Author: Brewing Solutions

You’ve decided to market your craft beer in cans – kudos to you on taking this decision. You’ve crossed the first half of the challenge. The next challenge is figuring out how to start canning your beer. As one of India’s top beer equipment suppliers, we have received plenty of enquiries from craft beer manufacturers across the country regarding canning. We discussed this topic with several beer experts in India. We’ve collated their tips and suggestions on canning to help you get started on your craft beer canning journey.

Tip #1: Decide if you wish to outsource canning or handle it in-house

 

The choice you make depends on the number of cans you plan to fill every month. Suppose you’re planning to sell only a few dozens of cans every month. In that case, you can consider outsourcing the process to an external beer canning manufacturer.

However, if you plan to continue selling your beer in cans, it makes sense to invest in the right canning equipment in the long run. Smaller craft brewers often have a misconception that canning is expensive, and only the large beer manufacturers can afford it.

The truth is that thanks to advances in technology, canning equipment is no longer restricted by volume. With the increase in consumer demand for canned beers, canning equipment is now available in various sizes, starting from low-volume lines that handle dozens of cans to high-volume lines that fill hundreds of cans.

Get in touch with our beer equipment consultants to put your craft beer into a can at competitive prices.

Tip #2: Decide on the Size of the Can

 

This, again, is a personal choice and depends on your market and target audience. Aluminium drink cans are available in various sizes – the most common one being the 330ml cans, used for soft drinks. Besides these cans, there are plenty of other options like sleek slimline cans, tall, trendy cans, and more. Before you invest in beer canning equipment, you have to decide the right size for you and your audience.

Tip #3: Next comes the fun part – Working out the Design of the Can

 

As a craft beer manufacturer, you get full control over how you want the can to be. When used right, your beer can act as a versatile marketing tool. You get a 360-degree canvas, which you can use to appeal to your target audience, making your brand stand out.

There are plenty of can print technologies available on the market today. Paints, coatings, lacquers – the choice is all yours. You can even use thermal printing technology to let customers know the drink’s ideal temperature or include a hidden code on the can that users have to scan to reveal more information.

If you don’t have the budget to hire a product designer, you can use free tools like Can Creator App to try out unique designs for your products.

If you’re still undecided whether canning is the right choice for your craft beer, allow us to convince you. Here are some of the top advantages of canning your drinks:

• Air-tight seals for your drinks

Cans provide an air-tight package for your drinks. Once sealed, there is no way for air to enter until someone pops the ring-pull. This prevents oxidisation, keeping your beverages fresh until the consumer is ready to open it.

• Cans do not allow light in

Did you know that beers are sensitive to light? Prolonged exposure to UV light causes hop-derived molecules to break down. These molecules then bind with free sulphur atoms in the drink, leading to an unpleasant aroma and taste. This phenomenon is known as skunked beer. Since cans are made with aluminium and other metals, they are opaque and do not allow light to pass. This prevents skunking beers.

• Lightweight and Easy to Transport

When compared with bottles, aluminium cans are incredibly lightweight, making them easy to transport. Cans take up less room during transportation, thereby reducing carbon-di-oxide emission during transpiration. Also, cans are not breakable, making them a safe option to transport, store, and sell.

• Sustainable, Eco-friendly Packaging Option

Brands across industries are now forced to rethink their packaging options to meet the demands and expectations of eco-conscious customers. Aluminium cans are eco-friendly and recycled several times, making them one of the most sustainable packaging options. Did you know that around 80% of all metal produced in the world is still in use? Thus, cans contribute to a circular economy, eliminating packaging wastes significantly.

With so many advantages, it’s no surprise that dozens of micro and craft beer manufacturers are eager to get started with canning. As the no.1 beer equipment suppliers and consultants in India, our team can help you find the right canning equipment for your needs. Get in touch with our experts here at Microbrewery India to get started with canning.

Have you ever heard of smoked beer? A unique style of beer that feels like you’re drinking a smoked sausage? If no, get ready to be blown away by one of the most distinct types of beers. If yes, continue reading. We’ve got some excellent tips on how to brew smoked beers.

What is Smoked Beer? A Quick Historical Detour

Smoked beer or Rauchbier (its official name) is a German-style lager made with smoked malt (traditionally known as Rauch in German). In recent years, craft beer manufacturing companies are experimenting with this beer style.

Centuries ago, smoked beer was commonplace in Germany. Back in those days, the only way to dry malt was by roasting in over an open fire. This process ensured that the beer had a smoky under taste in every sip. The brew’s final flavour depended on several factors like – how long the malt was roasted, the type of fuel used, and the kilns.

The three standard fuels used for roasting malts in those days were: wood, coal, and straw. Coal was considered the least favourable fuel since it was dirty, expensive, and imparted less-than-optimal flavours. German brewers used wood for roasting malts. Hence the beer had a woody-smoked taste.

In 1818, Daniel Wheeler invented a new method for roasting malts – and that changed the history of beers forever. He designed the drum kiln, which ensured that the malts were not exposed to the fire directly. As a result, malts were roasted uniformly, without the smoky flavours. So, smoked beers became a thing of the past.

