Dang. I missed the seltzer craze.

Any bets on the "next big thing?"
 
It seems like everyone is making a Low Cal IPA these days
 
Tried the Lagunitas hoppy refresher last night. Basically hop water, and it was refreshing. Am interested in “brewing” something similar, as a complement to real beer, but not sure whether to try no ABV (just hops) or low ABV (with some malt) first. No ABV would be so simple, maybe that should be next. Might experiment with some small batch hop tea / seltzer combos as a next step.
 
Tried the Lagunitas hoppy refresher last night. Basically hop water, and it was refreshing. Am interested in “brewing” something similar, as a complement to real beer, but not sure whether to try no ABV (just hops) or low ABV (with some malt) first. No ABV would be so simple, maybe that should be next. Might experiment with some small batch hop tea / seltzer combos as a next step.
Would a 2-3% beer be low enough? Look for a particularly flavorful malt (as opposed to pale 2-row) and just use a little, maybe 1/2 the usual (or water it down after the boil). With some good hops you might end up with something better than hop water, but still not much more than water.
 
Would a 2-3% beer be low enough? Look for a particularly flavorful malt (as opposed to pale 2-row) and just use a little, maybe 1/2 the usual (or water it down after the boil). With some good hops you might end up with something better than hop water, but still not much more than water.

How about near zero for the near beer?

Near Zero Pale Ale
Boil Time: 30 min
Batch Size: 4 gallons (fermentor volume)
Boil Size: 4.82 gallons
Boil Gravity: 1.006
Efficiency: 65% (brew house)

STATS:
Original Gravity: 1.007
Final Gravity: 1.001
ABV (standard): 0.68%
IBU (tinseth): 21.04
SRM (morey): 6.12
Mash pH: 5.39

FERMENTABLES:
6 oz - Floor-Malted Bohemian Pilsner (33.3%)
6 oz - Pilsner (33.3%)
6 oz - Caramel Malt - 80L (33.3%)

HOPS:
2 g - Magnum, Type: Pellet, AA: 15, Use: Boil for 15 min, IBU: 7.84
1 oz - Citra, Type: Pellet, AA: 11, Use: Dry Hop (High Krausen)
1 oz - Mosaic, Type: Pellet, AA: 12.5, Use: Dry Hop (High Krausen)

MASH GUIDELINES:
Steeping, Temp: 155 F, Time: 60 min, Amount: 4.5 gal, Steady state
Sparge, Temp: 170 F, Time: 5 min, Amount: 0.5 gal

The amounts and type of hops additions are the real puzzlers here. Thinking of trying magnets for the dry hop. But thinking of trying no brew, just hop water first.
 
How about near zero for the near beer?

Near Zero Pale Ale
Boil Time: 30 min
Batch Size: 4 gallons (fermentor volume)
Boil Size: 4.82 gallons
Boil Gravity: 1.006
Efficiency: 65% (brew house)

STATS:
Original Gravity: 1.007
Final Gravity: 1.001
ABV (standard): 0.68%
IBU (tinseth): 21.04
SRM (morey): 6.12
Mash pH: 5.39

FERMENTABLES:
6 oz - Floor-Malted Bohemian Pilsner (33.3%)
6 oz - Pilsner (33.3%)
6 oz - Caramel Malt - 80L (33.3%)

HOPS:
2 g - Magnum, Type: Pellet, AA: 15, Use: Boil for 15 min, IBU: 7.84
1 oz - Citra, Type: Pellet, AA: 11, Use: Dry Hop (High Krausen)
1 oz - Mosaic, Type: Pellet, AA: 12.5, Use: Dry Hop (High Krausen)

MASH GUIDELINES:
Steeping, Temp: 155 F, Time: 60 min, Amount: 4.5 gal, Steady state
Sparge, Temp: 170 F, Time: 5 min, Amount: 0.5 gal

The amounts and type of hops additions are the real puzzlers here. Thinking of trying magnets for the dry hop. But thinking of trying no brew, just hop water first.
I'd go all floor malted for that extra flavour remember it's gunna remind you of beer taste but you'll still question yourself hmmm is that malt flavour I taste lol:).
 

Back
Top