Real Beer vs Mass Production - What’s actually inside your glass? Ever wonder why some beers leave you feeling heavy and bloated, whilst other well crafted beers feel light, crisp and clean? The secret isn’t just in the recipe, it’s actually the behind the scenes action that goes into making it. When you crack open a beer, you’re either drinking a product made with patience, passion and raw ingredients, or an industrial beverage engineered for maximum shelf life. Let’s take a step back on the brewing industry and break down what really sets true craft beer apart from mass-produced liquid. The Ingredients: Pure Standards vs. Industrial Fillers Traditionally, beer requires only four fundamental ingredients: water , maltese barley , hops & yeast . In an independent brewery, these four ingredients are treated like gold. The malt provides natural sugars, rich colours and complex flavours, whilst the hops acts as a natural bitterness, creating herbal aromas and juicy citrus n...
If you’ve ever spotted ‘Double IPA’ on a beer menu in Malta and wondered what makes it ‘double,’ you’re not alone. A Double IPA (also known as an Imperial IPA) is a stronger, hoppier, and more intense version of a standard India Pale Ale. It’s bold. It’s aromatic. And it’s unapologetically full of character. For craft beer lovers in Malta, Double IPAs represent the bigger, bolder side of brewing, where hops take centre stage and flavour doesn’t hold back. What Makes a Double IPA Different? A Double IPA isn’t just a regular IPA with a higher alcohol percentage. It’s built differently from the ground up. Here’s what sets it apart: 1. Higher Alcohol Content Most Double IPAs range all the way up to 10% ABV, compared to standard IPAs at 5-7%. The increased malt base provides fermentable sugars to support the higher strength. 2. Bigger Hop Character Expect: Piney bitterness Bold citrus Tropical fruit Resinous, dank aromas Double IPAs use generous hop additions throughout the boil and ...