Yet, in one place, brewers still continued to roast their malts directly over open fires, thereby embracing the smoky beers. Beer manufacturers in the city of Bamberg in Germany have been brewing smoked beer for centuries. Today, it stands as the hometown for smoked beers with nine breweries, including two world-famous breweries for rauchbier – Christian Merz Brauerei Spezial and Brauerei Schlenkerla.

Characteristics and Style Profile of Smoked Beers

Here’s a quick style guide of a traditional Rauchbier.

Appearance:

The colour of a smoked beer ranges from a dark brown to light copper. The head should be cream or tan, rich, creamy, and thick. The brew has high clarity.

Aroma:

The smoky tones can either be subtle or strong. Generally, it has a woody and bacon-like flavour. The malt has a sweet, toasty, and creamy profile. Hop aroma is typically low or non-existent.

Mouthfeel:

It has the typical smoothness of a good lager with a medium body and moderate to high carbonation. Harshness and high astringency do not work for this style of beers.

Taste:

Just like the aroma, the taste is a balance between the malt and smokiness. Both these profiles complement each other. It has the toasted malty richness of a Marzen. Smoky flavours can either be subtle or overpowering. However, the smoky flavour isn’t greasy. Burnt, charred, harsh, sulphury, bitter notes are a No.

Food Pairing:

The obvious choice is to go with smoked meats. However, this becomes too overpowering. Smoke on smoke is not a good choice. The better option is grilled meats. Steaks, pork ribs, chicken, fish, and bratwursts are all excellent choices. Desserts like gingerbread cookies, smores, flan, upside-down pineapple cake, bread pudding pair well with smoked beers.

Serving & Storage:

Best served at 50-55◦F in a dimpled mug or vase. Store away from sunlight.

Characteristics of Smoked Beer
Colour Range	12 – 22 SRM
IBU	20 – 30
Original Gravity	1.050 – 1.057 OG
Final Gravity	1.012 – 1.016 FG
ABV	4.8 – 6.0%
Shelf Life	A few years (away from sunlight and at the right temperatures)
Temperature	50-55◦F

 

How to brew smoked beers?

Here are a few points to keep in mind:

• While adding the smoky flavour to beer, we highly recommend that you don’t use liquid smoke. Liquid smoke adds acrid bitterness that leaves a bitter taste in the final brew.
• Smoke your own malt as it gives you better control over the flavours. You can use applewood, cherry, or any other hardwood for smoking the malt.
• Here’s how to smoke your malts:
  • Moisten the malt with chlorine-free water. Use lighter malts. The lighter the malt, the smokier is the flavour.
  • Then, smoke it over a cool fire. Aim to keep the temperature as cool as possible (around 120◦F) while generating smoke.
  • Make sure that there are no flames as flames burn the grains, instead of smoking it.
  • Place your grains in a mesh bag that prevents ashes from getting into the grain.
  • Moisten the grains during the smoking process, but don’t make it soaking wet. You can use a spray bottle to moisten the malts, periodically. This helps the smoke to stick to the grains.
  • We recommend smoking at 120◦F for around four hours.
  • Once you have smoked the malt, make sure to completely dry the grains if you don’t plan to use it immediately.

Do a Taste Test before using it in your Lager Recipe.

Make a grain tea from the smoked malts. Boil a cup of water and add half a cup of grains in it. Let it steep for a few minutes. Then, drink the tea to get an idea of the flavour profile. However, remember that the smoky flavour in the tea will be subtler than in your finished beer. So adjust accordingly.

Replace the smoked malts in your regular lager recipe to get a fantastic smoked beer.

Looking to sell your craft beers in cans? You’ve come to the right place! With years of experience as India’s leading craft brewery consultant, we can help you make a move from bottles to cans. Canned beers are trending right now and are likely to become a massive hit in the next few years. Beers in cans are – convenient, hygienic, and easy to transport. Continue reading to find out whether cans are the right choice for your beers.

Great packaging with a stunning design and uncompromising taste is a winning formula to make your beers stand out in the market.

Is canning the right choice for your craft beer?

 

Yes. Broadly speaking, craft beers taste better in cans more than bottles. This is because a beer can protects the drink from light and other elements, thereby ensuring that the taste of the drink isn’t compromised.

If you’re worried that canning will alter the taste of your brew, then you can stop worrying. Thanks to advances in beer canning technologies, manufacturers today canned beer tastes close to fresh beer from taps. Canning does not require any changes in gas levels, and you can very well fill unpasteurised beer in a can. When your customers pour the canned beer into a glass, you can expect it to taste similar to fresh beer off the tap.

When customers complain that the taste of their beer is slightly off, it is due to oxidisation and not canning. Oxidisation occurs when the beer is exposed to air, leading to a series of chemical changes that significantly alter the brew’s taste. Cans are air-tight, and hence there is no way for oxidisation to occur. It remains fresh until the consumer pops the ring pull and pours out the drink into a glass.

Now that we’ve convinced you of the benefits of canning your craft beers, the next question is,

How to design beer cans?

