Sam Adams & CIA Study Hops And Heat For #IPADAY

A SENSORY EXPERIMENT: SAMUEL ADAMS AND THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA STUDY THE CORRELATION BETWEEN HOPS AND HEAT

Study results released in celebration of IPA Day

BOSTON, August 5, 2015 – Looking to prove a long-held theory among brewers that the bitterness in hops affects the perceived heat of spicy food, the brewers at Samuel Adams turned to The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) to scientifically examine the correlation between hops and heat. Today Sam Adams is eager to share the results of its joint study with fellow brewers, foodies and craft beer enthusiasts. The experiment involved a clear scientific method and two key ingredients:  a flight of Samuel Adams Rebel IPA beers and Buffalo-style chicken wings. Who knew science could be this fun?

To conduct this test, , traveled to the CIA campus in Hyde Park, N.Y., to join a group of distinguished chefs and culinary experts in a sensory tasting panel of epic proportions.  The group sampled three Samuel Adams West Coast-style IPAs – Rebel IPA, Rebel Rider Session IPA, and Rebel Rouser Double IPA – alongside Buffalo wings that foodies might describe as “medium hot.”  The panel set out to specifically test how a beer’s International Bittering Units (IBUs) and alcohol by volume (ABV) affect the perceived spiciness of spicy foods like Buffalo wings. The panelists concluded that together, the greater IBUs and higher ABV, does increase how taste buds perceive spiciness. However, how the mouth perceives “heat” depends on other characteristics in a beer, like the hops, malt and alcohol content.  

In addition to Brewer Jennifer Glanville of Samuel Adams, the tasting panel included CIA experts Douglass Miller, Professor of Hospitality and Service Management; Chef Dave McCue, Associate Professor of Culinary Arts and a homebrewer; Chef Thomas Vaccaro, Dean of Baking and Pastry Arts; and Chef Jonathan Zearfoss, Professor of Culinary Science. The method was simple and the materials – delicious. A plate of spicy Buffalo wings, which served as the constant in the study, was tasted in comparison with each Rebel brew. The beers were tasted in ascending order of ABV and IBUs – starting with Rebel Rider Session IPA, moving to Rebel IPA, and ending with Rebel Rouser Double IPA.

The study determined that the three unique IPA styles affected the perceived spiciness of hot wings

differently:

·         Rebel Rouser Double IPA (8.4% ABV/85 IBUs) produced far and away the highest spiciness rating and dramatically increased the heat intensity of the pairing. The panelists summarized that this complex pairing is perfect for hop heads and spicy food enthusiasts, and may be overwhelming for those that are less adventurous when it comes to beer and food. 

·         Rebel Rider Session IPA (4.5% ABV/45 IBUs), with its lighter body and lower alcohol content, allowed the beer and wings to complement each other nicely. Panelists also noted an increase in heat or a longer lasting heat from this pairing, compared to the other brews, likely because of the lighter malt profile of the beer, as well as a refreshing interplay between the piney, citrus hop notes in the beer and spiciness of the wings.

·         Rebel IPA (6.5% ABV/45 IBUs), which showcases a balance of malt and hop flavor rather than aggressive bitterness, was the most complementary pairing, which the panelists believed would appeal to almost any craft beer lover and Buffalo wing eater. Rebel IPA’s big citrus, piney and resinous hop flavors accentuated and showcased the sweet, meaty taste of the chicken and just the right amount of heat from the Buffalo spice.

 

“If you visit any bar around the country, there’s a good chance you’ll find someone perched on a stool next to a delicious craft beer and a plate of Buffalo wings. Americans love this pairing, and we were thrilled to work with Samuel Adams to see first-hand how the bitterness found in hops affects the spiciness level in food from a culinary standpoint,” said Chef David Kamen, CIA Project Manager, who oversaw the sensory tasting panel. “Each of the pairings was unique in its own way. One of our panelists described the pairing of the wings and double IPA as a ‘freight train’ of spice and hops.”

