live oak brewing Archives | Live Oak Brewing Company

Chill Out with Cold Fermentation

There’s no doubt about it: It’s a great time to be a beer lover. In Austin and across the country, there are more options than ever when it comes to experiencing unique, exciting beers from local breweries and microbreweries. Like many beer aficionados, you are probably also fascinated by the science that produces the differences between various types of beer. If you enjoy lagers, you’ll be interested to know that they are produced through a process called cold fermentation. Why is it used, though? Keep reading to learn more! What is a Lager? If you are lucky enough to visit Live Oak Brewing Company in Austin, TX, you will be able to take your pick from a number of enticing lagers. What exactly is a lager, though? Unlike ales, which use a top-fermenting yeast that attenuates, or converts sugar to alcohol, relatively quickly, lagers rely on a bottom-fermenting yeast that attenuates more slowly and to a lesser extent. Additionally, this type of yeast has a lower alcohol tolerance, and it is capable of fermenting a sugar called melibose. What all of this means for you, the beer drinker, is that the resulting lager has more sugar remaining. It is also clearer, more full-bodied and tastes mellower on the palate. Fermenting Lagers While one could argue that the primary distinction between ales and lagers is the type of yeast that is used, another factor plays a crucial role: the temperature at which the beer is fermented. While ale yeasts typically prefer temperatures of between 60 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit, lager yeasts ferment best at temperatures of between 48 and 58 degrees Fahrenheit. With cold fermentation, flavors that are derived from yeast, including phenols and esters, are rarely [...]

Disc Golf and Brews in Austin Texas

Disc golf, also known as Frisbee golf, and craft beers make a winning combination, especially in Austin, Texas. It's just something to do with balmy weather, friendly competition and ultimate relaxation that brings out the distinctive flavor of European-style beer done right. If you are wondering where to play disc golf in Austin with access to the best beer in Austin, look no further than our nine-hole disc course at Live Oak Brewing Company. What's So Special About Disc Golf in Austin? Rice University in Houston was one of the first locations where people participated in organized disc golf way back in the 1960s. Although they used trees as targets for their Frisbee throws, the game eventually developed into a sport played on official courses with official rules. By 1976, sport enthusiast Ed Headrick had established the Professional Disc Golf Association and the Recreational Disc Golf Association. He also helped to establish official rules for play. Disc golf has come into its own as the fourth fastest-growing sport in the U.S. With approximately 400 new courses added annually from 2007 through 2017, more and more Americans are able to participate, and the professional disc golf circuit holds several established tournaments each year. The state of Texas boasts hundreds of disc golf course scattered throughout the region, and Austin enjoys a concentration of those courses. The city is the central location for one of the largest retailers of disc golf equipment, Disc Nation, and you would be hard pressed to find an Austin resident who has not either played the game or knows someone who has, according to sports blogger and journalist Michael LoRé. Because disc golf is available in most sectors of the city, inexpensive, easy [...]