 

Beer served in cans not only taste fresh but also work as a good marketing medium. Cans offer a 360-degree canvas that you can use to market your brand’s signature style. Canned beers have some creative and bold designs that make them stand out on a supermarket shelf. There are plenty of free design software that can help you create a signature style for your cans.

One such tool you can consider is the Can Creator. It helps you visualise the final design in 3D with just a few clicks. This software is available for both Windows and Mac and is free to download. You can rotate the can in 360-degrees to view your design from all angles. You can also share your templates with friends, colleagues, and customers to get their inputs before finalising the design.

Cans score on the Sustainability Factor Too

 

Today’s consumers are conscious about their purchase decisions. They prefer brands that are environmentally friendly and sustainable. Beer cans have serious environmental credentials, making your brand win eco-points with your customers. Cans are made from recycled metal and are 100% recyclable. They are eco-friendly and do not damage the environment. Did you know that nearly 80% of all metals produced are still in use today? Cans can be recycled infinitely, thereby do not generate wastes.

Today, sustainability plays a crucial factor in influencing customer decisions. This is one reason why large beer manufacturing company like Heineken, Budweiser, and several others invest in canned beers. The recycling factor of cans resonates with millennials who seek brands that align with their personal values. If the consumer cares about the environment, then he/she expects their favourite brands to care about the environment.

Market research indicates that most consumers over the age of 35 believe that recyclability is one of the biggest benefits of canned beverages. Over 52% of consumers state that a drink’s packaging plays a role in their purchase decisions. Today’s consumers want their packaging to look good and have a positive impact on the environment.

Besides the recycling factor, cans are light, strong, easier to stack, meaning they take up less space during transportation. Fewer trucks on the road mean lower carbon-dioxide emissions. So, on a broader level, canned beers are good for the environment, as well.

Keep on Innovating

Finally, don’t forget to innovate. There are several innovative features in canning technologies. For example, thermochromic inks allow the surfaces of your beer can to change colour depending on the temperature of the liquids inside. Using these inks on your beer cans can help consumers know the ideal temperature for drinking. This is a fun feature that is sure to increase the consumer appeal of your drinks.

Let us help you Make the Move from Bottles to Cans

 

Cans offer a win-win solution for both brewers and consumers. Often, small brewers wrongly assume that canning doesn’t work for them as they can’t produce large volumes. However, the truth is thanks to recent advances in canning technologies, beer canning manufacturers today offer canning equipment at affordable prices for small brewers. This is a massive benefit from a cost perspective, as craft brewers can use canning without expensive equipment.

Before you invest in canning equipment, you need to consider several factors like the number of cans you want to fill, speed of filling, and more. Get in touch with Microbrewery India, the leading craft beer consultant in India. We can analyse your canning requirements and help you find the right equipment that suits your needs.

Beer making is simple. It requires only four essential ingredients. Of these four, only three are mandatory – yep, you can brew beer with just water, yeast, and malted barley. But, beer made only with these three ingredients will be dull and overpoweringly sweet. This is why for centuries, brewers have added something extra – to add the deep flavours and depth to your beer.

Usually, they added a plant part – some flowers or tips while brewing. In the middle ages, brewers added gruit, a mixture of spices and herbs. By the 15^th century, most brewers started adding a fast-growing weed as the fourth ingredient in brewing. This weed is none other than hops. Hops are a type of vine (scientifically, they are bines, a type of vines without the tendrils).

The part of the vine that is used in brewing is the flower part of the hops plant. It’s a delicate, pale green flower and shaped like a cone. It’s chockfull of resins. Hops give a signature bitterness to the brew when added during the brewing process. It also provides a rich aroma at the end. Another huge benefit of adding hops to the brew is that it’s a natural preservative – it extends the life of beer.

Usage of Hops in Beer

Different beer styles use hops to varying degrees. In IPAs, hops take centre stage, while in other types like stouts, hops’ role is subtler. They add depth to the brew, but the typical flavour and aroma of stouts come from grains.

When to add hops during brewing?

 

Hops can be added to the wort in three different stages depending on their role in the beer – flavour, aroma, or bittering. The same hop variety can be used for these three other purposes, or you can use different hops. Generally, all beers have at least one type of hops added to the wort to add bitterness and balance the malt’s sweetness. Without bittering hops, the brew would taste overpoweringly sweet.

Adding hops at different times during the brewing process gives varying complexity to the beer profile. For example, if you add only bittering hops, the brew would taste fine. But, it would lack the extra dimension. When you add only aroma hops to the beer, it wouldn’t be bitter enough.

Most beer recipes give you exact times when you should add the hops. For instance, if a beer is supposed to boil for 60 minutes, the recipe might ask you to add the bittering hops when 30 minutes are left of the boil.

Generally, bittering hops are added when the wort has been collected in the kettle, and it has started to boil. Flavouring hops are added in the last 15 to 30 minutes of the boil. It lends the crispy and hoppy flavour to the brew, without the accompanying bitterness. Aroma hops are generally added in the last five minutes of the boil. This is because these hops are volatile, and boiling them for a long time will drive away the aroma.

