Tea Craft Inspiration: Bolero Snort’s Lager Project: Lager On Oak + Lapsang Souchong Smoked Tea
INGREDIENTS
The elements of this beer include:
LAGER: Bright, crisp, and clean, lager makes a refreshing canvas for adding nuanced flavors.
LAPSANG SOUCHONG: Instead of using malts to add smoky character, lapsang souchong black tea was used. Lapsang is a traditional Chinese black tea that is smoked over smoldering pine.
WORTH NOTING
Given the positive Untappd reviews on this and other beers that incorporate lapsang souchong, this black tea has not yet realized its full potential. The next great lapsang beer is waiting to be created.
DOs & DON’Ts OF USING TEAS AND BOTANICALS
DO: use about 1-2 lb tea per BBL. Start with 1 lb per BBL, and taste as you go. If not strong enough, add the 2nd lb per BBL.
DON’T: use the tea in the boil. This will overcook the leaves and create an overly bitter and astringent mess. Use tea leaves as you would dry hop or as you do with other adjuncts. Tea is high in antioxidants as are hops used for dry hopping.
DON’T: steep the tea leaves in water and then try to use the tea liquor in your process. It will be either over-steeped and bitter, or too weak to notice in the final product.
DO: let the tea steep longer than you think it should. The effects of serving a chilled, carbonated final pour will dull the tea taste and aroma.