Do people really drink warm beer in Europe?

As a person who has tasted quite a bit of beer in Europe, friends in America often ask if they really drink hot beer there. Since Americans like their beer almost to the point of freezing and then serve it in a chilled mug, they can’t imagine how you can drink beer that isn’t chilled. The fact is that Europeans drink their beer less chilled, shall we say, than the American counterpart. This article will explore some of the reasons for this and shed some light on what we Americans call “hot beer.”

According to experts, both beer and red wine should be consumed at a slightly lower than normal room temperature. That is if those drinks are of high quality. If they are of the highest quality, we want to get as much flavor out of them as possible. If they lack quality or are frankly poor, to be drinkable they must be as cold as you can get. Europeans will tell you that most American beers are served cold for that reason.

Although beer serving temperatures vary from country to country, they are served hotter than in the U.S. Specific brewing temperatures for ales are typically 52-63°F, and lagers 40-63°F. 48°F This can vary between brewers, but those temperatures are where you can get most of the beer’s flavors, even if it’s not what most Americans are used to. Remember that beer in Europe has a long-standing culture, and even if American brewers originally came from Europe over time, beer was produced by volume, not quality.

Also, American beers can be highly carbonated, which will further mask the flavor but give it a nice tingle. In Europe, beer is beer itself, and you could never remember a quality beer in Europe that would carbonate your drink.

So, to wrap up this short lesson on European beers and why they’re not as cold as American beers, let’s mention perhaps the most famous European beer: Guinness. Made in Dublin, it is also served cold. But if you have a Guinness in the UK I’m sure you’ll notice that it’s richer and I think fuller-bodied. It’s still good in America and other parts of the world, but Americans drink their Foreign Extra Stout. If you are ever in Europe you should try it there as I am sure you will find it much better than the American version.