Tasters: Fresh beer worth wait

COLUMBUS - After more than a week of waiting, the freshest beer possible was delivered to Columbus Wednesday, and beer enthusiasts and “lukewarm” drinkers alike said it was worth the wait.

The 1,700 cases of beer arrived at the new Hy-Vee store 12 hours after it was produced in Colorado and those who sampled the product said they could tell the difference.

Joyce Rerucha said she has never been fond of beer, but after a sample of the fresh beer, she may change her attitude about beer.

“I am not a beer drinker,” Rerucha said, but “I like this, this is really good. This I would drink.”

“It doesn't have the after, bitter taste like most beer,” she said.

Peggy Adamy said the taste was crisp and smooth.

“It's great. It has a nice taste,” Adamy said. “(It) tastes rich.”

Mitch Streit, Hy-Vee store director, said it was nice to finally see all the coordination and effort come together after the initial shipment day, March 21, was delayed by the snow storm.

“It took two and a half months to write up (opening day)” to deliver the fresh beer, Streit said. Because of weather, Anheuser-Busch Inc. “had to change their production schedule in Fort Collins and were ready for a new delivery date in nine days.”

Eric Krueger said he had been anticipating the delivery since it was first announced by Hy-Vee. “I've been looking try this fresh beer ... since last week. “I didn't know what to expect.”

Bruce Nelsen, owner of Eagle Distributing Inc. in Fremont, said a typical beer will reach the consumer between two and five weeks after it is brewed.

This beer “came off the assembly line, onto a truck, onto another truck and brought here,” Nelsen said.

Dan Malyszko, a brewmaster for Anheuser-Busch Inc. Brewing in Fort Collins, Colo. said this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of people.

“Day-fresh beer is truly unique,” Malyszko said. “This is the beer as brewmasters intended it to be, and we are passionate about beer.”

A brewmaster is in charge of overseeing the quality of the product from start to finish, he said.

This is a chance for customers to “taste it as the brewmasters tasted it before it left,” Malyszko said. It is also the perfect opportunity to educate public about why fresh beer tastes better” and how to properly retain freshness and enjoy a beer.

“Fresh beer isn't going to have that lingering aftertaste,” he said. “This truly highlights freshness.”

For those who bought the fresh cases or for any beer drinker, Malyszko recommended storing the product in the refrigerator or a cool dark place between 50 and 60 degrees.

“The worst place is the garage or trunk of a car,” he said.

Nelsen said beer is similar to wine, because the way it is stored and its initial freshness impact the taste.

“Beer is the same as wine, it is a delicate product,” he said.

Malyszko also instructed samplers how to get the full taste and aroma out of a fresh beer.

The perfect pour is right to the bottom of the glass, leaving one inch of foam on the top of the glass to release carbon dioxide and aroma, he said, then swirl the glass, take small sniffs then drink.

Herman Lauterbach, who has been a beer drinker for more than 40 years, said it was some of the best beer he has tasted.

“It is every bit as good as they said it would be,” Lauterbach said, but he has a fresh case brought to him whenever his son visits, because his son works alongside Malyszko at Anheuser-Busch.

Streit said only half of the cases had been sold as of this morning, but “day-fresh beer is usually very, very good.”