Exploring Different Varieties of Hops

 

Hops are highly sensitive to the terrain in which they grow. This means they cannot be easily farmed anywhere. They require the right climate and temperature. Generally, most hop producing countries lie to the North of the equator. The biggest hop producing countries in the world are the United States, followed by Germany (especially the Hallertau region). The Hallertau zones in Germany are recorded as the very first places to grow hops in the world thousands of years ago. Other countries that produce and export hops in large scales are the Czech Republic, New Zealand, Australia, and Britain.

Hops cultivation in India hasn’t picked on a large scale yet due to several factors – the number one being temperature. However, the craft brewing industry in India has picked up speed in the last decade. So, we can hope that in a couple of years, we would be able to get locally grown hops with their own wonderful characteristics.

As a beginner brewer, you can purchase hops online from stores like brewof.com, brewmart.in, or even Amazon at nominal prices. If you’re looking for specialty hops, you can connect with other beer fermenters in India.

As a leading microbrewery consultant, we can help you with sourcing all your brewing ingredients and equipment from the best manufacturers in India and internationally. If you’re an aspiring microbrewer, get in touch with our friendly team. We’re always happy to share our experiences with potential craft brewers and anyone interested in brewing. Cheers, and looking to connect with you!

Ever since craft beer became trendy a few years ago, sceptics have been predicting the dreaded, “craft beer bubble.” Some stated that supply would outstrip demand in the industry. In contrast, others believed that craft beer will not become a hit among Indian youth. Others feared that “big beer manufacturing factory brands” would buy up the craft beer industry, and it would no longer be a novelty.

Fortunately, none of these predictions have happened. The craft beer industry/ beer manufacturing factories in India has been growing steadily, the last couple of years.

Enter the Covid-19 pandemic. The crisis has shown us that changes that we didn’t expect to happen for decades have become the norm in a few weeks. Work has shifted from cubicles to Zoom meetings and couches, schooling has gone online, and we have used more sanitizer in the last few months than the entirety of our lives!

When it comes to the drinking culture, the pandemic has shut down bars, taprooms, and festivals to at home drinking and raising toasts on Zoom and Whatsapp video calls. How the industry reacts to the pandemic will shape our business for the coming years. In this post, we look at the impact of Covid-19 on the craft beer industry in India and analyse the road ahead.

It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better

 

Source: Brewers Association

It will take years to fully understand the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the craft beer manufacturing industry and our drinking culture. A survey conducted by the Brewers Association found that nearly 60% of American brewers predicted to go out of business if lockdowns persist beyond August. In the UK, beer sales dropped a whopping 82% due to the lockdown. In Germany, a 400-year-old brewery that survived two Cholera outbreaks, the Spanish Flu and the Black Plague closed its doors due to the Corona outbreak. It’s the first time, Oktoberfest – the mother of all beer festivals – has been cancelled since World War II.

Sadly, the situation right now is that – plenty of breweries will face massive setbacks quickly. From finding it difficult to pay their landlords, to getting back employees and bringing crowds into taprooms, the road ahead is challenging.

You can be sure of one thing – It gets better, and there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

What will happen to Beer Culture?

 

At its core, beer drinking is a social activity. It’s all about gathering with your friends and letting go of your worries, as you lose yourself in the taste of the brew. Even when pubs, bars, taprooms, and restaurants open again, it will never be the same. People won’t visit them in droves and relax like before. And, even when people do visit, they will be wary – and practise social distancing.

Marketing and Strategy Matter More than Ever

 

When it comes to craft beer sales, marketing and strategy have always played a crucial role. Beer manufacturers have to focus on selling the right product at the right time to the right customer. This matters more than ever!

As the world goes into recession and customers tighten their purse strings, beer manufacturers have to – innovate and think out of the box to survive. As customers experience a reduction in budgets, they are likely to prefer styles that they love the most and stick to breweries they trust.

How to Survive as a Craft Beer Manufacturer in the Post Covid-19 Era?

 

Now is not the time to experiment or go big. It’s better to play it safe. We recommend breweries to narrow their production – stick to styles that are a hit with customers. Delay expensive and experimental releases for the next few months.

Don’t wait for the customer to come to you. Instead, reach out to the customer. Experiment with no-contact door deliveries, live festivals, live shows, and tutorials – to engage and keep connected with your customers.

Look Out for the Silver Lining

 

There’s no doubt that we’re going through a tough time than what’ve ever experienced before. But, there are still some positives to be drawn from the experience. There has been a massive surge in demand for online beer sales. Several states are experimenting with different ways to supply beer online. This could play a crucial role in opening up long-term accessibility to craft beer. It could liberate craft brews from taprooms and make them available at your local grocery store.

That’s a big IF, but a change that we are hoping will occur due to the pandemic. If distribution laws get relaxed, breweries might finally ship their products via courier and sell in several local stores.

Another silver lining here is the incredible creativity of craft brewers. Several brewers have hopped on the immunity trend – and including ingredients like Tulsi, turmeric, ginger, and other spices in their brews.

We’re witnessing the Dawn of a New Beer World.

