Guinness, room temperature or cold?

[Andrew Breecher]

No beer is meant to be served at room temperature (70 degrees). But many English-style ales are meant to be served at cellar temperature, which is 50-55 degrees. This might seem warm to Americans who are used to drinking their beer ice cold (30-40 degrees). Cold beer is an American invention to mask the fact that American macros have no flavour! When you serve beer that cold it numbs your taste buds, and you can't taste anything. Do yourself a favour and drink your ales at cellar temperature. You might be amazed at what you're missing!

Andrew.

[Clockwork John]

No beer is meant to be served at room temperature (70 degrees). But many English-style ales are meant to be served at cellar temperature, which is 50-55 degrees. This might seem warm to Americans who are used to drinking their beer ice cold (30-40 degrees). Cold beer is an American invention to mask the fact that American macros have no flavour! When you serve beer that cold it numbs your taste buds, and you can't taste anything. Do yourself a favour and drink your ales at cellar temperature. You might be amazed at what you're missing!

Andrew.

I have to agree. Guinness draught is best cool. Not cold. Take it out of the fridge a few minutes before you pour it.

[TheKiltedWonder]

Cold beer is an American invention to mask the fact that American macros have no flavour!

Actually I think it's more a result of German beer-makers using bottom-fermenting yeasts which meant that the temperatures of the beers had to be quite low. Beers were brewed in the winter months because that's when it was cold enough for the style. Lager (from "lagern" "to store") refers to it having been stored in these cooled locations. Lager caught on in the Germanic/Czech town of Plzn (Pilsen) in today's Budvar (Budweiss) Region where an especially clear and crisp beer was created: the Pilsner. When German's emigrated to the U.S. they brewed equally light and cold beers (not equal in taste-at least not now) and A. Busch even named it after that region--hence, Budweiser. So that urban legend about Americans inventing col beer has been taken down.

Ales are top-fermenting and don't need the same cold temperatures, hence the UK predilication for warmer beer. I believe stout's and porter's have a top-fermenting yeast as well, so feel free to drink it at a cellared temperature. It's not a pilsener after all.

[arrogcow]

No beer is meant to be served at room temperature (70 degrees). But many English-style ales are meant to be served at cellar temperature, which is 50-55 degrees. This might seem warm to Americans who are used to drinking their beer ice cold (30-40 degrees). Cold beer is an American invention to mask the fact that American macros have no flavour! When you serve beer that cold it numbs your taste buds, and you can't taste anything. Do yourself a favour and drink your ales at cellar temperature. You might be amazed at what you're missing!

Andrew.

Um, what he said. Speaking as someone who has toured St. James Gate, they tell you to serve it at 50-55. Since they make it, they must be right. Also, if drinking out of a can, any warmer and it will foam out.

Adam

[McFarkus]

many English-style ales are meant to be served at cellar temperature, which is 50-55 degrees. Andrew.

What he said!:beer:int: