Lager. Ale. Stout. Porter. With all the colors, flavors and depths there’s a beer for everyone.
According to the History Channel Magazine, the first proof of beer is dated back to 3400 B.C. in Sumer, an ancient city found where modern Iraq is now located.
Now a beer enthusiast can find a micro-brew in most cities across America; micro-brews that focus on the styles from different areas of the world — from the Ales that call England home, to the Wheat Beer (Weizen) of Germany. Beer has been around for millennia, and has found its way to every corner of the globe, making it one of the oldest and most diverse beverages available.
Beer is comprised of four major ingredients. Water, hops, yeast and malt. Hops, which are flowers, are used to create the bitter flavor — Ales are normally high in hops. Malt, made by soaking grain (Barley) in water, this process creates a sugar — sugar is what gives way to an alcohol content. Yeast, a single-cell organism, is the catalyst for the fermentation process (the process that breeds the alcohol content) by consuming the sugar and producing alcohol.
“There’s a delicious beer for almost every pallet,” said Anheuser Busch sales representative Neil Sullivan, “I’ve been to bars all over the place and there’s always one constant — that beer is accompanied by smiles.”
For the 21-year-old (or older) members of the LPC student body, there is an abundance of breweries strategically placed for your enjoyment.
Schubros Brewery, in San Ramon, the home of some deli- cious brews; one of which being Festbier, described as a Bavarian Lager. It is, however, exactly what it is called — a Fest Beer — making it available only from Sept. to Dec.
“It made sweet love to my taste buds,” said Wente Vineyards bar manager Josh Craig, “(it) held my satisfaction tightly in its bubbly grasp, and as it departed down my gullet, my brain smiled.”
Schubros also provides a few other delectable offerings including Nico American Wheat (a Belgium wheat) and 680 IPA (Indian Pale Ale).
Both brews are rich and malty, with high alcohol contents (alcohol by volume — ABV).
Livermore itself is home to an exceptionally esteemed brewery — Altamont Brew Works(ABW). ABW is home to several different Ales, and is focused on “super hoppy” lower ABV beers.
“The beer (at ABW) speaks for itself,” Sarah Bailey told the ABW website, “and (it) will make you jump for joy that this brewery is from a town that is heavy in the wine market.”
The area surrounding the LPC campus is also home to many beer houses. Establishments such as Tap25 (Livermore), The Hop Yard (Pleasanton and San Ramon) and The Great Plate (Tracy) offer an array of choices for the bud- ding beer connoisseur.
So this is your invitation.
Get out this weekend, blow off a little steam before finals and find your favorite beer.