Is using Hop Extract "Craft Brewing"?

[1977Brewer]

The more alarming thing about that contraption is the ability to add flavors to almost anything. I was hesitant (as I'd never had one worth drinking) until I tried Peach Mello Yello and fell in love.

Those things make a Vanilla Barq's that I'd probably rank in my top five beverages if I ever quit drinking beer.

 

[SmokeyMcBong]

This thread has me thinking: Dried Cannabis vs. Hashish

I'll take one of each please...

 

[madscientist451]

Craft brewing means what you want it to mean. The Brewers association has made up their own definition, but you don't have to buy in to that if you don't want to. I make my beer choices mostly by taste, but price comes into play as well. I really don't care what's in it as long as its food safe.

 

[ol-hazza]

No I don't think it is craft brewing.

Thats not to say that it can't be used to make beer thats good or even better, or that a brewery that uses it in one beer is no longer a craft brewery, but to me craft means that a craftsman (or craftswomen of course) should have a hand in the stages of production.

Of course a line has to be drawn as to what stage of production the craftsman steps in, for example its fine to use pellet hops, to buy malted grain or irish moss, but hop extract, or brewing from malt extract crosses the line for me.

 

[The_Bishop]

This thread:

 

[SillyBeer]

What about fruit in beer?

 

[ol-hazza]

What about fruit in beer?

Is fine, in theory. I havn't had one that I really enjoyed yet though

 

[1977Brewer]

So...the fact that every other aspect of the beer is the product of craftsmen is totally negated by the addition of a liquid that was created via a completely seperate craft?

I have to call my dad and tell him he hasn't built anything of note in his 40 years as a cabinet maker because he doesn't mill his own lumber. He'll be heartbroken.

 

[ol-hazza]

So...the fact that every other aspect of the beer is the product of craftsmen is totally negated by the addition of a liquid that was created via a completely seperate craft?

I have to call my dad and tell him he hasn't built anything of note in his 40 years as a cabinet maker because he doesn't mill his own lumber. He'll be heartbroken.

Thats actually an exact example i had in my head while writing the post.... Like i said the line has to be drawn somewhere. In that example buying timber is fine, buying the knobs and runners and screws and handles is fine, but getting a prefab facade and sticking it on the front takes away from the craft status.....

The point im trying to make is that its an arbitrary line and i think hop extract crosses it.

 

[burninator]

Hop extract is inauthentic? What, exactly, do you think you're doing when you put hops in the boil?

 

[Teromous]

Kegging beer on CO2 gas isn't crafty enough. I only drink naturally carbonated beers.

 

[Qhrumphf]

you best be boiling your water to decarbonate it, and only use soured wort or sauermalz to adjust your mash.

Oh and krausening too. There's your abritrary line in the sand.

You can be on the non-Craft side with Budweiser and Russian River.

 

[SnakeRidge]

I add Essence of Fox to get the craftiness levels up in all my brews.

 

[yeastylad]

I add Essence of Fox to get the craftiness levels up in all my brews.

This comment wins this entire thread. :rockin: No more posts please.

 

[Homercidal]

You could add Essence of Foxx to all your Badass Brews.

Makes every brew a real Motherf#$%er!

 

[SnakeRidge]

You could add Essence of Foxx to all your Badass Brews.

Makes every brew a real Motherf#$%er!

I'll leave it up to you to collect that Essence of Foxx. Hey, maybe you'll both enjoy it.

 

[1977Brewer]

I'll leave it up to you to collect that Essence of Fox. Hey, maybe you'll both enjoy it.

I volunteer!

 

[JustLooking]

I have to call my dad and tell him he hasn't built anything of note in his 40 years as a cabinet maker because he doesn't mill his own lumber. He'll be heartbroken.

Figures that a guy who doesn't know the difference between a sawmill worker and a cabinet maker also wouldn't know the differnece between a farmer and a brewer. :cross:

 

[Troutchaser]

I think the beer the op is talking about is an awesome beer! I don't know about being able to taste the extract but I can taste the hoppy delecouisness!

 

[NewJersey]

I agree with the majority opinion here to a point.
Is hop oil non craft? Malt extract? Fruit extract?

What if a brewery made a beer with only malt extract, hop oil, high fructose corn syrup, and commercial yeast.... And then pasteurized it. Would you guys be into that? Doesn't matter how it tastes I'm just after the perception. What if they had a chemical factory produce that beer in powder form and they just rehydrated, carbonated, and packaged it?
I'll skip the malt extract, hop extract, etc thank you very much.
Not trolling here, just expressing my personal opinion.

 

[SillyBeer]

How is hop extract made?

 

[ol-hazza]

The hops get milled, and have a solvent (usually liquid co2) run through them to remove the oils and then the solvent is removed leaving behind the extract.

 

[bobeer]

I used to think of it as cheating when it first came out. Now I think it's a old man way of thinking about it. Technology changes products and procedures so I dont think its really cheating in that sense. Ive never used the stuff but i think it tastes pretty good in the beers ive had that It's brewed with.

 

[AnOldUR]

I used to think of it as cheating when it first came out. Now I think it's a old man way of thinking about it.

Yeah, sometimes I'm old school. It all comes down to where you personally draw the line. Extracting bitterness and flavor from hops, fermentable sugars from grain. These are a couple of the challenges that make homebrewing a fun hobby for me. Sure you can have these processes done for you in a factory and make great beer, but is that the point of the hobby? No for me. I could buy great beer if that was all that was important to me.

Someday it'll be pre-hopped, pre-boiled, pre-pitched kits bought in the refrigeration section. Bring it home and put it in your pre-built fermentation chamber. After a few weeks, take it over to the place that cans beer. Pick it up a couple of weeks later and stick it in your fridge.

I guess you could call that brewing.

 

[agrazela]

IMO, if peanut butter powder has a place in craft brewing, then hop extract has a place there, too.

...Someday it'll be pre-hopped, pre-boiled, pre-pitched kits bought in the refrigeration section. Bring it home and put it in your pre-built fermentation chamber. After a few weeks, take it over to the place that cans beer. Pick it up a couple of weeks later and stick it in your fridge.

I guess you could call that brewing.

I'd call that innovative!

(oops, better call my lawyer...)

 

[AnOldUR]

I'd call that innovative!

Now if you throw some peanut butter powder in the kit when you get it home, that's innovation!

 

[Dopeybrew]

If the brewer in question uses an electric grain mill are they not as "authentic" as someone who hitches up the old plow horse to the stone wheel to mill the grain? Last I checked shortcuts are allowed. Unless you are going to suggest that using gas instead of building and maintaining a fire is grounds for not being "craft" enough.

If you can taste the difference, then don't drink it. Its beer man, not life or death. Its meant to be enjoyed. Who honestly gives a rats ball sack if it meets some definition of a word that was invented anyway?