这期很浅白的说下新人常问的一些问题/疑惑。
Been away for a while---there's been two prior articles published in the newspaper column--week49/50---since i have yet to collect the old newspaper---this week let's jump to week 51.
here we go:-
A: in Mandarin--craft beer is "translated" as "jing-niang"(fine-brew), "shou-gong"( hand-crafted) or as i called it "zhuang-yi"( clash of ideas) .
Craft beer started because someone was bored with what the big factory beers were offering a long while ago---hence decided to try brewing beers he/she/they like---and when those home-brew started going to the public for sale---that's the beginning of craft beer revolution
Q: so--only home brew is considered craft beer?
A: NOPE. when home brew first started long ago, a lot of now very successful or famous craft brewers started from home brew--but technology is there to provide certain help as we move along--for examples bottling of beers can be done by machine rather than packing them one by one....and of course when you start selling you need a proper brewery to cope with demands....
Q: what's the definition of craft beer?
A: quite a few characteristics--craft brewers emphasis a lot on taste profile--unlike big factory beers with one single product or very few variants and spending big bucks on advertising campaign. Of course the other key point about craft beer is the seemingly endless varieties of beer styles and choices.
OR--you could just check the official definition by the American Brewers association.
craft beer是什么?
中文叫精酿。手工。或撞意啤酒（不同意念想法通过酿造让原料食材碰撞出来的啤酒）
会有CRAFT BEER是因为多年前有人觉得市场上只有单调口味大厂啤酒，觉得啤酒不应该只是这么无趣，所以自己动手酿造心目中喜欢的啤酒类型/风格。当自酿慢慢受欢迎，开始向外公开卖的时候，撞意啤酒文化逐步成形。
中文叫精酿。手工。或撞意啤酒（不同意念想法通过酿造让原料食材碰撞出来的啤酒）
会有CRAFT BEER是因为多年前有人觉得市场上只有单调口味大厂啤酒，觉得啤酒不应该只是这么无趣，所以自己动手酿造心目中喜欢的啤酒类型/风格。当自酿慢慢受欢迎，开始向外公开卖的时候，撞意啤酒文化逐步成形。
自己家里酿的才算Craftbeer?
不是的。
十多年前当自酿盛行时，很多近年很出名很成功的酿酒师或品牌都是从自家酿开始。发展到最近十年，很多酿坊都很现代化, 就算保持传统酿法的也会利用科技设备。比如说以前家里酿是每一瓶啤酒都手装，现在用装瓶机器替代。
十多年前当自酿盛行时，很多近年很出名很成功的酿酒师或品牌都是从自家酿开始。发展到最近十年，很多酿坊都很现代化, 就算保持传统酿法的也会利用科技设备。比如说以前家里酿是每一瓶啤酒都手装，现在用装瓶机器替代。
craftbeer的定义是?
基本有几个特点，比如酿坊酿酒师注重啤酒口味变化，不会像大厂啤酒那样产品划一，注重花大钱打广告。当然，非常多不同类别风格啤酒选择是CRAFT BEER 另一大特色。
比较正式定义的话，根据美国酿酒师协会就有三大：-
年产量在小范围内（不超过6百万加仑）
非craftbeer投资者不能拥有超过25%股权
不可用廉价替代物比如人工香精代替啤酒花
基本有几个特点，比如酿坊酿酒师注重啤酒口味变化，不会像大厂啤酒那样产品划一，注重花大钱打广告。当然，非常多不同类别风格啤酒选择是CRAFT BEER 另一大特色。
比较正式定义的话，根据美国酿酒师协会就有三大：-
年产量在小范围内（不超过6百万加仑）
非craftbeer投资者不能拥有超过25%股权
不可用廉价替代物比如人工香精代替啤酒花
A: NOPE. just like dining in a restaurant--there will be some very good ones--some average ones--some bad ones---same goes for craft beer.
Though beer is about personal taste--with such varieties.choices available--one is sure to find more than 3, 4, 5 beers that you will surely enjoy.
Q: how do i start? where do i begin?
A: use the MINUS OUT method. just like food--there's different taste profile to beers--just MINUS OUT the taste that you usually dislike in food---if you don't like sour--don't start with lambic--if you don't like coffee--don't start with a coffee porter or stout....
The main point about craft beer is --it's a sort of palate training process--once your palate goes through different beer styles/taste profile---you will starts to appreciate/enjoy a lot more different beers.....
Q: Newbie have to start drinking from the most easy beer?
A: Many people would say yes--that's the way--starts from pilsner--pale ale--ipa--and move on to porter/stout...
