Hekshered Beer that Actually Tastes Good? Moshiach, Moshiach, Moshiach!
Converting to Judaism can mean missing out on some things you enjoyed as a non-Jew, particularly if you embrace more aggressively the mitzvot of kashrut. While I am not one of those people among converts and ba’alei teshuvah who miss things like pork or shellfish - I never really ate them anyway - beer is one thing I was certain I’d either have to give up on or cheat to enjoy. I keep kosher at Conservative standards, and while the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards has ruled on non-hekshered wines, as far as I was aware they had not issued any responsa regarding the kashrut of beer. So I spent some time trying to find hekshered beers, unfortunately without much success*. But then I was pointed to a great (relatively) new kosher beer by a friend at my shul, and I would be letting our faithful readers down if I didn’t share the love a little. After all, as Benjamin Franklin so aptly noted:
Beer is living proof that G-d loves us and wants us to be happy.
So, you should really check out the website of Shmaltz Brewing Company
Now, I know what you serious beer connoisseurs out there might be thinking. “Kosher beer? Are you kidding?” And, being originally from Wisconsin where making beer is an art form, I thought exactly the same thing. But I was really shocked at how good most of Shmaltz Brewing Company’s offerings are.
One of their selling points is that their beers often involve Jewish tastes and references. For example, in honor of their tenth year of brewing, Shmaltz introduced the Monumental Jewbilation brew, which features two sets of ten (like the tablets Moshe Rabbeinu brought down… Shnei Lukhot HaBrit) - ten varieties of malted barley, and ten varieties of hops. Many of their beers, such as the Genesis 10:10, include pomegranates in the brewing process, which makes for an interesting tart and dry yet sweet layering of flavor. For those of you who are perhaps less adventurous but still interested in a great kosher beer, check out the Genesis Ale and the Messiah Bold, the last of which is billed as “The Beer You’ve Been Waiting For.”
I imagine those of you on the coasts should be able to find Shmaltz’s products pretty easily; even my city with a small Jewish population there is a liquor store which carries almost all of Shmaltz’s beers. If you haven’t tried them yet, and you are a fan of beer, you should pick some of this up. You won’t be disappointed!
Here’s one more bit of convincing for you…
kol tuv, cheers, and chaim l’chaim!
Yair
*Actually, it turns out that “Beer is generally considered Kosher without special certification. However, since beer generally contains a certain amount of barley, it is considered Chometz and may not be used on Passover. In addition, beer that has been improperly owned by a Jew on Passover may not be used even after Passover has passed (Chometz She’Avar Alav Ha’Pesach).”. Here, go and study the whole thing from the Va’ad Ha’Ir of Montreal. However, having that heksher is really nice, and the beer is great!
“I keep kosher at Conservative standards, and while the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards has ruled on non-hekshered wines, as far as I am aware they have not issued any responsa regarding the kashrut of beer. So I spent some time trying to find hekshered beers, unfortunately without much success”
Um… there’s no halachic problem with virtually any beer. Wine, on the other hand, is prohibited by a 2000-year-old rabbinical decree, regardless of what the “Committee on Jewish Law and Standards” has to say about it.
Oops. I forgot to mention that He’brew tastes like drek. Try Sam Adams. Hey, Sam and Adam are both Jewish names, right?
Hey OJ!
I put an asterisk in that first paragraph, and the associated text I put at the bottom explains the part about the kashrut of beer. I wasn’t aware AT THAT TIME, which was quite a while ago, that beer doesn’t really need a heksher. Obviously the issues of wine and beer are totally unrelated halakhically, but I was unaware of this at the time.
I do really enjoy Sam Adams beers, especially their Scotch Ale, Cream Stout, and Brown Ale. But I do really like some of Shmalz’s stuff, particularly the Messiah Bold. Speaking of drek, I was in Israel in May, and I thought almost every beer I had there tasted awful, except for the Guinness I had at Paddy’s in Eilat. But I read recently about some new Israeli microbreweries, including Dancing Camel and Golan Brewery, the latter of which actually follows the German Beer Purity Law of 1516. Have you ever tried any of their stuff?
Regarding what the CJLS says about the kashrut of wines (or anything else for that matter…) I indicated that I follow the rulings of the CJLS…. which I suppose puts me in the Conservative/Masorti camp. We obviously have different standards. Having said that, their ruling on non-hekshered wines clearly indicates that for synagogue, community center, or any sacramental use, hekshered wine is an absolute necessity,and the same ruling encouraged people to stick with hekshered wine at home. Here’s the teshuvah written by Rav Elliott Dorff: http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/teshuvot/docs/19861990/dorff_wines.pdf
While I realize you don’t recognize his authority, you might be interested in his thinking/process.
kol tuv,
Yair
HeBrew is pretty good. Not so new since I had my first taste more than 4 year ago and it was around prevalently then. It’s good. A bit dark and strong for me, though I used to enjoy Stella Artois which I think is the best. I like Belgian beers in general. A light Leffe is nice too. Now, I’m not a drinker at all. We have NO alcohol in our home but I used to enjoy a beer now and again.
