It was an absolute privilege and honour to host a beer appreciation class sponsored by Witlinger at Spiritz 2016.
As a brewer, I deal with beer on a daily basis and have a thorough understanding about one of the world’s oldest beverages. Imparting key pieces of this knowledge to the public is much needed in India as the craft beer sector here continues to grow with more and more brewpubs and now new Indian craft beer labels such as Witlinger appearing in the market.
The beer appreciation class at Spiritz 2016 covered a brief history of beer, its ingredients and finally how to sample a beer. We also looked at Witlinger as a brand and enjoyed a guided sampling of Witlinger’s Wheat Ale – their interpretation of a Belgian style Wheat Ale infused with orange peels and coriander. Participants ranged from students from the IIHM to those in the beverage industry, media and social media influencers.
They tasted the beer, posed questions about various beer expressions and had a great fun.
More and more such events are required throughout the country to spread awareness about new varieties of beer with the long term goal of increasing India’s per capita beer intake, which happens to be one of the lowest in the world. Considering beer is lower in alcohol content than other alcoholic beverages, it should be positioned as a safer alternative for adults. Beer when consumed responsibly and in moderation has several health benefits.