Blowing off powdered beer

ILOVE COFFEE.

I probably love coffee more than beer. I have even said that if I had to give up either beer or coffee, I would give up beer. As much as I love beer, I need coffee. Yes, coffee is an addictive substance. I don’t deny that I’m addicted to it. But of all the addictions one could have, I feel it’s pretty harmless.

But as much as I love coffee, I’m not crazy about instant coffee. It will do in a pinch, but I usually dread having to drink it.

OK, George. This is a beer column. Why are you going on and on (and on) about coffee? Maybe you’re going to talk about a coffee stout or Porter?

Nope. I’m talking about coffee — and specifically mentioning instant coffee — because apparently a German brewery has come up with a way to make beer simply by adding water to a powder.

A recent article in Fortune noted that Neuzeller Klosterbräueri, has created a lager powder that works similarly to instant coffee: Just add (cold, in this case) water and stir.

I’m skeptical. Don’t get me wrong: Maybe this will be an incredible innovation and when (or if) I try it, I’ll change my mind.

But on the face of it, it seems gimmicky. However, one plus that the brewery is touting is that the product: environmental impact and sustainability. According to an article on phys. org, the Impact CO2 carbon footprint calculator says that “packaging and transport account for 70 percent of the environmental impact of a liter (around two pints) of beer.”

And since a powder is far easier and cheaper to transport over long distances than liquid beer, the impact will be lower.

That is all well and good, but how good will this “instant beer” be? Right now, the only version is nonalcoholic and non-carbonated. in other words, flat beer without any alcohol. Of course, the brewery plans on adding alcohol and some fizz at some point, but even then, I wonder if it can really taste as good as actual traditionally made beer.

The phys.org article also noted that this isn’t the first time a powdered beer has been tried. A Danish brewery made four varieties of beer powder, but the project seems to have vanished. I have an idea as to why. Look, if I cringe at the idea of instant coffee, I’m probably not going to be thrilled with “instant beer,” either.

But I try to be open-minded. If this product (a carbonated, alcoholic version) reaches shelves near me, I’ll try it and report back. But I’m guessing it won’t be making anyone’s “best beers” list.

Beer note

A few years ago, I reported that Leadfoot Brewing had created a summer wheat brew in honor of my great-nephew Justin Lingenberg, who had sadly died from cancer at the age of 18. The beer, named Summer Setter in honor of Justin’s love of – and talent for – volleyball, will undergo a relaunch on Saturday at Leadfoot in Chicopee.

The beer will now simply be named “Justin,” because the brew is so popular, the brewery wants to market it year-round, not just in summer. The event will be from noon to 4 p.m. and will feature raffles and a food truck. As always, Leadfoot donates part of profits from the beer to help defray costs for families with children who have cancer.