{"id":8083,"date":"2025-04-01T15:25:58","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T13:25:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trappistwestmalle.be\/blog\/beer-myths-and-facts-7-common-beliefs-explained\/"},"modified":"2025-10-28T15:28:47","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T13:28:47","slug":"beer-myths-and-facts-7-common-beliefs-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trappistwestmalle.be\/en\/blog\/beer-myths-and-facts-7-common-beliefs-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Beer myths and facts: 7 common beliefs explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Beer myths and facts have been debated for decades. \u201cBeer has to be ice-cold.\u201d \u201cOld beer should be thrown away.\u201d \u201cDark beer is always stronger than blond.\u201d Sounds familiar? These are some of the most common things people say about beer, but are they actually true? Time to separate fact from fiction and take a closer look at some popular beer myths and facts.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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Beer should always be ice-cold<\/h3>

Myth!<\/strong><\/p>\n

An ice-cold beer can be refreshing on a hot day, but temperatures that are too<\/em> low suppress aromas and flavour. While a lager can certainly be enjoyed chilled, Trappist beers like Westmalle show their true character at 6\u201312 \u00b0C<\/strong>. Cool enough to stay fresh, warm enough to reveal their full taste.<\/p>\n

If you drink your Trappist beer<\/a> straight from a fridge set at 4\u20136 \u00b0C, you\u2019ll miss out on some of its complexity. On the other hand, when beer gets too warm, the alcohol can dominate and affect the balance of flavour.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udca1<\/strong>Tip: take your bottle of Westmalle out of the fridge about 15 minutes before serving, so it gently warms to the ideal temperature. Keep it closed so the carbonation stays intact.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> <\/div>

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Old beer should be thrown away<\/h3>

Myth!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many people think beer becomes undrinkable after the best before<\/em> date, but that\u2019s not necessarily the case. The date mainly guarantees that the beer will keep its signature taste if<\/em> it\u2019s stored cool and dark. But even after that, it can still be perfectly drinkable, especially darker or stronger beers such as Westmalle Dubbel <\/a>and Tripel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Over time, hop aromas and bitterness fade, resulting in a softer, rounder taste. Beer exposed to oxygen can change in flavour, but with bottle conditioning \u2014 as in Westmalle beers \u2014 this risk is much lower. During secondary fermentation, the yeast consumes the oxygen in the bottle, helping preserve flavour and stability.<\/p>\n

For the best experience, enjoy your beer before the best before<\/em> date. But a well-stored bottle of Dubbel or Tripel that\u2019s a few years old? That can develop beautifully. Curious? Read more in our blog post about how to store beer<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> <\/div>

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Dark beer is always stronger than blond beer<\/h3>

Myth!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many drinkers associate dark beer with higher alcohol and heavier flavours. But the colour alone doesn\u2019t tell you anything about the strength.<\/p>\n

What determines alcohol content is the amount of sugar that the yeast converts into alcohol. The more fermentable sugars in the wort, the higher the alcohol level,\u00a0 and those sugars come mainly from malt. If a brewer wants a stronger beer, they use more malt. The brewing process itself also plays a big role.<\/p>\n

At Westmalle, for example, we add a small amount of sugar before bottle conditioning. This gives the yeast extra nutrients to create alcohol, CO\u2082 and complex aromas, without making the beer sweeter.<\/p>\n

So while a dark beer can<\/em> be stronger, that\u2019s not always the case. Colour reflects the ingredients, the type of malt or sugar, not necessarily the alcohol content. In short: don\u2019t judge a beer by its colour. It\u2019s the flavour that matters!<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> <\/div>

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Draft beer tastes different from bottled beer<\/h3>

Fact!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many beer lovers notice a difference between beer on tap and beer from the bottle. That\u2019s because of a few factors:<\/p>\n