Magical Beer Beings In the world of folklore and mythology, there are countless stories of supernatural creatures and beings. One such category of fantastical beings that has gained some attention in recent years is that of magical beer beings. These mythical creatures are said to inhabit the vast landscape of beer brewing and consumption. According to the lore, magical beer beings take various forms and have unique characteristics. Some stories describe them as mischievous imps, while others depict them as benevolent spirits. They are believed to reside within breweries, pubs, and beer gardens, ensuring the quality and enjoyment of the beverage.
For me beer isn't just meant to be drunk on its own. Beer and food make great table fellows. I love to match the citrus/grapefruit style of a hoppy Indian pale ale, or a good hoppy lager, to the spice of a curry; or make use of a well-roasted dark malt stout to complement a rich chocolate dessert.
Take up your glass and salute the work of those who turn the sugarless, aroma-less, dry grains into the wonderful, multifaceted liquid we see before us. While the requirement to produce sugar from grain adds complexity to the brewing process it also offers the brewer an enormous amount of control over flavour and texture a type of control the vintner doesn t have.
They are believed to reside within breweries, pubs, and beer gardens, ensuring the quality and enjoyment of the beverage. In some old tales, these magical beings are said to have the ability to manipulate the flavors and taste of beer, adding an extra layer of complexity and richness. They are often associated with specific breweries or beer styles, and it is said that their presence is essential for creating the perfect brew.
Magic Totem – A Towering Monument to the Modern IPA
The craft beer scene is expansive in almost every sense of the word. It is seemingly limitless in geographical reach and stylistic experimentation. Despite how fully-formed it may seem, the industry is still quite new. The scene originated in the 1960s, with a substantial boom occurring in the ‘90s and ‘00s.
So, when modernity is referenced within the craft beer movement, it denotes only a teeny-tiny window of time.
At this particular moment on the timeline, the buzzword in the way of IPAs is haze .
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V ery fr ui ty flavors reign supreme in the modern craft beer world. These fruit-forward qualities are closely correlated with ‘hazy’ beers. In terms of appearance, the haze comes from hop oils during dry hopping. Proteins and polyphenols (aromatic chemicals) in the grain combine to form a colloidal haze, which is opaque or cloudy.
Arguably the first and most illustrious example of the style was Heady Topper, a New England IPA by The Alchemist in Vermont. There was a great deal of mythology surrounding Heady Topper, and how exactly the brewers got it to look so… well… hazy. The secret seemed to be mastering stable haze. Protein molecules need to be b ig enough to be seen, but not too big, so as to drop out of a solution and make the beer clear again. Heady Topper became the blueprint for many many hazy IPAs to follow.
The yeast strain used by The Alchemist, London Ale III, served as the model for Cosmic Punch, the genetically modified version of the strain that the brewers at Wye have used quite a few times in thiolation. The same is true for their most current venture into haze heaven– Magic Totem, a thiolized hazy IPA.
They’ve continuously used Cosmic Punch in our beloved, award-winning thiolized hazy pale ale, Luminous Beings. According to Greg Winget, Director of Brewing Operations, the production timeline works in a way where the brewers can reuse yeast. Cones at the bottom of the tanks recollect yeast, then re-pitch it into another tank and use it to ferment multiple times afterwards.
“We started making Luminous Beings to make IPAs with Cosmic Punch, and it became such a hit that we kept making it all the time,” Greg said. “It just fits into our production schedule very well, because we’re always making hazy IPAs, and we’re always making Luminous Beings, so it just goes from one to the next.”
TOP OF THE TOTEM POLE
Magic Totem was given a very cool face, thanks to visual artist (and woman of many artistic trades) Sadie Tynch. Sadie designed the can art for the IPA, as she has for several of our beers, including Luminous Beings. The main totem on the can-wrap represents the Pacific Northwest/American Indian influence. Maori and South Pacific Islander totems were also included. This is a nod to the hops used in the brewing process, brought to life beautifully by Sadie.
Taiheke and Wakatu are both New Zealand hops, and Azacca is a Pacific Northwest hop.
“It’s kinda like taking that locational, native culture and doing a mashup,” Greg said.
Taiheke is New Zealand’s Cascade hop– Cascade being the hop that put hops on the map in North America. It is named differently because its flavors are not quite similar to Cascade’s.
“It’s a really good example of terroir in beer ingredients, because basically, they’re growing a hop that was developed and traditionally grown in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S., and they’re growing it on the entirely opposite side of the world,” Greg said. “So, it tastes completely different.”
Working alongside Taiheke in Magic Totem, Wakatu lends flavors of lime zest, while Azacca is extremely tropical tasting, especially for an American hop.
A sturdy pylon of hops and haze.
Taiheke is New Zealand’s Cascade hop– Cascade being the hop that put hops on the map in North America. It is named differently because its flavors are not quite similar to Cascade’s.
Apart from their influence on the brewing process, magical beer beings are also believed to be guardians of beer establishments. They protect the premises from negative energies or bad luck, ensuring that the customers have a pleasant experience. In some cases, they are even said to bring good fortune to those who pay respect to them. In popular culture, magical beer beings have made appearances in various forms of media, such as books, movies, and video games. They have become a source of inspiration for writers and artists, capturing the imagination of beer enthusiasts and fantasy lovers alike. While the existence of these magical beer beings remains a matter of belief and folklore, they continue to be an intriguing part of cultural traditions and stories. They represent the enchantment and wonder associated with beer, elevating it beyond a mere beverage to a realm of mysticism and magic. Whether these mythical creatures truly exist or not, their presence in the collective consciousness serves as a reminder of the enduring fascination and reverence that society holds for beer. It is a testament to the transformative power of this ancient beverage, which has the ability to bring people together and inspire tales of wonder and enchantment..
Reviews for "The Enchanted Pints: How Beer Beings Influence Our Experience"
1. John - 1 star - The concept of "Magical beer beings" sounded interesting, but the execution was extremely poor. The plot was disjointed, and the characters lacked depth. The dialogue felt forced and robotic, making it difficult to connect with any of the characters. Overall, this book was a huge disappointment and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a well-written and engaging story.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Magical beer beings" based on the intriguing title and cover, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the story lacked direction. The plot twists were predictable, and the ending felt unsatisfying. Additionally, the writing style was repetitive and filled with unnecessary descriptions, making it a struggle to get through. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and would not be interested in reading anything else from this author.
3. Andrew - 2 stars - "Magical beer beings" was not what I expected at all. I found the world-building to be confusing and inconsistent. The story jumped around too much without proper explanations, leaving me feeling lost and uninterested in the events unfolding. The characters were also one-dimensional and lacked any true development. While the concept had potential, it was unfortunately wasted in this book. I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a well-crafted and immersive fantasy read.
4. Emma - 1 star - "Magical beer beings" was a complete letdown. The writing was amateurish, filled with grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures. I found myself constantly distracted by the poor editing and lack of attention to detail. The story itself was cliché and unoriginal, lacking any real depth or substance. I was disappointed by the lack of creativity and would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling and well-written fantasy novel.
5. Michael - 2 stars - As a fan of fantasy and beer, I was excited to read "Magical beer beings." However, I was left disappointed with the weak characterization and predictable plot. The magical elements were not well-developed, and the story lacked any real sense of wonder or excitement. While the idea of magical beer beings had potential, it was not executed well in this book. I would advise fellow fantasy readers to skip this one and look for a more engaging and well-crafted story.