Hazy Little Thing: An Unfiltered IPA, Not a Wheat Beer
While Sierra Nevada's Hazy Little Thing contains wheat in its recipe, it is not a wheat beer in the traditional sense. The beer is explicitly categorized by its brewer and beer experts as a Hazy IPA, also known as a New England IPA. The inclusion of malted and unmalted wheat, along with oats, is a deliberate choice by the brewers to achieve the beer's opaque, cloudy look and its characteristic smooth, full-bodied texture. This brewing method contrasts sharply with classic wheat beer styles, which derive their qualities from a distinct grain-to-yeast relationship.
The defining difference lies in the emphasis: a Hazy IPA like Hazy Little Thing is built around its intense, juicy hop character, featuring fruit-forward notes of orange, pineapple, and mango. In contrast, a traditional wheat beer's flavor profile is driven by the unique yeast strains used, which produce spicy clove and fruity banana aromas.
The Role of Wheat and Hops in Hazy Little Thing
The brewing process for Hazy Little Thing relies on a few key factors to achieve its distinctive hazy and juicy profile:
- Wheat and Oats: The recipe includes a significant proportion of wheat and oats, which are rich in proteins and beta-glucans. These compounds are what create the beer's dense, cloudy appearance and contribute to its velvety mouthfeel.
- Unfiltered: Unlike many clear beer styles that are filtered to remove yeast and protein sediment, Hazy Little Thing is left unfiltered. This allows the hazy components to remain in the beer and enhances its full flavor.
- Late-Addition Hops: Hops are added later in the brewing process, after the boil, and in large quantities during fermentation (dry-hopping). This technique extracts maximum fruity aroma and flavor from the hops, like Citra and Mosaic, with less bitterness.
Key Differences: Hazy IPA vs. Traditional Wheat Beer
To better understand why Hazy Little Thing is an IPA and not a wheat beer, let's examine the different brewing focuses.
Traditional Hefeweizen (German Wheat Beer)
- Flavor Profile: The primary flavors are banana and clove, a direct result of the specific ale yeast strain used. The hops are kept minimal and subdued.
- Yeast: The yeast is a star ingredient, producing the signature fruity esters and spicy phenols. In a 'hefeweizen', the yeast is left suspended (hefe = yeast).
- Grain Bill: The recipe must include a minimum of 50% wheat malt by German law, providing a bready grain character.
Belgian Witbier (Belgian White Beer)
- Flavor Profile: This style features a light, spicy character with prominent notes of orange peel and coriander. The flavor is much milder than a hazy IPA.
- Yeast and Spices: It uses a Belgian yeast and is brewed with additional spices, which are not typical for most IPAs.
- Grain Bill: The malt bill includes a significant portion of unmalted wheat, which contributes to the beer's hazy appearance, similar to a Hazy IPA, but the flavor drivers are entirely different.
Comparison Table: Hazy Little Thing vs. Traditional Wheat Beer
| Feature | Hazy Little Thing (Hazy IPA) | Traditional Hefeweizen (Wheat Beer) |
|---|---|---|
| Style Classification | Hazy India Pale Ale (New England IPA) | Hefeweizen (German-style Wheat Beer) |
| Flavor Dominance | Intense, juicy, fruit-forward hops (citrus, tropical) | Spicy (clove) and fruity (banana) yeast esters |
| Bitterness (IBU) | Moderate to low (around 35 IBU) | Very low, with hop presence intentionally minimized |
| Grain Focus | Uses oats and wheat to create a silky body and haze | Heavy reliance on malted wheat (50%+), driving the core flavor |
| Filtration | Unfiltered, leaving yeast and protein for maximum haze | Typically unfiltered ('hefe') but sometimes filtered ('kristall') |
| Key Flavor Source | A wide variety of intense, fruit-forward hops | Specific yeast strains that produce phenolic and estery flavors |
Can a Beer Be Both? A Hybrid Approach
While Hazy Little Thing is not a wheat beer, the popularity of both styles has led to the creation of hybrid beers. Some brewers produce "Hoppy Wheat Beers" or "Wheat IPAs" that combine the characteristics of both categories, such as a prominent wheat malt presence with a more aggressive hop profile. However, this is a separate style altogether. Hazy Little Thing is a quintessential Hazy IPA, representing the style that has taken the craft beer world by storm, leveraging wheat as a tool for texture rather than for its traditional flavor contributions.
Conclusion
To sum up, while Hazy Little Thing does contain wheat, it is fundamentally a Hazy IPA and not a wheat beer. Its brewing process and flavor profile are centered on maximizing juicy hop character, creating a modern, fruit-forward beer with low bitterness and a silky finish. This is in stark contrast to traditional wheat beers like Hefeweizen or Witbier, where the distinct banana and clove flavors are the star of the show. So, the next time you pick up a can, know that you're enjoying a hop-heavy, unfiltered IPA, with the wheat contributing to its pillowy texture and signature haze, not its dominant flavor. For more information on the brewing process of Hazy Little Thing, you can visit the Sierra Nevada website.
