Why is most Texas craft beer cloudy?

Discussion in 'Southwest' started by CBCatx, Jun 10, 2014.

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  1. CBCatx

    CBCatx Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2013 Texas

    I moved down to Austin, TX, four years ago from Columbus, OH. Prior to moving down south, I experienced a rebirth as a craft beer drinker (Two Hearted and Oberon truly blew me away). I didn't realize how fortunate I was to have access to all the great beer that comes out of that part of the country until I moved down here.

    I've come to realize after extensive 'research' that many TX craft breweries produce beer that is cloudy in color, it also seems to lack the carbonation found in the highest quality beers available in the US. I'm not talking about Hefe's or Witbiers, it extends to an assortment of other beers (IPA's, pale ale's, pilsners).

    I started noticing this when I consistently started buying 6 packs of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale / Summerfest for $6.99 at my grocery store. I noted a consistent higher level of carbonation and a noticeable difference in clarity relative to Texas counterparts.

    I'm not trying to bash the Texas craft beer community, I know there are many people that would take Texas beers over any other offerings. I'm just curious as to why there is a noticeable difference in clarity. Water quality? Yeast? Does anyone have any ideas on this?
     
    #1 CBCatx, Jun 10, 2014
  2. kerry4porters

    kerry4porters Maven (1,495) Dec 31, 2012 Arizona

    Unfiltered?
     
    #2 kerry4porters, Jun 10, 2014
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  3. champ103

    champ103 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,296) Sep 3, 2007 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Try some more. Don't know what you have had, but like just about every region in the country, Texas craft beers run the gamut from light to strong in abv. Pale to stout. Clear to cloudy, Low to high carbonation.
     
    #3 champ103, Jun 10, 2014
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  4. CBCatx

    CBCatx Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2013 Texas

    Thank you for the responses. It isn't because it's unfiltered either, but I like your thinking.

    Do you have any recommendations for a beer that is clear bodied, medium-to-high carbonation, that is less than 6% ABV? I've tried a good many of Texas beers, I'd be surprised if you suggest one I haven't tried. But I'm 100% game for trying any new craft beer.
     
    #4 CBCatx, Jun 10, 2014
  5. Kappakoosh

    Kappakoosh Initiate (0) Dec 26, 2013 Texas

    Deep Ellum
    Grapevine BC
    Southern Star
    Karbach BC
    Goliad BC
    Lone Pint
    B-52
    No Label BC
    Galactic Coast BC
    Freetail
    5 Stones

    Some pretty good beers out of these. I don't notice anything different in the carbonation vs. others except by style. Haze isn't something I have noticed either. I went to the trusty beer fridge and pulled out about 10 different beers and compared. No noticeable difference here at mi casa.
     
    #5 Kappakoosh, Jun 10, 2014
  6. champ103

    champ103 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,296) Sep 3, 2007 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    If Live Oak Pilz, Real Ale Hanz Pils, and Austin Beer Works Pearl Snap are cloudy and low carbonation, I must not know what a clear and high carbonated beer is :slight_smile:

    Also Austin Beer Works Fire Eagle, and Einhorn. Saint Arnold Lawnmower and Boiler Room. Jester King Le Petit Prince. Just to name a few off the top of my head.
     
    #6 champ103, Jun 10, 2014
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  7. BEERschlitz

    BEERschlitz Initiate (0) Oct 13, 2013 Michigan

    We all know better water makes better beer. It's probably that all their water is super treated. My guess is water quality.
     
    #7 BEERschlitz, Jun 10, 2014
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  8. Daemose

    Daemose Maven (1,407) Oct 3, 2011 Texas

    Saint Arnold Boiler Room.
     
    #8 Daemose, Jun 10, 2014
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  9. GoPokes

    GoPokes Zealot (508) Nov 9, 2013 Texas
    Trader

    Seriously just about anything Austin Beerworks does.
     
    #9 GoPokes, Jun 10, 2014
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  10. ehsteve

    ehsteve Initiate (0) Jan 13, 2009 Texas

    Honestly the only explanation I can think of for this is that OP has been extremely unlucky.
     
    #10 ehsteve, Jun 10, 2014
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  11. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,647) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    Can you explain what you said?

    One of the reasons Pierre Celis located in Austin years back is that he liked the water quality.
     
    #11 hopfenunmaltz, Jun 10, 2014
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  12. jamescain

    jamescain Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2009 Texas

    Mash pH has a lot to do with it. The water in Texas is very alkaline due to the limestone bedrock. It can be treated yet that won't necessarily cheer l clear it out. Making a clear beer has a lot of aspects, yeast flocculation, grain bill, dry hopping, filtering, cold aging (aka lagering). Basically unless you filter there are a lot if things that go into clearing a beer, but there are of plenty of breweries that make clear beers in Texas.
     
    #12 jamescain, Jun 10, 2014
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  13. Indytruks138

    Indytruks138 Initiate (0) Jun 28, 2013 Texas

    Why does anyone care about clarity? Drink Heady from the can and lose out on the aroma....
     
    #13 Indytruks138, Jun 10, 2014
  14. JDV

    JDV Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2007 Texas

    why do you want clear beer?
     
    #14 JDV, Jun 10, 2014
  15. soultrain19

    soultrain19 Initiate (0) Feb 28, 2008 Texas

    Zima?
     
    #15 soultrain19, Jun 10, 2014
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  16. jamescain

    jamescain Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2009 Texas

    Are you wanting the beer to be clear due to taste differences or is this just a matter of appearance? You state that you like Oberon (although it's been a while since I've had it), which from what I can recall is unfiltered. Generally most TX breweries do not have filter since they are still very small operations compared to Sierra Nevada and Bell's as you quoted. If you're drinking IPAs it could just be chill haze and as far as carbonation goes that is somewhat specific to style and brewer's preference. I normally prefer a lower carbonation then the style requirements for most styles.
     
    #16 jamescain, Jun 10, 2014
  17. JDV

    JDV Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2007 Texas

    Ya, I guess so...Funny, because I actually prefer hazy beers.

    Where you by chance at Jester King on Sunday around 3? I thought I recognized you from your BA photo in line but wasn't sure...
     
    #17 JDV, Jun 10, 2014
  18. TexasStout

    TexasStout Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2007 Texas

    That's another reason I'm glad I moved from there to Sugar Land. Our water is sweet! :slight_smile:
     
    #18 TexasStout, Jun 10, 2014
  19. JDV

    JDV Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2007 Texas

    Cool, exact same here!
     
    #19 JDV, Jun 10, 2014
  20. Austinbeerworks

    Austinbeerworks Initiate (0) Oct 23, 2010 Texas

    #20 Austinbeerworks, Jun 11, 2014
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