 

As the Covid-19 pandemic still continues to spread across the world, we have accepted the terms that there is no going back. We need to adapt to the new normal. The same applies to the craft brewing industry as well.

Craft brewing may take some time to recover, but we can be sure that it will get better. It could lead to better sales margins for manufacturers as the beer gets directly to the end-consumer—improved quality assurance, which is beneficial for brewers as well as drinkers. Rohit Jafa Brewing Solutions leading one of the best beer manufacturers in Gurgaon & Delhi NCR.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the industry to break free from the shackles of draconian distribution laws and go forward. As the beer industry grinds to a halt (just like every other sector), we hope that brewers remain connected and supportive of each other as ever before. That way, once we move beyond the immediate implications of the pandemic, we can all emerge stronger than ever.

Till then, let’s say cheers with social distancing!

Brewing your first beer can be intimidating. You’ve got to work your way through a long list of ingredients, make sense of new terminologies – mashing, lautering, fermenting, hops, etc.

Well, dear reader, worry not! We’ve got your back. In this post, we share a simple fool-proof way to brew your first beer using malt extract kits. Yes, you can brew better beer than what’s described below. But, this recipe is an excellent choice for beginners to gain confidence.

What is a malt extract kit, and why use it?

We asked a few of our brewer friends at the largest beer manufacturing company in India to share their advice for first-time brewers. All of them suggested that beginner brewers should skip grain mashing and use malt extract kits. And, here’s why.

One of the critical ingredients in brewing is malted grains. Brewing involves the manufacture of beer from grains. The malted grains – generally barley – are soaked in water at a particular temperature for a specific time. This process is known as “mashing.” It involves extracting fermentable sugars from the grains. The yeast then eats up these sugars in a fermentation process, creating alcohol as a by-product of the process.

When you use malt extract kits, you can skip the mashing process. Instead of waiting for the grains to mash, you can directly use the malt extract. The malt extract can be either in the form of a thick syrup or dry powder. It is made by extracting the liquid from mashing and dehydrating it.

Here are the top 5 reasons why we suggest malt extract kits for first-time brewers:

• Saves Time – Skipping the mashing process reduces the time taken for brewing substantially
• Saves Space & Money – You don’t have to invest in large equipment like a mash tun, boiling kettle, etc.
• Improves Efficiency – One of the biggest challenges for beginner brewers is keeping the alcohol levels in check. With a malt extract, you have more control over the process.
• Improves Consistency – Easily hit the target gravity every time you brew a new batch.
• Simplifies the Brewing Process – Especially for beginners.

Okay, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get started! Are you excited?

Step-by-Step Guide to Brewing using a Malt Extract

1. Wash all the utensils – pan, spoon, and measuring cup – thoroughly with soapy water. Rinse with hot water and dry well.
2. Heat around 2 gallons of water. Bring it to a boil.
3. Pour in a can of hopped malt extract. You can purchase malt extract at a brewing specialty store or get it online at sites like com. Make sure to keep stirring so that the extract doesn’t settle at the bottom of the pot (in beer parlance, this is called the wort).
4. Add around 4 – 6 cups of sugar in the mixture. Stir well till it dissolves completely. More the sugar more is the alcoholic content of the final product. So be careful with the amount of sugar you add.
5. Slow boil the mixture for around 15 minutes.
6. Fill a bigger vessel with ice-cubes or cold water. Place the hot pot (wort) in the cold water bath. The temperature of the liquid should be between 75 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Pour the mixture into a sterilized bucket/kettle.
8. Add around 5 gallons of tap water. If tap water is not ideal, you can use mineral water.
9. If you’re using dry yeast, you have to activate it before adding it to the mixture. Mix the components of the yeast packet in half a cup of hot water and let it sit for five to ten minutes.
10. Add the activated yeast to the mixture. Do not stir vigorously. Just mix it gently.
11. Close the vessel tightly and let it ferment at room temperature for 7 to 10 days. The ideal temperature during the fermentation phase is 70 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Waiting! Yes, you need to wait at least 6 to 7 days before your beer will be ready.

12. The next step is to bottle your brew. Make sure to sanitize the bottle and caps before you fill it.
13. Add ½ teaspoon of sugar into each bottle. This is known as priming sugar and will help in adding carbonation to your beer.
14. Tightly close the bottle caps and wait for at least two weeks before drinking. Store the beer bottles at room temperature (between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit) during the secondary carbonation stage.

That’s it. Your beer is now ready to drink. Knockback the caps and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

What to know while using Malt Extracts to Brew at Home?

• The more sugar you add in your mixture, the more alcoholic your beer will be. Also, note that more sugar means it takes longer to ferment. You’ll learn the right amount of sugar to add with practice. Four to six cups of sugar for a five-gallon batch is a good place to start.
• Beer making kits are available online. These kits have everything you need to make your first batch. You can use these kits until you get the hang of brewing.
• Make sure to sanitize all equipment. Proper sanitisation prevents the growth of bacteria – the biggest threat to good beer.
• Be patient. Remember that you need to give your brew adequate time to ferment during the primary and secondary stages. You need to leave your brew for at least four weeks during the second stage to develop flavors. So, wait, and you’ll be rewarded with an awesome drink.

Finally, relax and enjoy the process! Brewing is as much fun as beer drinking. Brewing is easy and is hard to mess up. So, go ahead and create great beer. Check out our other blog posts for more tips, ideas, and brewing banter.

Beer connoisseurs and casual customers love microbreweries for a variety of reasons. They love to experiment with the new flavours and beer styles offered. But, what sets apart taprooms and pubs from other eateries is the camaraderie among customers.

Taprooms and beer pubs have emerged as the go-to spot for customers of all ages to unwind, relax, and socialise with friends and strangers. With the coronavirus pandemic showing no signs of receding, pubs and breweries across the country have been forced to close their businesses temporarily.

Customers are missing meeting friends and listening to their favourite local bands at their go-to microbreweries. One of the many casualties brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic is customers lose out on the social aspect of sharing a pint of beer with their friends.

As businesses adapt to the new normal, brewpubs, and taprooms across the country are finding creative ways to stay active and engage with customers. Here, in this article, we list some ideas that you can use to stay connected with your customers.

1. Host a Virtual Happy Hour

 

 

Take your Happy Hour online with Zoom or Hangouts. Hosting a virtual happy hour is an excellent way to showcase your brews with your customers. It’s highly entertaining as well as informative. You can give customers a sneak peek of what goes behind the scenes.

Several beer manufacturers in India are hosting virtual happy hours, where they discuss brew styles and flavours with customers. It helps customers feel connected to your business. It’s a great way to make people forget that they are cooped indoors. It replicates the scene in your taproom as close to the real thing as possible.

2. Rent your Taproom to Livestream Musicians

 

 

With restaurants and pubs closed, several music bands are out of work. You can lend/rent your taproom to musicians, standup comedians, and other entertainers. Live stream the event to your customers. Based on the popularity, you can even sell tickets to the next event.

3. Conduct a Social Media Contest

 

 

With people spending more time indoors than ever before, they are looking for creative ways to relax and unwind. You can get attention from your customers by organising a social media contest.

Challenge your followers to come up with creative recipes using your brews. Or you can start a Tik-Tok challenge with your customers showing creative moves while drinking beer.

Get creative and keep your followers engaged and entertained with a social media contest.

4. Take Customers on a Virtual Brewhouse Tour

 

 

Customers of all ages love to visit breweries to see how beer is made from scratch. Even if your taprooms are temporarily closed, it doesn’t mean there is no activity going on at your brewery. You will have to keep the brewhouse running to keep your yeast cultures active.

Why not let customers get a sneak peek of what happens backstage. Organise a live stream of your brewhouse and take customers on a virtual brewery tour. Just make sure that all staff engaged in the process maintain adequate social distancing and practice all proper hygienic requirements.

5. Organise a Virtual Beer Tasting Event

 

 

Virtual events are going to be the trend for the rest of the year. You can even host a virtual tasting event. This one requires some planning. First, send out the notice for the event and ask interested customers to sign up for it.

Once customers sign up, you have to ship the beers that you’re including in the tasting event to the residence of customers. Then, during the tasting event, go live. Everyone drinks the same beer at the same time. Once everyone has sampled the brew, you can start the discussion. Customers can ask questions about beer, style, notes, flavours, etc.

Organising a virtual beer tasting event is also an excellent way for microbrewery manufacturers to get feedback from customers. You can quickly see which flavours were popular, which ones customers loved, which didn’t click, and more.

Adapt to the New Normal

The reality is that no one knows for how long the effects of the pandemic will continue. The silver lining here is that customers are willing and even eager to adapt. From trying out packaged beer to supporting local businesses, customers have stood by their favourite microbreweries during these challenging times.

Microbreweries need to think out of the box and keep customers engaged during these unusual times.

Do you know of any other creative ways to keep customers engaged while staying at home? Let us know in the comments!

Usually, when we pen an article, we are at our buzzing office. Since the Covid-19 outbreak, things have been a little different around here. We’re practicing social distancing just like the rest of the world.

We’re at home, our pets are thrilled, and our families are safe. And, of course, we’ve got beer. But, it still feels weird as we are separated, and we cannot do what we love – talking beer with beer manufacturers and entrepreneurs.

So, we’ve come up with a few ideas to maintain a connection with our clients and fellow beer lovers during these difficult times. We will be publishing new articles over the coming weeks, which will hopefully bring some light in these dark times.

We’re working on compiling useful information and resources to help you better your brewing game, once you get back on the job. We’re also putting together streaming recommendations and other resources to help you. If you have suggestions on what we should cover, or just want to say hello, drop us a line. We are all in this together.

And, thanks for being a part of RJBS! Let’s dive into this week’s topic.

Demystifying the Role of Water in Beer

Water, water everywhere. It’s in our beers too. Nearly 90 to 95% of beer is made up of water. Yet, it’s the least talked about ingredient in the world of craft brewing. Here, in this guide, we help you understand the role of water in brewing amazing brews.

First, let me give you must-follow water rules.

• Always remove chlorine/chloramine from water
• Know thy water profile – hardness and alkalinity

Rule No.1: Removing Contaminants from Water

The water you use for brewing plays a crucial role in determining the taste of your brew. For instance, if your brewery is located in a locality with iron-rich water, then your beers will have an unpleasant metallic and bloody aftertaste if you don’t remove the iron from the water.

So, the first step is to analyse the water supply in your area. Generally, most municipal water suppliers add chlorine to underground/river water to make it safe for human consumption. While it’s good for our health, using chlorinated water for brewing is not a good idea.

Water with chlorine/chloramine reacts with the malts in your brew to add plasticky, clove-y, and nasty aroma to the beer. This is a result of the formation of a type of chemicals known as chlorophenols.

Even if you don’t do anything else with your water, make sure to remove chlorine/chloramine.

The easiest way to remove chlorine compounds is to invest in a good quality UV/RO water filter. Look for water filters with activated charcoal. Alternatively, you can also chemically separate chlorine from water by using potassium meta bisulphate or Campden tablets.

Following this single rule improves the taste of your brews significantly.

Rule No.2: Know Thy Water Profile

Water hardness and alkalinity are two critical factors to consider. Water hardness is the amount of dissolved magnesium and calcium in the water. Water that has high concentrations of these minerals is known as hard water. On the other hand, water with low levels of these minerals is known as soft water.

Water that is good for brewing should be moderately hard.

Alkalinity is the concentration of carbonate and bicarbonate salts in water. Water with a high level of these salts is known as alkaline water. Water with high alkalinity has a higher pH value. This is a problem for brewing, as water with high pH is not suitable for brewing, especially for the paler style of beers.

You can alter the pH of the water by using the right grain bill. For instance, using dark roasted malts can neutralise alkaline water to achieve the correct pH. Besides knowing the pH of the water, you need a good understanding of the effect of the wort on the pH levels.

Beer brewed with higher pH water has a dull taste. On the other hand, a beer brewed with low pH makes it lose complexity. Aim for water with neutral pH.

How does water impact the taste of the beer?

The water you use for brewing affects the beer in three significant ways:

• It determines the pH of the beer – which in turn, impacts how beer flavours are expressed
• It provides seasoning to the beer – depending on the sulphate to chloride ratio
• It can cause off flavours due to the presence of chlorine and other contaminants

How do different minerals in water impact the outcome of your brew?

Choosing the right water for brewing is not as simple as choosing hard or soft water. There are several minerals and ions in water that come into play. Let’s take a look at how different minerals in water impact the outcome of your brew:
Calcium – Calcium plays a huge role in determining the hardness of the water. Calcium in the water can help in lowering the pH of water during mashing. It also adds stability and clarity to your final brew.

The preferred range of calcium in water is – 50 mg/L to 150 mg/L.
Magnesium – It’s another main mineral that determines the hardness of the water. However, it doesn’t affect the pH as much as calcium. Too much magnesium in water leads to a bitter aftertaste.

The preferred range of magnesium in water is – 10 mg/L to 30 mg/L.
Carbonate and Bicarbonate – These impact the alkalinity of the water and the acidity of the mash. When the carbonate salts are too low, the mash will become highly acidic, which in turn makes it inefficient. The right levels of carbonate depend on the type of beer you’re brewing.

The preferred range of carbonate salts in water is – 25 mg/L to 50 mg/L for pale beers, and for darker malts, the preferred range is – 100 mg/L to 300 mg/L.
Sodium – In minimal amounts, sodium has little to no effect on the brew. Sodium contributes to the mouthfeel and the body of the beer. Too much causes a tangy metallic taste. This is the reason why soft water is not preferred for brewing.

The preferred range of sodium in water is – 10 mg/L to 70 mg/L.

Chloride – Like sodium, chloride contributes to the mouthfeel of the beer in the right amounts. It makes the beer taste sweeter and fuller. However, too much chlorine hurts the finished beer.

Sulphates – It helps in bringing out the hoppy flavour of the brew while lowering pH. It does the opposite of chloride.

Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water is your Friend

If you consider brewing an art, then you need a blank canvas to create a masterpiece. The best way to go forward is to use Reverse Osmosis water. Reverse Osmosis filters out most contaminants and minerals giving you baseline water. You can now use this water to adjust hardness, pH levels as per your preferences.

If you still have doubts about the water to use your brewing experiments, you can always reach out to our beer experts at RJBS, leading beer equipment manufacturers in India.

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Till then, stay home, stay safe!

There’s only one topic on everyone’s mind right now – when will we get back to normal? And, what will the new normal be like in this era of Covid-19?

As a leading player in the Indian microbrewery industry, we have been in this business for decades. Yet, we have never witnessed a situation like this ever before. Staring out of our windows into the eerie quietness of our streets, the situation outside looks similar to an apocalyptic world from Hollywood movies.

The pandemic has not only shaken our healthcare systems but has also caused massive collateral damage. Businesses are closed, some even shutting down permanently, jobs lost, and the economy going in for a toss. Yes, the current situation is frightening and unparalleled in our recent history.

We are beginning to see the light at the end of this very long tunnel as we approach the end of May. The light shines very dimly, but it’s there. As lockdown restrictions are being relaxed (albeit very slowly and cautiously), people are hoping that life returns back to some kind of normalcy. It’s time we figure out how things will look for breweries in the era of Covid-19.

The Golden Era comes to a Pause – At least, temporarily for Microbreweries

 

At the end of 2019, the co-author of “World Atlas of Beer,” estimated that there were over 25,000 macro breweries worldwide. And, in India, the number of microbreweries and brewpubs steadily increased over the last few years.

The current situation means that the number of microbreweries will not expand as before. The worst-hit are the small breweries that rely solely on their taproom and brewpub sales for their incomes. With a strict nationwide lockdown, most breweries have not been able to operate for the last 40 – 60 days. Their over-the-counter sales have dried up, and they are financially overstretched.

Bigger breweries have their own array of problems. They are facing significant disruptions in their supply chains. Though they are better financially positioned to weather the storm, they are seeing considerable breakdowns in their local and national distribution systems.

The Debate on Going Out vs. Staying In

Even after lockdowns are fully relaxed, people will still be hesitant to go out and socialise as before. Instead of large public gatherings, people would prefer to stay at home and drink with their close buddies and family. We can expect a change in the preferences of brew lovers. Instead of heading to their favourite pubs and bars, they would prefer to stay at home and drink.

This could prove advantageous for smaller microbreweries. You can cater to your customers’ demand by offering curb-side pickups of their favourite brews. Industry insiders hope that the government will ease restrictions on home delivery of alcoholic beers. This could be a lifesaver for the entire industry.

With doorstep delivery of alcoholic brews, microbreweries will be better positioned to cater to customers’ changing demands.

Is it the Nail on the Coffin for Draught Beer?

 

With patrons uncomfortable visiting a pub or restaurant, the demand for draught beer is likely to fall sharply. Demand for casks and kegs will fall. Expect a massive increase in the sales of bottled and canned beers.

Wondering how to Weather the Financial Crisis in the Coming Months

Appeal to the “Go Local” Ethos

We are now witnessing a massive change in the mindset of consumers. With the Prime Minister’s address to the nation, most people are looking to “Go vocal about Local.” Appeal to your customers via social media channels to support local businesses like you.

Serve as a Model for your Community

While appealing to your local community to help you, make sure that you give back to them as well. Here’s an excellent example of how a local brewer served as a community model during the pandemic.

A microbrewery in the US was planning to launch a new hard seltzer in their brewery. For this, they had a large barrel of food-grade alcohol in hand. However, instead of going ahead with the launch, they used alcohol to manufacture sanitizer and distribute it for free.

Consider an MSME Loan

The central government has announced several financial relief measures for ailing businesses. See if you can avail a small business loan at low interest to help you tide over the times.

Think of Alternatives

If you are not able to get your brews in the hands of paying customers, you can consider alternative revenue-generating channels for the next few months. Deliver eats from your menu to the homes of customers. Sell merchandise like glasses, t-shirts, etc. You can sell gift cards at discount prices that customers can redeem on a later date when things get back to normal.

This too will pass

Yes. It may appear all gloomy and bleak right now. But, remember this – the crisis will end. And, what will be remembered is how brave (and innovative) you were in these challenging times.

Till then, Stay strong, and stay positive!

To put it bluntly, the Covid-19 outbreak has not been good for craft breweries. A large number of breweries have seen a considerable reduction in production. Worse still, the lockdown has forced all breweries to shut down their taprooms and dining rooms until further notice.

Leading commercial and microbrewery manufacturers in India, including Carlsberg, Bira 91, have sent joint appeals to the Central government as well as several state governments to allow them to sell beer online, as the lockdown is extended.

The beer industry contributes over Rs. 50,000 crores in terms of revenue to the state exchequer annually. India is one of the fastest-growing markets for beer in the world, with over 340 million cases sold per year.

Industry insiders predict losses amounting to 25% or more this year due to this lockdown. Around 30 to 40% of annual beer sales happen roughly in the first quarter of the fiscal year. With the lockdown extending, breweries across the country stand to lose nearly two months of their high sales season.

Brewery owners believe that this is the right time to introduce online sales of beer. By allowing breweries to sell their brews online, it can help breweries meet their flailing sales. Breweries also have appealed to the government to allow them to open their outlets to avoid wastage. Unlike other spirits, beer has a short shelf-life, just around 12 months. Going forward, beer outlets and taprooms will have to enhance social distancing norms.

The beer industry is the biggest consumer of barley crops in India. With the current crop of barley ready to be harvested, relaxing shut down norms for breweries is the best way to prevent these crops from getting wasted.

Right now, the truth is that – no one can predict how the situation will pan out. With the Covid-19 situation changing by the hour, every business, including breweries, are waiting to spot the light at the end of the tunnel.
Innovative ideas like contactless delivery of beer, curbside pickups for customers outside taprooms, selling beer-related merchandise can help breweries tide through these unexpected times. Do you have any ideas on how to keep your business going during these difficult times?

Share with us your thoughts and comments.