A dash of barley, a pinch of hops

The first thing to know about brewing is that basically, it's cooking. The brewer is a chef, the brewery is his kitchen and the brew kettle no more than a pot. Granted, at 1,500 liters, it is a very, very large pot. The recipe for Gordon Biersch beer contains only four ingredients as dictated by the 500-year-old German purity law called Reinheitsgebot.

Ales vs. Lagers

Many people use color to classify beer, but an even more basic distinction is between lagers and ales. Most microbrews are ales. They are made from top fermenting yeasts and are typically stored for about two weeks. Most ales are fruity and complex in flavor. Gordon Biersch brews mostly lagers. Lagers use bottom fermenting yeasts and are stored for about five weeks after brewing, which results in a crisper, smoother flavor. Gordon Biersch brews beers that range in color from gold to auburn to brown and to black, but most of our flagship beers are lager style resulting in what we think are wonderfully drinkable brews. The bottom line? Judge a beer based on taste not color.

Reinheitsgebot

Reinheitsgebot: (Rine-HEIGHT-ski-bot') The German Purity Law that dates back to 1516 which says beer can only be made with 3 ingredients. Barley. Hops. And water. Interestingly, at the time no one knew that yeast was involved in the process. (It was in the air.) So yeast has since been added as the fourth ingredient.

The Legend of the Boot

16th Century German Students enjoyed having a few drafts, then dueling it out. As midnight neared, revelers laid down their swords and filled their boots with their favorite lagers for a toast. Before long, health-minded craftsmen began producing boots made of glass. Now Gordon Biersch carries the glass boot tradition forward, but sharp wits preferred to swords. Part of the tradition involves the correct way to drink from the boot without wearing it home. If you are a good little guest and ask your server nicely, you might even learn the secret...

Prost!