Beer Notes

The beers of Sonoma Mountain Brewery, Firestone Walker and Russian River Brewing Co. (with the exception of its fruit beers) are made in accordance with the classic German brewing purity law, the Reinheitsgebott, requiring that beer be made only of barley, hops, water and yeast. By manipulating these basic ingredients many different brews can be made. There are two general types of beer distinguished by different brewing processes: lager and ale.

* Lager--Most popular American beers are lagers, or bottom-fermented beers. They are light colored, mildly flavored and highly carbonated, making for a thick head. Sweeter and darker styles include various Oktoberfest brews and Vienna lagers such as Dos Equis.

* Pilsner--This is a somewhat stronger lager, golden colored and highly carbonated but with a richer flavor of hops.

* American pilsner--This is a very mild tasting lager that allows for adjuncts of rice and/or corn. Budweiser is the classic example of this type of beer.

* Ale--Brewed by top fermentation, ales are distinguished by a higher alcohol content and a stronger, distinctive flavor and aroma of malt and hops. They can be well balanced but generally they are somewhat sweeter than popular lagers.