As far as I’m aware, beer is kosher unless it has certain fruits mixed in (I think). I can’t remember the deal but when I was going to Chabad for Shabbat in college, there were tons of beers. And I did ask the rabbi and pretty much from what I know, beer is kosher. Saturday night we went to a coffee and comedy night at the local Chabad and there were Miller Genuine Drafts abound, no heksher.
Regarding He’Brew….check out their commercials/videos on their blog. They are hilarious. I was going to link you to a post I did on this in September of 2005 but the links to those videos are no longer active.
Just found a current link to the videos http://www.shmaltz.com/video.html
I love beer. Beer beer beer. My father counts it among his triumphs that he raised 1. a (almost) Jewish Lawyer without being Jewish or, for that matter, college educated, and 2. a beer connoisseur. I don’t drink it all that often (the majority, and often the totality, of my weekly alcohol consumption is wine on Shabbos) but festive times call for a tall cold one. I must try this stuff.
My Jewish friends are throwing me a party after I’ve cleared the beit din and gone to mikvah and I think I’ll suggest they pick up some He’Brew for the party, because that’s just too funny. (Although my boyfriend says he doesn’t like it–all he likes is Guinness and Killians for the most part anyway).
Other brands of beers I love:
Smuttynose (Shoals Pale Ale, Old Brown Dog)
Yuengling (Standard Lager)
Sam Adams (Just about anything)
The Shipyard (Export Ale)
Dogfish Head (Midas Touch, Raison D’Etre, Indian Brown Ale, Punkin Ale)
Wait, wait, wait. The way OJ words it, it sounds like ALL wine is not kosher by Orthodox standards because of a 2,000-year-old rule. I believe, for those also confused, that what he/she means is that only wine produced by Jews is considered Kosher.
Of course, if I’m wrong, correct me.
I keep meaning to try HeBrew, but haven’t yet. I do love me some Mani though
Hi Chavi,
Mani, eh? A lot of the old folks at my shul dig Mogen David, which to me tastes like a bottle of Welch’s grape juice that has been spiked with a touch of vodka - and certainly not enough! I prefer dry wines myself… but beer, and mead, are my real favorites.
Try HeBrew already… You’ll sit, you’ll drink it, you’ll love it, end of story!
kol tuv,
Yair
Yeah, that’s what I meant. Sorry for the confusion.
Hi Alissiana,
I think you are on to something in talking about having He’Brew as part of the simcha celebration when you convert… and I will have to try some of those beers you suggested.
So, your boyfriend only likes Guinness and Killian’s? Hmmm… let me suggest a few he might like to try…
Bellhaven Scotch Ale
McEwan’s Scotch Ale
Smithwick’s Ale (pronounced “Smithick’s” or “Smiddick’s”)
Sam Adams Cream Stout
These are some of my favorite Scottish and Irish beers, and Sam’s Cream Stout is one of my favorite stouts. If he hasn’t tried any of these, he might like them…
kol tuv,
Yair
Yair,
I’ve had both, and I prefer Mani
Although, it is so very thick … I’ve often toyed with the idea of dousing my pancakes with it. I might actually have to do that.
I’ll pick up some HeBrew this weekend and respond with my joy or distaste!
Chavi
Hey gang
Fun post you’ve whipped up here Yair! The only time I partake of alcohol is for Kiddush and that’s usually limited to a thimbleful, so I’m probably not going to be trying this beer anytime soon. However, I think the discussion around this post, clearly demonstrates that “Jewish” beer is yet another way for Jews to connect to the tribe. Culturally speaking that is.
Also I was going to post a couple quotes from relevant CJ sources exploring why the CJLS has made the decisions it has regarding the Halacha of wine, but I see you’ve already taking care of it.
Anyhow, what you said it’s a nice post it’s generated some interesting discussion.
I am a real beer aficionado (long word for ’snob’!). When I went the entire week of Pesach without having any beer the year before I entered the conversion process, my wife knew I was serious! She had issued a challenge, saying “I don’t think you can go a whole week without beer.” Well, I did, and the following Pesach, too. So, there!
As for the rest of the year, I certainly do not see where there is a kosher problem with beer, but that has already been addressed above. (Anyway, I don’t keep kosher, though I stopped eating pork as well as other meat around the same time as my conversion.)
I recommend one of He’brew’s special ales: Origin. I blogged about it some months ago.
Sprecher beer from Milwaukee has a haredi hechsher. It is also a renowned microbrew. They put out a high quality product and have a variety of beers. L’chaim…