| Attack of the BeerBots One of the latest innovations of the tech age: automated countertop brewing systems, sometimes referred to as beerbots. Like the homebrewer's version of the bread machine, beerbots have turned the ancient craft of brewing into a neat and tidy hobby that requires minimal skill, which ofr the most advanced models means pushing a button. The level of automation varies among the different brands. For example, with the models from PicoBrew the human participant must transfer the beer from the fermenting vessel to the serving keg. The Brewie Beerbot also requires similar liquid transferring. Other setups, like the forthcoming beerbots from iGulu and MiniBrew, do virtually everything automatically . The brewing system from WilliamsWarn likewise demands little attention since every stage of the process occurs in one container, which is eventually tapped like a keg.You push a button, walk away for a week or two, and come back and pour yourself a beer. One word of caution - don't expect to learn very much about brewing if you get a beerbot. |
Beer Shelf Life Beer, just like most other food and drink products has a shelf life, as well as proper and improper way to store it. Where and how you choose to store your beer can make a huge difference in what it tastes like when you finally do crack that bottle or can open. The quick answer to this question is you should either store your beer in the fridge, or in a cool, dark place like a closet or corner of your basement. The three enemies of beer are oxygen, heat, and light. In general, you want to keep your beer away from all three of these whenever possible. There’s a misconception out there that all beer needs to be kept in the fridge. While yes, if you want to drink it then you probably want it cold, you don’t have to keep it in the fridge if that drinking isn’t happening today. You can keep a beer a room temperature for a week or two (and maybe longer) without it doing any real damage. While that can probably extend to a month, once your beer starts sitting around much longer than 4 weeks the flavor is going to start to change in ways you’re not going to like. There’s a misconception out there that all beer needs to be kept in the fridge. While yes, if you want to drink it then you probably want it cold, you don’t have to keep it in the fridge if that drinking isn’t happening today. One big question is can you move your beer from room temperature to the fridge and then back to room temperature and then back to the fridge. For example you need space in the fridge to store food for a special dinner so you take beer out. After the event you put it back in. The answer is don't worry. You can do that several times without major bad things happening to the beer. How can you tell if your beer has exceeded it's shelf life? Look for these flavors: a waxy floor or mouthfeel, cardboard or paper, and dulled hop flavor (for hoppy beers). In general fresh is always best so check the date on the bottle or can. |
| Feature News from beernexus.com |
Edited by Jim Attacap
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| BEERNEXUS the crossroads of the beer world |
| Beer in the Cockpit A passenger aboard a recent Jet2 flight from Spain to England saw something no traveler ever wants to see on a plane: a beer in the cockpit. Steve Lewis, of Northamptonshire, England, says he was “shocked” upon landing at Birmingham airport and seeing a can of beer sitting between the pilots.Lewis, snapped a photo of the beer as proof of his charge. He complained to the airline about it too, but was initially told his photo was not taken aboard his flight and might be fake. Upon further investigation of aviation authorities the photograph was deemed legitimate and confirmed that an unopened can was net to the pilot seat. Jet2's investigations concluded that it had been handed to a member of the cabin crew by a customer when they were leaving the aircraft, and simply put down in the cockpit by a member of cabin crew, so that she could continue helping customers as they disembarked. Lewis, meanwhile, isn’t entirely satisfied with Jet2’s explanation nor with the kind of beer he saw - a no flavor, light American lager. |
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