Whilst on my search for new beers I found a beer called
Niugini Ice Beer
This is a Ice beer and I'm not to sure about what an ice beer is.
Can somebody give my a explanation to what an Ice beer is?
asked Jun 21, 2016 at 12:16
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Possible duplicate of How do they get beer so strong?– paparazzoJun 21, 2016 at 13:26
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@Paparazzi I wouldn't that this is a duplicate as in that question I asked in general how do they make strong beers while freeze distillation was an answer it was not focus on that and there are other ways to get beer strong such as adding ethanol as pointed out in the answers of the other question this question however asks specifically what Ice beer is– Jamie EltringhamJun 21, 2016 at 13:30
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Clearly I don't agree. The answer is a duplicate. A user can navigate and get the answer. On tech sites like SE the common practice (as I have observed) is to use duplicates to link to an answer even if the question is different if that is the proper answer. For sure if it is my answer I mark as duplicate rather than repeat my answer.– paparazzoJun 21, 2016 at 13:42
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1 Answer
Ice beer is brewed using a technique known as fractional freezing, or freeze distillation. It's rooted in the tradition of German Eisbock style, though in an Eisbock the technique is used to considerably concentrate the alcohol (alcohol percentages in the final product can range from 10%, to over 50%) whereas when a modern mild lager-based Ice beer probably doesn't gets only a small increase in ABV. The one you link to in the question, for instance, is only 5.2% alcohol.
The process involves bringing the beer down to a temperature below the freezing point of water so that ice crystal form, and then drawing those crystals out. This process is repeated until the beer reaches the desired strength, and in the case of Ice beer, that's probably not many times. The goal is that when you remove the crystals, the remaining drink is both more alcoholic and has more pronounced flavors, and you can allegedly remove impurities, as I suppose they may serve as nucleation sites for the crystal formation.
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Great answer thanks, would you say this process is purely to increase the ABV or does it effect the overall taste of the beer too ? Jun 21, 2016 at 12:37
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1@JamieEltringham It will affect the overall taste as water is removed. I suspect it is changed to a relatively small degree in an Ice beer, but it will certainly change significantly in a high-alcohol Eisbock.– Xander ♦Jun 21, 2016 at 12:52
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Thanks for all the information defiantly one to add to the list to try Jun 21, 2016 at 12:54
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1If you are gluten intolerant be careful of what type of ice Beer you buy. Unlike distillation, freeze distillation concentrates poisonous congeners rather than removing them. Also, distillation by evaporation can separate these since they have different boiling points. Thus gluten is more concentrated in Ice Beer than regular brewed beer.– Ken Graham ♦Jun 25, 2016 at 12:32