It's thought that the Neolithic people actually gave up hunting and gathering to become farmers to grow grain to make beer. So for the last 6,000 years, we've been all about it.
In a tough year where most Iowans have cut back on their retail purchases, we've actually spent more on beer. Hence the Brewfest at Principal Park last weekend, hence the continued growth of frothy business downtown.
Not long ago, the microbrewery was a trend. Today, it's an establishment.
"We opened in 1996," says Scott Carlson. "When we opened up there weren't many places where you could get micro beers or small-batch beers, you had to go to your brewery or brew pub. Obviously since '96, you can find a micro beer or a small-batch beer in any bar."
The basement of Court Avenue Brewing Company is a testament to just how much goes into beer making. Brewer Mike Gauthier's mad science takes care of the labor, so that upstairs, we can just enjoy the fruit.
Carlson adds, "Kinda since the revolution and the rebirth of microbreweries, people have now taken beer and respected it to a whole different level -- talking about the complexities, how does it feel, how does it taste, how does it smell, how does it look. All the same things people talk about wine, beer's become."
It's also become a subject for good debate -- full of misconceptions and little-known truths. Court Avenue Brewing Company is a good place to flush those out.
Truth: pour that beer into a glass, you'll get more flavor than from a bottle.
"The rule of thumb is almost always a glass," says Carlson. "A glass will open up those flavors, mix up that beer, let you see it -- see what you're drinking -- so much more than no glass."
And what about the glass, should it be frozen or just chilled?
"Neither. Dry and clean. Right off the shelf. You want your glass to be clean. You know, 'cuz the beer you pour outta that glass, you don't want it to get colder, and you really actually want it to get a little bit warmer," says Carlson.
Truth: the color of a beer bottle matters. Clear or green glass doesn't filter out light, which turns beer to a "skunky" flavor in just a couple of hours.
"If you like a beer that's got clear glass or green glass, remove a few six packs in the front and reach to the back where it's nice a dark," says Carlson. "Or better yet, if you have a good relationship with your beer guy or the grocery store or the wine guy at the grocery store or whoever's running the liquor department there -- ask him to grab you a fresh case from the back and you won't have that experience at all."
Misconception: Iowans are familiar with the debate over 3.2 and 5.0 beer. The truth is, they are two different systems of measurement. A so-called 3.2 beer was measured by weight, and the 5.0 was by volume. Measure them both the same way, and the alcohol content is virtually the same.
Final truth: it may sound elementary, but there's a way to drink beer. Use the glass and the foam and start with your nose.
"You wanna inhale. At the same time take a sip, that way you've triggered your mind on aroma and your palette the same time. And that's when you're really gonna enjoy a beer," says Carlson.
Six-thousand years and counting. Enjoying the world's favorite beverage is something we'll keep doing -- with more knowledge and more choices than ever before.
In a tough year where most Iowans have cut back on their retail purchases, we've actually spent more on beer. Hence the Brewfest at Principal Park last weekend, hence the continued growth of frothy business downtown.
Not long ago, the microbrewery was a trend. Today, it's an establishment.
"We opened in 1996," says Scott Carlson. "When we opened up there weren't many places where you could get micro beers or small-batch beers, you had to go to your brewery or brew pub. Obviously since '96, you can find a micro beer or a small-batch beer in any bar."
The basement of Court Avenue Brewing Company is a testament to just how much goes into beer making. Brewer Mike Gauthier's mad science takes care of the labor, so that upstairs, we can just enjoy the fruit.
Carlson adds, "Kinda since the revolution and the rebirth of microbreweries, people have now taken beer and respected it to a whole different level -- talking about the complexities, how does it feel, how does it taste, how does it smell, how does it look. All the same things people talk about wine, beer's become."
It's also become a subject for good debate -- full of misconceptions and little-known truths. Court Avenue Brewing Company is a good place to flush those out.
Truth: pour that beer into a glass, you'll get more flavor than from a bottle.
"The rule of thumb is almost always a glass," says Carlson. "A glass will open up those flavors, mix up that beer, let you see it -- see what you're drinking -- so much more than no glass."
And what about the glass, should it be frozen or just chilled?
"Neither. Dry and clean. Right off the shelf. You want your glass to be clean. You know, 'cuz the beer you pour outta that glass, you don't want it to get colder, and you really actually want it to get a little bit warmer," says Carlson.
Truth: the color of a beer bottle matters. Clear or green glass doesn't filter out light, which turns beer to a "skunky" flavor in just a couple of hours.
"If you like a beer that's got clear glass or green glass, remove a few six packs in the front and reach to the back where it's nice a dark," says Carlson. "Or better yet, if you have a good relationship with your beer guy or the grocery store or the wine guy at the grocery store or whoever's running the liquor department there -- ask him to grab you a fresh case from the back and you won't have that experience at all."
Misconception: Iowans are familiar with the debate over 3.2 and 5.0 beer. The truth is, they are two different systems of measurement. A so-called 3.2 beer was measured by weight, and the 5.0 was by volume. Measure them both the same way, and the alcohol content is virtually the same.
Final truth: it may sound elementary, but there's a way to drink beer. Use the glass and the foam and start with your nose.
"You wanna inhale. At the same time take a sip, that way you've triggered your mind on aroma and your palette the same time. And that's when you're really gonna enjoy a beer," says Carlson.
Six-thousand years and counting. Enjoying the world's favorite beverage is something we'll keep doing -- with more knowledge and more choices than ever before.
