Flash Brewing® Frequently Asked Questions
Flash Brewing™ FAQ
Where did Flash Brewing™ originate?
During a visit to Australia many years ago, we noticed that homebrew stores were selling Fresh Wort Kits. These are five-gallon containers of ready-to-ferment wort that a brewery produces and packages while still hot.
We loved the idea and the quality, but we did not like the expense and risks of shipping gallons of liquid over the vast USA. So, over a five-year journey, we sourced, produced, and tested the ingredients that would allow us to replicate Fresh Wort kits without the water.
Common Questions
The big question: How does it taste?
We entered one of these into the American Pale Ale category at the National Homebrew Competition this year and it received a 34 in the first round, with the average entry in the category this year receiving a 31.9! Check out this video to learn more.
How are Flash Kits so fast to brew?
We’ve eliminated the need to boil, without impacting quality. This takes a brew day from several hours to 15 minutes! You mix all the ingredients into the fermenter with clean, good-tasting water and ferment. It’s that easy!
How did you eliminate the need to boil?
Our Flash Malts undergo boiling and whirlpooling to remove the hot break before being dried. We then use an innovative Hop Bite™ oil, which provides a smooth, clean bitterness without the need to be boiled.
Where does the hop flavor come from?
Traditional pellet hops or Cryo Hops® are added during the fermentation to supply all the hop flavor appropriate to the style of beer you are making. This process is very similar to dry hopping but it is done at the start of fermentation.
What is Flash Yeast™?
Flash Yeast™ was selected from a two-year yeast trial to find a strain that ferments extremely fast but with a neutral flavor profile that lets the malt and hops shine. It puts the Flash in Flash Brewing™! All kits except for German Hefeweizen come with Flash Yeast™.
Can you make all beer styles?
No, not currently. Certain beer styles require yeast strains or special ingredients not currently suited for Flash Brewing™. However, we are working on additional kits, including a Pale Ale called "Best Buds" and an Oktoberfest.
Why can I use clear bottles?
Traditional beer cannot be stored in clear bottles because the bittering acids develop a skunky aroma when exposed to sunlight. Flash Recipe Kits utilize HopBite™, which does not skunk. This allows Flash Beer to ferment in clear fermenters and be packaged in clear bottles.
Can we buy HopBite™ separately?
As of right now, HopBite is only available in Flash Brewing Kits. That may change in the future.
Can you use priming sugar instead of Pop Shots?
Using priming sugar complicates the bottling method. These kits are meant to go straight from the fermenter into the bottles with the Pop Shots. Using the Pop Shots makes it super simple—no stirring, racking, or bottling bucket needed—resulting in less air exposure and better tasting beer.