SEARCH FOR PRODUCTS WITH OUR NEW MOBILE APP | Available on IOS & Android

×

Beer Department: Sediment in Beer

Back to feed
Comments Off on Beer Department: Sediment in Beer

Picture

As summertime beers gain more traction and trendy, “northeast-style” IPAs begin to hit store shelves, you might notice more and more beers that look hazy or cloudy. This is in sharp contrast to many beers whose beauty lies in their crystalline appearance. So what makes a beer hazy? More importantly, what’s the point?

Put simply, hazy beers are hazy because the brewers choose not to filter the beer during the brewing process. Some beers are unfiltered yet appear clear because the sediment has naturally fallen out of suspension during brewing. When brewers do filter their beer, it is mostly for aesthetic purposes; they think clear beer looks better, and that’s their choice. So why do some brewers leave the sediment behind, and what’s in it?

Beyond making certain beers look appealing in all their hazy glory, sediment contributes to how you actually experience the beer. Sediment will increase your perception of bitterness and acidity, making it especially useful in bitter styles like IPAs or styles like wheat beers that benefit from an extra tang of acidity. The sediment itself contains all sorts of stuff: leftover yeast, proteins, minerals and vitamins that  got infused into the beer when the grain was first mashed into the water. 
Unfiltered wheat beers will appear especially hazy, as wheat has a higher protein content than barley. Don’t worry, none of the hazy particulates in unfiltered beer are harmful; on the contrary, all those vitamins and minerals are good for you!

In some unfiltered beers, you’ll notice that the sediment settles to the bottom. When you see this, it is actually possible to gently pour the beer into a glass and separate the beer from the sediment, leaving a clearer, mostly filtered beer if that’s your thing. There’s no right or wrong way here, just whatever you’re comfortable with.

Picture

The only warning I might issue as you explore the wonderful, diverse world of unfiltered beers is to watch out for beers with large chunks of sediment floating in them. These chunks will more resemble the snowflakes in a snowglobe and this is indicative of a VERY old bottle of beer that has actually begun to separate on a molecular level. It is best to steer clear of these; they won’t hurt you but they definitely won’t taste right. Otherwise, get out there and expand your horizons! Cheers!

-Eric, Eastgate

If you’re on Twitter, make sure to follow @JunglesBeerGuy for recommendations, and to help answer any questions you have about the Jungle Jim’s Beer Department!

Want to receive the latest and greatest in Expert Picks and Recommendations? Sign up to receive our monthly Brew Crew Crewsletter!

Back to Top