Glitter beer

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Have you ever heard of glitter beer? Maybe you have drank it before?

It’s the latest craze as of early 2018. You can add it to the crazy latest trends in craft beer. But is it here to stay?

My take is it will be released as a special beer at certain breweries from time to time.

Many people, including me, don’t like the idea of adding anything “artificial” knowingly to my body. Will I give it a try? Hell yes!

I haven’t had one yet, but being an avid beer maker, I could tell you how to make it and what issues this beer could face in the future.

How to brew a glitter beer

You make your beer as usual and simply add edible food grade, pearlized sparkle to your keg. That’s it!

Of course, you beer should be a lighter color in order to showcase the pearly glitter.

Pretty simple.

I read that purging Co2 into the keg before serving a beer will kick up the fairy dust and distribute somewhat evenly during serving.

In regards to bottling, I would imagine you would add the glitter to your fermenter/bottling vessel, give it a gentle, sanitized sppon stir or Co2 blast (to avoid oxidation) then distribute into your bottles.

You may have to pour off the yeast sediment to get the glitter when serving the bottle, but at least you will get glitter in your glass.

Cons?

1, I haven’t heard any real issues with the glitter wreaking havoc on keg lines or fermenters, but I could see how that would be a concern.

This will add an extra concern for a brewer in regards to cleaning.

2, The other issue is eating this shit. I’m sure there will be minimal concerns with having a couple of these beers here and there, but to drink it as a daily staple could build glitter in your stomach and out of your ass.

But maybe you don’t care?

3, This beer could potentially add to the downfall of craft brew. More shit in our beer tends to feed into the trend of making the “latest and greatest” selling thing.

You don’t see the big dogs of brewing or larger craft breweries jumping on trendy things like glitter. That’s probably for a good reason (cost and potential blowback).

Pros?

1, This can actually be a good thing for craft breweries and beer. Yes, it seems glitter may be a fad, but it also shows an emergence of pushing the envelope.

Innovations can lead to new breakthroughs, which could lead to another beer revolution.

2, In addition, it generally supports the craft beer movement and gives more acclaim to craft beer and takes it away from the beer monopolies.

More people will be attracted to new types of beers like this, so it will draw in new crowds. That means more business for the underdog. I’m all for that.

Summary

Glitter beers are pretty damn cool. I think I’m going to brew 10 gallon batch of a hazy / New England style IPA then keg half with glitter and the other half without.

By doing this, I will be able to do a taste and visual comparison to conclude my own thoughts on the matter.

I think glitter beers will stick around for a while. I could see the originators of the style (one brewery in Colorado and one in So Cal, I think) keeping the style year round as long as it sells, and many other breweries serving it as a seasonal release.

There are a few pros and cons to glitter beer, but that won’t stop people from trying at least one. I just hope the glitter beers attract more drinkers than it repels.

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