Craft Adjunct Lagers

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by unlikelyspiderperson, Oct 12, 2020.

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  1. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,862) Mar 12, 2013 California
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    I've been speculating for a while that heritage, regional, and novel grains are going to be the next big thing in US "craft" beer. I've seen this showing up in ales, especially wild and farmhouse ales but also in ipas.

    I'm curious if folks are seeing these unusual grains used in lagers at all yet? Whether its true adjuncts like corn or rice, or heritage barley varieties I'm curious to know what y'all are seeing and if you have any favorites
     
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  2. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,848) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
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    Does rye count? Because there's nothing quite like a rustic amber rye lager!
     
  3. bret27

    bret27 Pooh-Bah (2,900) Mar 10, 2009 California
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    It seems like Monlight is doing it. Side of Rice, Rice lager recently and Old Combine with a bunch of different grains.
     
  4. jonphisher

    jonphisher Grand Pooh-Bah (3,436) Aug 9, 2015 New Jersey
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    Kane brewing in NJ brews a beer called coastal plain. It is brewed with two heirloom corn varieties, grown in NJ. Of the lagers I’ve had from them it’s my favorite. Adds a cool subtle sweetness and the fact that they locally source it makes it all the better to me. I wish it was a regular offering, seems it’s only once a year or so then brew it. edited to add description:

    “Our version of a pre-prohibition Vienna-style lager, brewed with New Jersey grown two-row and six-row barley, a small amount of Vienna malt, and two different types of New Jersey grown corn—Stowell’s Evergreen and Bloody Butcher from our friends at Rabbit Hill malthouse.
     
  5. Apathetiq

    Apathetiq Zealot (730) Sep 10, 2012 Massachusetts
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    Haha, I posted about a triple decocted Kent Falls lager earlier today made with Endeavor barley, also called "winter 2row." A handful of similar brews have been popped up here in New England and it's very exiting. The power of the Beer and Agriculture connection can and should be used to affirm the regenerative agriculture movement. It's gonna happen, especially with the rise of 'farm brewing' licenses; a cluster of breweries can create demand out of thin air.

    Unpopular opinion: Beer is closer to the land than wine

    I can second Rye, and have also seen a couple with oats, spelt, and emmer. More please.
     
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  6. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,862) Mar 12, 2013 California
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    Heck ya rye counts, wish I saw more rye lagers

    Oh cool I hadn't heard of those. May have to cue up a moonlight order
     
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  7. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,071) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
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    When Pabst revived the Hawaiian brand Primo, they created a recipe that included Hawaiian cane sugar - a very rare example of a US brand listing sugar as an ingredient and using it as a selling point.
    [​IMG]
    Flying Fish used wild rice in its Exit Series #16 (seems like they weren't the first, either - some MN brewery also brewed one. "Wild rice" isn't really rice, but it's still a "true" adjunct).

    Someone brewed a beer with blue corn, too (or I'm confusing it with corn chips :grin:).
     
    #7 jesskidden, Oct 12, 2020
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2020
  8. BruChef

    BruChef Pundit (963) Nov 8, 2009 New York

    Just drank an excellent dry hopped Japanese rice lager called Tiny Little Sticks by Proclamation Brewing co. It was one of the most unique smelling/tasting beers I’ve had in a while.
     
  9. HorseheadsHophead

    HorseheadsHophead Grand Pooh-Bah (3,708) Sep 15, 2014 Colorado
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    Mikkeller made a Helles-style lager with oats that was pretty good. The oats weren't particularly noticeable but the mouthfeel was a little bit creamier than your typical Helles. A rye kellerbier would be great.
     
  10. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,862) Mar 12, 2013 California
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  11. HorseheadsHophead

    HorseheadsHophead Grand Pooh-Bah (3,708) Sep 15, 2014 Colorado
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  12. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
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    I like rye beers, I’d be in on rye lagers too, and I’m ok with exploring different hop combos too. Why not? Not everything has to be traditional.
     
  13. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
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  14. Sheppard

    Sheppard Grand Pooh-Bah (3,282) Mar 16, 2013 Massachusetts
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    Maybe my favorite beer in Virginia right now is a "Farmhouse Lager" from a brewery that focuses on using regional grain, Wheatland Spring. Here's the description for Corn Crib:
     
  15. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,071) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
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    According to their website:
    ...but Straub distribution (and freshness :grimacing:) has always been spotty in eastern PA for the 40 years or so I've been buying it.

    (I was once told by an employee of a Scranton area retail distributor that they never sold it, when 10 years previously I and friends bought multiple cases from them in their old building - an easy on-off exit on I-81 - during back 'n' forth trips from NJ to the NYS Southern Tier :astonished:).

    Damn, look at all the flavored stuff coming out of Straub. Kinda weird, but if it keeps them in business...
     
  16. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
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    Straub used to have a Eastern Region sales rep (her last name was Coopersmith) and I had her business card from meeting here at a beer festival. When I was looking to buy one of the Straub seasonal/specialty beers I would e-mail her and in less than 24 hours she would reply and let me know where the closest retailer to me had the product. Unfortunately Straub laid her off a couple of years ago and now I have no idea where their non-regular products are anymore.

    Since you mentioned this beer will be out soon (November) I will contact Straub and ask where I can but 1872 Lager. Maybe they will respond to my e-mail?

    I have tried several times in the past to get answers from their local Wholesale Distributor but they never responded to my e-mail queries.

    Cheers!
     
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  17. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,161) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I've seen a few of those ...

    A local brewery here in Chicago - Cruz Blanca - brewed a "red" AAL, Fade Away, with local IL grown red corn
     
  18. champ103

    champ103 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,682) Sep 3, 2007 Texas
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  19. jonphisher

    jonphisher Grand Pooh-Bah (3,436) Aug 9, 2015 New Jersey
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    How red was it? The Kane one I mentioned uses bloody butcher corn which is red but it in no way changed the color to red. If anything it was a smidge darker than gold. The color is only on the outside of the kernel so I’m guessing it couldn’t have been that red unless they really used a lot of corn. I’m just curious really. Thanks.
     
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