What is a Hazy Beer?

Have you heard of hazy beer and wondered what it is?

Have you seen the word “hazy” in a beer description and thought: “What does it mean?” Well, you’ve come to the right place!

Hazy beer has quickly become a fan favorite among craft beer aficionados all over the world. But what exactly is hazy beer and why has it become so popular? Read on to find out!

In this blog post, we will dive into the world of hazy beer, exploring its history, discussing its characteristics, and providing some insight into how best to enjoy a hazy brew.

What is a Hazy Beer?

Hazy beer is also known as New England-style or Vermont-style pale ale or IPA. It is an unfiltered beer that has an opaque or cloudy appearance.

The body of the beer can range from straw yellow to deep orange depending on the hops and malts used in the brewing process. Hazy beers are usually characterized by their citrusy and tropical aroma due to the dry hopping process used during brewing.

These beers usually have low bitterness compared to traditional IPAs creating flavors that range from creamy citrus to juicy tropical fruits.

The Science Behind Hazy Beer

Hazy beers are produced using two main processes: dry hopping and adding yeast late in fermentation. Dry hopping is when hops are added after boiling, adding more aromatic complexity and flavor without increasing bitterness.

Adding yeast late in fermentation causes part of the yeast cells to stay in suspension resulting in increased hazing in the final product. This process helps create a unique flavor profile with abundant hop aroma without being overly bitter like other IPAs.

History of Hazy Beer

Hazy beers have been around for quite some time but have only recently gained popularity due to an influx of craft breweries utilizing this style for their own creations.

Vermont’s Hill Farmstead Brewery was one of the first breweries to create a New England style IPA back in 2012 known as Arthur IPA which helped popularize this style worldwide leading more breweries around the world to experiment with this exciting new style of beer-making.

Characteristics of Hazy Beer

• Unfiltered with an opaque or cloudy appearance
• Low bitterness compared to traditional IPAs
• Ranges from straw yellow to deep orange depending on hops/malts used
• Citrusy and tropical aroma due to dry hopping process used during brewing
• Creates flavors ranging from creamy citrus to juicy tropical fruits

How To Enjoy Hazy Beer

As with any craft beer, it is best enjoyed in moderation but there are a few tips that can help enhance your experience drinking a hazy brew:

• Start by pouring slowly – Pouring too quickly can cause too much foam which could make your pour unbalanced so take your time!
• Try different glassware – Different glasses can bring out different characteristics of your favorite hazy brews so experiment!
• Listen for carbonation – A good way to know if your glass was properly poured is by listening for carbonation sounds which sound like crackling coming from your glass when pouring/swirling it around
• Take notes – Keep track of what type of aromas/tastes you get out of each brew you try and write down what you liked/disliked about each one so next time you’ll remember exactly what kind of flavor profile you prefer!

Conclusion

There you have it! Now that you know the basics behind hazy beers, why not pick up some cans next time you’re at your local brewery or shop?

In no time at all, you will be an expert on these exciting new styles popping up all over craft breweries around the world!