Kosher Craft Beer

Something that hasn't been mentioned is that many wines are considered not kosher, and so I imagine that wine-barrel aging could be an issue

 

That actually was mentioned above. Basically, as with much of orthodox Judaism, consult your local rabbi.

 

I wore Hasidic shoes for 11 years. Even the more fundamental circles drank whatever they wished. Israeli wine and beer is imported to the U.S. Some kosher, most are not.

As the saying goes, the only kosher one is/was the Rebbe. Most Hasidic eat kosher, but rarely do they even think if the wine/beer is kosher or care.

 

Back when I was a big scotch drinker, I was very careful about not drinking scotch aged in sherry casks. But then I noticed bottles of Macallan at almost every engagement party and wedding, and the rabbis were all drinking it. If that's allowed, then I don't see why drinking beer aged in wine barrels should be any different. But, again, see above regarding asking your local rabbi.

 

I am not an expert, but my understanding is that the issues involved in cleaning between a treyf use and a kosher use are quite complex - substantive issues include not only the nature of the cleaning, but the temperature of usage and cleaning (which has technical importance in Jewish law) and the time between use. I have seen this come up in particular with regard to the practice of kashrut observant jews eating vegetarian meals at restaurants that also serve meat. Note that historically many of the rules of kashrut involve "fences around the law" which involve precautions to make it hard to violate the law by accident. The extent to which those are necessary, and the degree of reluctance to alter an existing fence, are reasons for differences among Jewish legal authorities (and not only between C and O rabbis, but among different O rabbis, and different C rabbis)

 

@lordofthemark--I'm confused about what the concern is. Is the issue that the beer might have been made by a Jew on the chag?

 

This does not agree with my experience. Almost no Orthodox Jews I know will drink wine that is not certified kosher. By Hasidic, do youi mean Chabad? Most Chabad congregations are focused on outreach to non-observant Jews, and will tolerate their non-observance, for the sake of out reach. They are not typical of mainstream hasidism, and the practices of many members of chabad congregations is not what most Orthodox Jews do.

 

A Jew is forbidden to OWN chametz on Pesach, and IIUC the ruling is that any chametz that has been owned by a Jew during Pesach is treyf after Pesach. Back in the days when supermarkets were not owned by giant global corporations, and many were owned by Jews (for example Giant) some Orthodox Jews refrained from buying any chametz at Jewish owned (non observant, since an observant Jew would take steps to avoid the problem) supermarkets at least for the first few weeks after Pesach, when inventory had likely not yet been refreshed.

 

And with Conservative Judaism as well, if you are among those C Jews who cares to observe halacha

 

I was born and raised in a Lubavitch home until I was 11 yrs old. When I was 14 I left the movement all together, and changed my identity. I am now 33, so it's been some years. That was my personal takes from it. Most men drank, often, and without any real care in regards to kashrut. I know my biological parents were of them, and they had hundreds of friends and family, sadly just like them. I would argue my parents and their friends were alcoholics first, then jews

I know I'm using some generalities but that's what I noticed at those ages. I have no clue if it's the same or different now in those communities. When I left, I left everything Chabad behind for good.

Cheers!

 

Nope.

 

Is He'Brew not kosher?

 

OK. That's very interesting - thank you!

 

Well. I cannot say I personally know anyone lubavitch from birth other than the shlichim I know. Alll the other members of the chabad congregations I know are either baalei tshuvah, or are non-orthodox.

 

All beer is technically "kosher," but very few of them actually have kosher certification, including Leinenkugel and Sam Adams. As with other spirits, kosher certification is not required for beer. Any beer brewed in keeping with the Bavarian purity laws (barley, water, hops, yeast) is definitely kosher. It's the adjuncts and barrel-aging that create the difficulties. Again, I would consult your local rabbi. I believe the CRC also publishes a list of beers to avoid, but the craft community is so large that the list is out-of-date the instant it's produced. What I've done is taken things one beer at a time. I have no issue with barrel-aging of any kind, but when it comes to adjuncts, I usually just ask the brewer. For instance, I acquired a Russian River Consecration, and I submitted a question to their website about the ingredients. I received a response from Mr. Cilurzo himself, who stated that freeze-dried black currants are added to the mix, but that's all. I drank heartily and happily.

 

I don't keep kosher, although I am Jewish. Interesting knowing this stuff though.

 

I just spent the past three years working in Israel before moving to London. It was a great experience, but really hard to get good bacon. I brewed a lot of beer there since the local options were limited, but since I did most of it on Saturday, I always felt I shouldn't serve it to my kosher friends. From what I'm reading above, it sounds like the experts are saying it is only an issue if a Jew produced it on shabbat. Can one of you confirm if that's correct? I'm talking about standard kosher rules in Israel, not reform or other groups in the US. Thanks.

 

Kashrut is open to interpretations. Many sects of Judaism do just that. Choose which to follow and which to not follow. It will depend upon many factors. I couldn't give you an answer either way.

In most communities, to my memory, they would rather you break kashrut than break the Shabbath for any reason other than to save a human life.

Lolz@ Hard to find bacon in Israel. Unless we are talking Netenyahu, then I agree he's a war pig IMO.

I have heard that craft brewing is becoming trendy in Israel. I know it has taken off well to the north in Lebanon. Turkey also is seeing a revolution in craft beer brewing.

 

When you say "I did most of it on Saturday," what do you mean? Which part of the brewing process did you "do" on Saturday? I am not at all knowledgeable of brewing procedures, but if what you did involved "cooking" then you should not serve it. If it was just mixing then it would be fine.

 

Seeing more kosher products in our local craft market here in BC.