However--beer is just like food--if you were to start from something 'heavier" from the starts--and you love it--it taste good for your palate---then why not?
Craftbeer就一定好喝?
不是的。跟上馆子吃饭一样。肯定有适合自己口味或不喜欢的餐厅。
啤酒也是。个人口味会决定你喜不喜欢某一支啤酒。重点是CRAFT BEER 有太多不同类别风格选择，每个人一定会找到自己喜欢的啤酒，而且肯定不止三五支。
不是的。跟上馆子吃饭一样。肯定有适合自己口味或不喜欢的餐厅。
啤酒也是。个人口味会决定你喜不喜欢某一支啤酒。重点是CRAFT BEER 有太多不同类别风格选择，每个人一定会找到自己喜欢的啤酒，而且肯定不止三五支。
新人应该怎样开始喝?
用删除法。
如果日常生活中不喜欢吃什么味道的食物，就先从啤酒类别风格中移除，先喝自己喜欢，能接受的口味是不错的开始。喝CRAFT BEER是需要味蕾逐步接受不同味道刺激的过程，累积下来的不同尝味经验会提高鉴赏力。
新人是不是一定要从最浅的啤酒开始喝起?
一般来说很多人会那样建议。
比如说从pilsner，lager，pale ale开始，然后逐步尝试IPA，PORTER, STOUT之类的。
只是，个人口味这件事是很难有统一标准的，如果你一开始就喝比较浓郁或比较高酒精度的啤酒，只要对味，未尝不可。
一般来说很多人会那样建议。
比如说从pilsner，lager，pale ale开始，然后逐步尝试IPA，PORTER, STOUT之类的。
只是，个人口味这件事是很难有统一标准的，如果你一开始就喝比较浓郁或比较高酒精度的啤酒，只要对味，未尝不可。
A: NOPE. with big factory beers--things are very straight forward--golden is light beer---dark is "heavy" beer----NOT with craft beer.
in craft beer the color of a beer certainly is not the only factors that would determine the depth/complexity...
Q: seems IPA is in trend recently in KL, what is that?
A: IPA is India Pale Ale in full---so named because of British colonial era historical reason( or so it seems)---the beer is not invented by Indian--nor brewed in India.
Basic idea is --if you drink tea with 1 tea bag---try doing it with 3,4 or 5 tea bag with same amount of water....:) ( of course IPA is not only about bitter--the taste profile is much more than just that)
If you go straight from big factory lager to IPA--that's going to be a fun ride for your palate....
Q: Can i find some craft beer in supermarket in and around KL?
A: YES--but very very limited choices and very few places only.
Currently there's still a distinct lack of craft beer places in and around KL if we were to compare with other cities around us--but still--compare to 3 years ago--KL craft beer scene has improved quite a lot ....
最近听到一些朋友说IPA开始流行。。到底什么来的?
IPA是india pale ale的简称。中文是印度淡啤。 跟印度扯上关系是因为很久以前英国殖民地时期的历史原因。这类型啤酒不是在印度酿，也不是印度人发明的。
IPA在美国非常盛行，基本概念可以想象成把一般人喝的一杯茶加上三四五个茶包。IPA是把pale ale加上大量啤酒花，利用酒花甘香苦味酿出比pale ale口味更强，更浓郁的金黄色啤酒。
之前只喝过大厂啤酒的话，一开始喝IPA会是对味蕾的好玩冲击。
IPA是india pale ale的简称。中文是印度淡啤。 跟印度扯上关系是因为很久以前英国殖民地时期的历史原因。这类型啤酒不是在印度酿，也不是印度人发明的。
IPA在美国非常盛行，基本概念可以想象成把一般人喝的一杯茶加上三四五个茶包。IPA是把pale ale加上大量啤酒花，利用酒花甘香苦味酿出比pale ale口味更强，更浓郁的金黄色啤酒。
之前只喝过大厂啤酒的话，一开始喝IPA会是对味蕾的好玩冲击。
目前本地超级市场之类的可以买到CRAFTBEER吗？
可以。不过只是很少量，选择不多。
暂时来说，跟其他东南亚城市比较，本地撞意啤酒专卖吧/瓶子店少的可怜，不过，要是你是还没开始喝的新人，跟三年前比较，本地也算有很多不同啤酒类别/风格供选择了。
尝味是最好的开始
别只是上网或看书，喝CRAFT BEER或者说认识撞意啤酒最好的方式还是拿起杯子喝这个简单动作。今天就开始选一瓶吧。Tasting is the best way to start
don't just read online or buy books---best way to start with craft beer is the simple action of lifting a cup filled with craft beer of your choice....that's the way to go....
