When it comes to international beers, few are as famous or highly regarded as Heineken. You can find this beer all over the world, and people from all walks of life love to drink it. But, what does Heineken taste like? How did it achieve its world-famous status?
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If you are a beer enthusiast, you should pay attention to reviews about its taste. Please read this article of Websosanh.vn for you.
1. What does Heineken beer taste like?
Heineken beer has a unique flavor unlike any other beer
Heineken beer is a lager beer with a mild bitter taste. Unlike other beers that are mixed with many different flavors, Heineken beer is simple to the point of simplicity. So the tasting notes are strong, bitter, with a hint of sweet corn or green apple. The taste of Heineken beer is different whether you drink it from a can or a bottle. Most people like canned Heineken beer, this Websosanh.vn will explain later. Heineken beer also has a strong, bitter aftertaste that builds up the more you drink. Overall, this beer has a distinct flavor that you cannot find in other mass-produced beverages.
2. What gives Heineken beer its unique flavor?
There are only 3 natural ingredients in Heineken beer: water, hops and barley. Since the beer doesn’t contain any additional ingredients or flavors, it has a smooth and reliable consistency. So no matter where you are in the world, a bottle or can of Heineken beer will taste the same.
That said, there’s a bit of chemistry and biology going on down the production line. According to the Heineken company, they have developed their own proprietary yeast to add to the beer brewing process. In 1886, two chemists developed two unique yeast strains, A-Yeast and D-Yeast. That same year, the company made a series of products with A-Yeast, and the rest is history. In 1889, Heineken beer won a gold medal at the Paris World Exhibition.
Let’s break down the taste of Heineken beer into 3 categories: aroma, taste and experience.
2.1 Aroma of Heineken beer
If you drink bottled Heineken beer, you will notice a “slight odor”. Canned Heineken beer does not have this “aromatic” smell, which is part of the reason why many people prefer to drink the canned version. Once you get past the “skunky” smell, you will notice notes of biscuit malt, along with light and delicate citrus notes. Hops also add a bit of earthy and grassy aroma to Heineken beer.
2.2 Taste of Heineken beer
When you finish a can of Heineken beer, you will notice malty sweetness and citrus flavors. The flavor is smooth and clean with a mildly bitter aftertaste. If you drink an entire bottle of Heineken beer, the bitter taste will last longer. Therefore, if you are not a fan of bitter beers, you should only drink from Heineken beer cans.
2.3 Experience Heineken beer
Heineken beer has a light straw yellow color and has a lot of carbonation. When pouring beer, you will notice that the thin tip of the ivory dissolves quickly. Carbonation is a natural side effect of fermentation. As the yeast consumes the sugars from the barley, it releases CO2, creating a frothy mixture. Thanks to that, it creates a light and airy feeling when drinking.
3. How did Heineken beer achieve its world-famous status?
The story of Heineken beer began in 1864 when Gerard Heineken took over the Haystack Brewery in Amsterdam. At 22 years old, Heineken has little experience making beer, but he is passionate and ambitious. As history has proven, these traits are all it takes to be successful.
In 1875, Heineken won the Medal D’Or at the International Maritime Expedition in France. That year also marked Heineken’s status as one of the largest beer exporters in France.
Heineken really started hitting the international market after A-Yeast became part of the beer brewing process in 1886. From there, with Heineken’s signature recipe, it was able to take over the world. Heineken expanded to South America as early as 1883, then Asia in 1929. Heineken was also the first beer to be legally imported in the US when Prohibition ended in 1933.
Today, Heineken beer is present in more than 200 countries worldwide and is ranked as the second largest beer producer, after Anheuser Busch. Every year, Heineken produces about 221 million hectoliters of beer.
4. Similar beers to Heineken beer
As a European-style beer, Heineken beer is often considered the gold standard. Most beer enthusiasts compare other similar beers to Heineken to see how well they stack up. If you are interested in using similar drinks, you can check out one of the following beers:
Carlsberg Danish Lager beer has a more bitter taste but is very easy to drink
The brand actually ranks third in production worldwide, making over 110 million hectolitres of beer annually. This beer is slightly spicier than Heineken beer, so it has a stronger bitter taste. However, the bitterness appears after the initial malt sweetness, so Carlsberg beer is very easy to drink.
4.2 Pilsner Urquell Beer – Reference price 1,150,000 VND/case of 24 cans of 330ml
Pilsner Urquell beer has a slightly smoother flavor and less bitter aftertaste
Depending on the drinker’s needs, Pilsner can be considered the gold standard for pale ales lovers. The flavor profile is similar to Heineken beer, but the taste is a bit smoother and has a less bitter aftertaste. The secret to this beer is the water, which comes from Pilsner, Czech Republic. Because the water is softer (has fewer minerals), it has a lighter balance than Heineken beer.
4.3 Samuel Smith Old Brewery Lager Beer – Price of imported goods
Samuel Smith Old Brewery Lager beer has a cracker flavor
This beer is quite famous in Europe, thanks to its mild but distinctive flavor and organic ingredients. Samuel Smith beer uses bottom-fermenting yeast (standard for lager beer) and filtered soft water. The beer skin is softer, resulting in a crispy biscuit flavor and smooth finish. If you are not a fan of bitter beers, Samuel Smith beer is a great choice.
4.4 Spaten Munchner Lager Beer – Price of imported goods
Spaten Munchner Lager beer has a more floral aroma
This German beer is mainly drunk during Oktoberfest, but it still works well as an everyday drink. Unlike Heineken beer, Spaten beer uses four ingredients: water, barley malt, hops, and hop extract. The result is a taller beer with floral notes. You’ll also get a bit of honey and pepper from the Spaten beer.
4. Conclusion
Because it is often packaged in green bottles, Heineken beer can have a distinctive aroma and flavor. As a rule, bitter beer lovers prefer Heineken beer for its aroma and aftertaste. However, if you are looking for a light European beer, Websosanh.vn strongly recommends you try Heineken beer from a beer keg or beer can. Because this will help reduce the “slim” elements and ensure a richer, more aromatic flavor.
With so many Heineken beers sold every year, it’s clear that the brand is very popular. So if you have never tried it before, now is the time to try it.
