Bierstacheln is putting a hot spike into a beer, caramelising residual sugars and shocking some of the carbonation out of the beer, creating a smooth foam with fine pores. The flavour is a more round one, benefitting from the soft texture. At the same time you get the sensation of a warm foam while chasing it with the cold beer underneath. The beer's temperature will usually increase by 2-3 degrees C. What you will need: - A bierstachel, a spike made of stainless steel. Cheap to craft one yourself! - A blowtorch, bigger than the ones you would prepare creme brulee with - A suitable beer – schwarzbier, dunkelbier and bock are the best choices, but even a pale beer will yield some results. My personal favourite was a Chimay Bleu. Steps: - Pour your beer into a glass without creating a head, leave some space for that delicious foam you're about to produce - Heat up your stachel for about 40 seconds to a minute - Dip it in for a few seconds, giving it a light swirl - Enjoy that foam asap But why? It's an old tradition of German blacksmiths. They would heat up their beer to a regular drinking temperature while enjoying all of the benefits listed above. Schwarzbier getting the treatment: How known is this technique outside of the German-speaking beer world? Have you encountered it in other parts of the world? Cheers!
In Colonial America, taverns would mix beer, rum and some form of sugar (molasses, dried pumpkin, etc) and drive a red-hot iron into the tankard. Some used cream or eggs, too. Called a "flip," variations of it can still be found in classic cocktail bars today.
Crazy. I can see molasses working well in this scenario, but cream and eggs? Must be somewhat like a molten and boozy beer float.
Seems like a lot of effort simply to enjoy a beer.... Not to say I'd turn one down if offered though.
I've done it a few times here in Minnesota, just in a different way. 1) Metal rod into fire pit 2) When it's red hot, pull it out and stab it in the snowbank to clean it and cool it down a little 3) Put metal rod into beer for 5 seconds or so I really enjoyed Ballast Point Coconut Victory at Sea, and Summit's Dark Infusion this way.
Christmas markets in southern Germany and beer tastings, Schneider Weisse does it. But in reality it's hard to find if you're seeking it out specifically.
ursula brewery in CO did something like this recently - wasn't able to partake myself but thought this video was pretty cool:
For us, yeah, but not so much work if you're a blacksmith and already have a poker that can be heated and dipped in the beer that is part of your lunch. Not a lot different than pounding away, shaping a heated piece of metal and then dipping that shaped metal object into water to cool.
Awesome thread. I've got some schwarzbier in the fridge and an iron poker by the fire place. Question is, will I get drunk enough to try this without being so drunk as to make a giant mess, shatter my glass or burn a hole in my hand? Time will tell.
