Crafting the Perfect Pint: How Flavor Compounds Can Transform Your Beer -

Crafting the Perfect Pint: How Flavor Compounds Can Transform Your Beer

The USA offers brewmasters a land of opportunity to craft unique beer that reflects their creativity. Unlike Germany, the US does not have purity laws in place that restrict the ingredients they use, which most likely contributed to the 400% growth in American microbreweries and taprooms over the last decade. Brewmasters are passionate about crafting beer, and the public is passionate about tasting it!

One significant way to succeed as a brewmaster is to craft high-quality, great-tasting beer that makes your establishment stand out. Doing so builds brand loyalty with your customers and brings your distinctive concept to life. Brewmasters can easily access new opportunities for improved consistency, innovative flavors, and efficient processes by incorporating flavor compounds into the brewing process. They’ll give you a massive advantage over the competition without sacrificing the quality you’re known for. Here’s how flavor compounds benefit brewmasters.

Flavor Compounds: A Game Changer for Brewmasters

Ideal Solubility

Adventuresome brewmasters have most likely experimented with fruit purees to make a variety of flavored beer options such as mango, orange, and apricot. Fruit purees are a common go-to choice since they uphold high quality and freshness standards compared to extracts. The challenge of using a puree, however, is that it compromises the solubility of the beer. Certain recipes may require as much as 20% fruit puree, which leads to high sediment and thick consistency. On the other hand, a flavor compound will achieve the same (if not more) flavor while only comprising 1.5-2% of the recipe to maintain ideal solubility.

Consistent Taste

Choosing to use a fruit puree from fresh fruit may lead to variability in your beverage output. Even when in season, crops aren’t identical and the same type of fruit can taste differently. Opting for a flavor compound provides the consistency your brewery concept deserves. Customers will expect a flavor to taste the same every single time they order it, otherwise they will lose faith in your brand! Itaberco’s flavor compounds are all equal strength for predictable usage. Plus, all-natural ingredients deliver exceptional taste that you have to try first-hand to believe.

Consistent Taste

Choosing to use a fruit puree may lead to variability in your beverage output. Even when in season, crop quality can fluctuate due to factors like weather conditions, soil health, and harvesting methods, which can affect the consistency of flavor, sweetness, and texture in the final product. Opting for a flavor compound provides the consistency your brewery concept deserves. Customers will expect a flavor to taste the same every single time they order it, otherwise they will lose faith in your brand! Itaberco’s flavor compounds are all equal strength for predictable usage. Plus, all-natural ingredients deliver exceptional taste that you have to try first-hand to believe.

Shelf Stable

Unlike fruit puree, flavor compounds are shelf-stable and do not require refrigeration even after opening. Almost all flavor options are shelf-stable for up to two years, providing many benefits. For starters, especially for smaller operations, you don’t need to have refrigerated space for all of the fruit. Ingredient sourcing is massively simplified since you don’t need to procure perishable items. All of that is replaced with a simple one-kilogram jar of flavor compound. There’s no need to worry about wasted resources or using ingredients by a certain time. Enjoy fruit flavors year-round instead of overdoing a theme while it’s in season.

Shelf Stable

Unlike fruit puree, flavor compounds are shelf-stable for up to two years and do not require refrigeration even after opening. For starters, especially for smaller operations, you don’t need to have refrigerated space for all of the fruit. Ingredient sourcing is massively simplified since you don’t need to procure perishable items. All of that is replaced with a simple one-kilogram jar of flavor compound. There’s no need to worry about wasted resources or using ingredients by a certain time. Enjoy fruit flavors year-round instead of overdoing a theme while it’s in season.

Endless Flavor Possibilities

Make your best menu imaginable without limitations of seasonal availability, access to vendors, or high expense. Choose from a selection of 65+ flavor compounds that are in stock and ready year-round. Unleash your creativity by mixing and matching delicious flavor compounds (like combining guava and strawberry for a tropical mix) for even more possibilities. Have a specific vision but don’t see a flavor compound for it? Our beverage expert and R&D team can work with you to custom-make the perfect flavor.

Endless Flavor Possibilities

Are Flavor Compounds Right for Your Brewery?

