Hoppy Urban Brew, a craft brewer based in the city of Roubaix in northern France, has launched a blue beer that makes use of a special algae in order to achieve its distinctive hue and appearance.
The 'Line' beer, developed as part of a collaboration with a farming startup by the name of Etika Spirulina, makes use of a special ingredient called phycocyanin, a pigment-protein complex within the spirulina that generates a blue color when infused into the beer during brewing.
As far as the flavor is concerned, this blue beer is said to be a hoppy offering that is light-bodied and accented with fruity hints, with the spirulina not affecting its taste whatsoever. Around 1,500 bottles of the blue beer were reportedly sold between October and December 2021, with more batches set to be produced in order to meet the increased level of interest in this unique brew.
Algae-Tinted Blue Beers
This French Craft Beer's Novel Color Comes From a Spirulina Ingredient
Trend Themes
1. Algae-infused Drinks - Opportunity for beverage companies to innovate by adding algae or spirulina in order to achieve unique colors while maintaining the original flavor of the drink.
2. Novelty Beverages - Innovation opportunity for craft brewers to experiment with unique ingredients in order to attract consumers who appreciate novelty products.
3. Natural Food Coloring - Increased demand for natural food coloring gives an opportunity for algae or spirulina-based food colorants to be used in a variety of food and beverage products.
Industry Implications
1. Craft Beer - Craft brewers can use algae and other unique ingredients to create novel beverages that appeal to adventurous consumers.
2. Beverages - Opportunity for beverage companies to experiment with natural food colorants, such as spirulina, to add innovation to their product lines.
3. Food Coloring - The natural food coloring industry can use algae and other alternatives to synthetic dyes to meet the increasing demand for natural products.