“At the brewery, we’ve known for a long time that beer and food interact and affect how we experience flavors. Having the opportunity to put this theory to a true test with experts from the CIA was wildly exciting as both a brewer and self-proclaimed foodie. This sensory tasting panel proved that beer’s complex flavor profile can truly create an elevated pairing experience,” said Glanville. “The pairing of wings and Rebel IPA struck me as the one that craft beer drinkers and hot wing lovers alike would enjoy frequently – at home watching the big game or out playing trivia at a bar – and now we know why we enjoy this pairing so much! There’s a nice interplay between the beer and wings.  The beer’s malt character ensures that the hops and the wings’ spiciness never overpower one another.  Instead, they allow both the bitterness and heat to really be evident on their own. When it comes to craft beer and food, half the fun is experimenting with different interactions and flavor combinations. The range of flavors in our family of Rebel IPAs showcased that the possibilities for pairing are endless.”

To learn more about Jennifer’s experience at the CIA, visit http://blog.samueladams.com/ipa-day-2015/.

For the Buffalo Wing recipe used by the panel, visit:

http://cookingdistrict.com/cd/recipes.nsf/cdrecipesbytitle/6F643E16FFEC13F7852578E2006E29CF?opendocument

How to get your hands on the Samuel Adams Rebel brews:

• Samuel Adams Rebel IPA is available nationwide on draft, in six-packs for a suggested retail price of $7.99-$9.99, 12-packs (bottles and Sam Cans) for a suggested retail price of $14.99-$17.99, and in 16oz cans for a suggested retail price of $1.79 to $1.99. Price varies by market.
• Samuel Adams Rebel Rider Session IPA is available nationwide in six-packs for a suggested retail price of $7.99-$9.99, and in 12-packs for a suggested retail price of $14.99-$17.99. Price varies by market.
• Samuel Adams Rebel Rouser Double IPA is available nationwide in six-packs for a suggested retail price of $8.99-$10.99 Price varies by market.

·         To find where Samuel Adams brews are sold near you, visit: http://www.samueladams.com/find-a-sam

ABOUT THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY:

The Boston Beer Company began in 1984 with a generations-old family recipe that Founder and Brewer Jim Koch uncovered in his father’s attic. Inspired and unafraid to challenge conventional thinking about beer, Jim brought the recipe to life in his kitchen. Pleased with the results of his work, Jim decided to sample his beer with bars in Boston in the hopes that drinkers would appreciate the complex, full-flavored beer he brewed fresh in America. That beer was aptly named Samuel Adams Boston Lager, in recognition of one of our nation's great founding fathers, a man of independent mind and spirit. Little did Jim know at the time, Samuel Adams Boston Lager would soon become a catalyst of the American craft beer revolution.

Today, The Boston Beer Company brews more than 60 styles of beer. It relentlessly pursues the development of new styles and the perfection of classic beers by searching the world for the finest ingredients. Using the traditional four vessel brewing process, the Company often takes extra steps like dry-hopping, barrel-aging and a secondary fermentation known as krausening. The Company has also pioneered another revolution, the 'extreme beer' movement, where it seeks to challenge drinker's perceptions of what beer can be. The Boston Beer Company has been committed to elevating the image of American craft beer by entering festivals and competitions around the globe, and is one of world’s most awarded breweries at international beer competitions. As an independent company, brewing quality beer remains its primary focus. Although Samuel Adams beer is America's leading craft beer, it accounts for only one percent of the U.S. beer market. The Boston Beer Company will continue its independently-minded quest to brew great beer and to advocate for the growth of craft beer across America. For more information, please visit www.samueladams.com.

ABOUT THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA:

Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is the world’s premier culinary college. Dedicated to driving leadership development for the foodservice and hospitality industry, the independent, not-for-profit CIA offers associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts; bachelor’s degree majors in management, culinary science, and applied food studies; and executive education through its Food Business School. Its conferences and consulting services have made the CIA the think tank of the food industry in the areas of health & wellness, sustainability, world cuisines & cultures, and professional excellence & innovation. The college also offers certificate programs and courses for professionals and enthusiasts. Its worldwide network of 48,000 alumni includes leaders in every area of foodservice and hospitality. The CIA has campuses in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore.