Artificial, ad hoc, bad idea, bittering

[patpawlowski]

Hi all, is there a method of bittering a glass of beer to see how it might have tasted with more IBUs? I expect adding a very small amount of a flavorless acid but most acids that I can think of are not flavorless. Citric, vinegar, not sure about others.

 

[BOB357]

You could make a hop tea and add a few drops. A little gypsum (CaSO4) can be added to accentuate hop bitterness too.

Common acids used in brewing water are lactic and phosphoric. Neither imparts any noticeable flavor when used judiciously.

 

[patpawlowski]

Hmmm . . . I like the hop tea idea. I will have to try that.

 

[Calrk E]

Interesting question! Acids can add sourness or tang, but they don’t really mimic the bitterness you get from hops. If you're trying to boost bitterness in a finished beer, a better option might be using isomerized hop extract, just a drop or two can add that hop like bitterness without messing with the flavor too much. Cool way to tweak a brew without reboiling.

 

[jhon3456]

Interesting point about how artificial bittering affects the overall balance. We’ve seen similar effects in coffee blends, especially with newer syrups and mix-ins. You can see how we break it down on our 7 brew coffee menu.