Cohesion Beer creates unique Czech-style lagers with stunning foam

In recent months, the craft beer scene in the United States, particularly in Colorado, has been experiencing a shift towards lager beer styles, with an emphasis on traditional Czech brewing methods. One brewery leading this trend is Cohesion Beer, located in Denver, Colorado. They highlight the aesthetic and sensory qualities of beer foam, declaring that 'foam is beautiful.' This brewery's approach involves utilizing custom-made malt sourced from a local maltster, along with specific fermentation and conditioning methods such as open vat fermenting and horizontal conditioning tanks. Unlike the common craft beer focus on hoppy ales, Cohesion Beer and a few other breweries are tapping into the growing consumer interest for lagers, a style that is often overshadowed in the craft scene by more hop-forward variations. A key feature of Cohesion's beers is their unique pouring technique known as Mledko, which results in a pour nearly filled with foam, leaving only a small amount of liquid at the bottom of the glass. This innovative method enhances the drinker's olfactory experience and allows for a more immersive drinking experience. The special foam produced by this pouring style is not only visually pleasing but also serves a practical purpose. While standard beer foam acts primarily as a byproduct of carbonation, the wet foam created in the Czech tradition is essential to the beer's character as it retains the beer's flavors. This wet foam is rich in proteins, giving it a creamy texture reminiscent of milk or a milkshake. Consequently, the drinking experience is enriched, making each sip feel more substantial and flavorful. A distinct aspect contributing to this innovative beer experience is the use of specialized taps. The side pull taps employed by Cohesion Beer allow bartenders to control the foam's density and texture effectively. These taps function through an internal compensator that regulates beer flow, resulting in a foam that is rich, dense, and full of flavor when poured correctly. With skilled bartending, the taps can create an exceptional drinking experience that reflects the brewery's philosophy toward the art of beer making and serving.