Any brewery from one-barrel fermenters to fifteen should consider incorporating flavor compounds into their production based on the following factors.

Yes, if:

You offer a variety of beers such as ales, IPAs, sours, and stouts. Flavor compounds integrate seamlessly, enhancing these styles with diverse flavors.
You are a craft brewer seeking to elevate your brews with precise, consistent, and high-quality flavors. Flavor compounds enable craft brewers to experiment with unique and innovative profiles while maintaining control over the final brew.
You operate on a larger scale and package your beer in cans or bottles. Our flavor compounds are TTB approved, ensuring they meet industry standards for your packaging needs.
You want to create a unique mixology experience in your taproom. Flavor compounds can be dosed directly into the keg, allowing for creative and customizable flavor profiles.
You’re currently using purees that may be challenging due to solubility issues or high labor demands. Flavor compounds offer a convenient and efficient alternative or addition, simplifying your production process.

No, if:

You only brew lagers. While it’s possible to use flavor compounds with lagers, the longer fermentation process and intricacies may not fully leverage their benefits.
You prefer to maintain the original color of your beer. Our flavor compounds use natural coloring, so a blueberry sour would have a blue hue to it.
You can’t control secondary fermentation. Flavor compounds need to be added after primary fermentation and allowed to go through secondary fermentation. This process adds fermentable sugars, so it’s ideal if you have the flexibility to accommodate this step.
You aim for a hazy IPA. For hazy IPAs, where cloudiness is key, flavor compounds can complement but not replace the “cloudy effect” of hops, grain protein, and puree. They’re best used to enhance a recipe, reducing the puree percentage while still achieving a flavorful brew.

When to Add Flavor Compounds to the Brewing Process

Method #1: After Primary Fermentation

Anytime after primary fermentation is appropriate to add a flavor compound. If it’s done before, flavor potency is minimized, plus the mixture still needs to be agitated. For successful results, brewmasters can add the flavor compound directly to the top of the fermentation tank.

Method #2: In the Yeast Brink

Brewmasters can add flavor compounds directly into a yeast brink, recycle it, and then purge it into a fermenter. A brink is useful to help mix the solution together.

Method #3: Inside the Bright Tank

There are a few methods to add flavor compounds that involve the bright tank. Brewmasters could add the flavor compound right into the bright tank and flow the beer over top of it, transfer the beer first and then add the flavor compound on top, or add the flavor compound during transferring beer from a fermenter into the bright tank.

Method #4: Directly to the Keg or Glass

Flavor compounds are a great fit for brewmasters interested in peg conditioning or flavoring, in which case flavor compounds can be added directly to the keg or glass. In this scenario, one base IPA could have multitudes of flavors.

How to Give Our Flavor Compounds a Try

Sampling Program

Get the full flavor compound experience before you buy or add to your batch! We have a generous sampling program so you can try any flavor before committing. Samples come in a 150g portions. Almost all of our brewmasters have found this to be a successful way to pilot flavor compounds, test different flavors, and get reassurance about how it works. Working with our beverage experts for recipe guides and best practices can practically eliminate learning curves.

Should you choose to partner with Itaberco in the long run, we offer a range of flavor compound sizes so you only get what you need. Our small one-kilogram jars are perfect for mixing and matching new combinations, having the right amount without excess leftovers, and reducing waste. Larger operations can choose between 5 or 20-kilogram options.

Low Custom Minimum Orders

Do you have a specific flavor in mind that isn’t on our website? We can turn that caribao mango flavor into a more alfsonso one (or whatever creative vision you have)! Our small 140-kilogram custom order minimum makes customization accessible to any size brewery. The process starts with a consultation where you’ll discuss your needs with our beverage expert and R&D manager. The turnaround time for a sample is 2-3 weeks. Then, after approval and order placement, you’ll receive your unique flavor compound in 3-4 weeks.

Unleash Your Creativity Today

Explore our flavor compounds and see how they can benefit your brewery! Elevate your menu with options like blood orange, barrel aged maple, passionfruit, and more. Flavor compounds are perfect for beer and other beverage applications you may serve like ciders, seltzers (both non-alcoholic and alcoholic), distilling, and cocktails themselves.