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.

No matter how beer is packaged, the brewing process is essentially the same. Ingredients like barley, malt, rice, corn, yeast, hops and often others are basically mixed and fermented together by brewers. The end result is beer, a beloved beverage and a large part of relaxed, friendly social activities. While brewing techniques have improved with technological advances, it seems the best beer for you is actually produced and packaged the way it has been done for hundreds of years.

Canning and Bottling Beer

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 After Prohibition was repealed in 1933, the beer industry began consolidating from literally thousands of local breweries producing fresh, local beer to large regional brewers who could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.

Keg beer is beer in its natural state. Keg beer isn't pasteurized, nor are any preservatives added. Keg beer needs refrigeration from the day it's packaged until the day it's consumed. The important factor to note is that keg beer isn't injected with additional carbonation, which gives keg beer a smoother, cleaner taste.

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.

Beer is arguably the world's best loved beverage. Enjoying beer as it was meant to be enjoyed - from the keg - will enhance your experience, not to mention easing your digestive process.

About the Author, Jim hofman:

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

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