In this new highly technological world that we live in, beer making has been raised to a higher notch resulting to a stiff competition in the market. With the popularity of beer, many tourists have become curious about beer making, thus the heightened interest in brewery tours.
Many people who are keen in knowing how beer is made consider brewery tour an adventure.
Tourists learn about beer making and witness the process themselves during the tour. Here’s what to expect during the tour:
One, tour guides line up the people for registration. Guests are also encouraged to ask questions on the regulations inside the facility. Tours can cost up to $10 in most breweries in the word. Guides would also make announcements on any games or contests during the tour and what prize they are offering, if any. After settling these things and getting the attention of the crowd, the guide would then usher the guests to the facility.
Upon entering, the guide would start talking about the historical events in the brewery, the beer and the community. The guide would emphasize the mission and goals of the brewery and its significance to the owner, to its laborers and to society. He or she will also talk about how the brewery started. Then, the guide would lead the people into the various sections the facility while sharing the purpose and function of each area of the brewery.
Each section covers each step of the brewing process. The guide would discuss the most pertinent information about every step and would often also share some trivia to make the tour more interesting.
There are actually six processes involved in beer making:
- Mashing or the mixing of water with the malted grain
- Lautering which involves the separation of the mashed extract from the actual grain
- Boiling, which sterilizes
- Fermenting, in which yeast is added
- Conditioning, which allows prolonged fermentation
- Filtering - for a clean and safe product, packaged in can, keg or bottle.
The different sets of equipment used in each process come in different shapes:
- large vessel for stirring and mashing
- lauter tun for separating the extracted mashed product called wort
- steam-fired kettles for the boiling process
- fermentation tanks, which comes in different sizes
- conditioning jackets implanted or set up at the bottom of fermenting tanks
- filter materials such as sheets or candles.
The final leg of the tour is the most anticipated – beer tasting. This is the most famous and favorite of the guests after going through the process of learning how beer is actually made.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Show and Tell in Brewery Tours
Many people are into the frenzy of the so called brewery tours around the world. But, what does one truly achieve from it? Brewery tours help people learn to appreciate the art of actual beer making and not just the cans of beer that many love.
Why take a brewery tour? This could be a question of somebody who is not really a fan of the drink. For one, this tour is educational. It also does not cost a penny, except for those world-renowned breweries, which charge the tour for $10 or lower.
For most beer drinkers, the tour could be an adventure worth taking because they would witness first hand how their drink of choice is made. The best thing is the finale – the beer tasting session, which every guest looks forward to.
People who enjoy learning about different, random things would appreciate the historical background, trivia, and useful information they could get from the tour guides. The actual process of making beer is disclosed as the guests walk through the whole facility section by section. Guests witness the various steps as the malt goes through mashing, lautering, boiling, fermentation, filtration, and packaging - the final product being that can or bottle of beer that one stashes in the fridge. It is a show-and-tell session that most would appreciate.
As a participant, you will discover how raw materials are processed and treated using the breweries machines and how they end up in your hands during night-outs with friends.
The tour guides will orient the guests about the do’s and don’ts when inside the facility. They would also brush up on the history of the company, its goals and missions in relation to the community it belongs to. Area by area, the guides will discuss the steps while the actual process is ongoing. The tourists can see for themselves how the machine and pieces of equipment work per stage.
Those doing research can get information that is not usually available in publications and on the Internet since each brewery has its own trade secret. Although beer making in general has more or less the same process, the differentiators would depend on the brewery and what additional ingredients or process they infuse to create their products.
Breweries have that signature taste that their patrons love. If you have a particular favorite, you can book a tour in that facility with your family or friends and find out how your favorite brand ends up with that taste you have grown to love. Each glass of beer would be tastier knowing how it was made.
Budget-conscious travels will have a ball with this tour. Since it’s mostly free admission, the free beer is also a come-on and added bonus. Although the tour is open to all ages, the beer-tasting part is not open to youngsters. They would have to wait until they have reached the legal age and then they could sign up for the tour again if they want to.
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| Brewery tours of the old Carlsberg Brewery In Copenhagen |
For most beer drinkers, the tour could be an adventure worth taking because they would witness first hand how their drink of choice is made. The best thing is the finale – the beer tasting session, which every guest looks forward to.
People who enjoy learning about different, random things would appreciate the historical background, trivia, and useful information they could get from the tour guides. The actual process of making beer is disclosed as the guests walk through the whole facility section by section. Guests witness the various steps as the malt goes through mashing, lautering, boiling, fermentation, filtration, and packaging - the final product being that can or bottle of beer that one stashes in the fridge. It is a show-and-tell session that most would appreciate.
As a participant, you will discover how raw materials are processed and treated using the breweries machines and how they end up in your hands during night-outs with friends.
The tour guides will orient the guests about the do’s and don’ts when inside the facility. They would also brush up on the history of the company, its goals and missions in relation to the community it belongs to. Area by area, the guides will discuss the steps while the actual process is ongoing. The tourists can see for themselves how the machine and pieces of equipment work per stage.
Those doing research can get information that is not usually available in publications and on the Internet since each brewery has its own trade secret. Although beer making in general has more or less the same process, the differentiators would depend on the brewery and what additional ingredients or process they infuse to create their products.
Breweries have that signature taste that their patrons love. If you have a particular favorite, you can book a tour in that facility with your family or friends and find out how your favorite brand ends up with that taste you have grown to love. Each glass of beer would be tastier knowing how it was made.
Budget-conscious travels will have a ball with this tour. Since it’s mostly free admission, the free beer is also a come-on and added bonus. Although the tour is open to all ages, the beer-tasting part is not open to youngsters. They would have to wait until they have reached the legal age and then they could sign up for the tour again if they want to.
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