Soon we may be seeing products such as “Bugweiser” at our local grocery stores. Researchers at North Carolina State University are working on a new method of beer making. The process is largely the same as normal beer production, but with a minor difference. The new beer being tested at the University includes yeast procured from bugs as one of its ingredients.
Researchers start the process by collecting wasps from the wild, and then they proceed to grind them up in order to extract all the usable yeast from their bodies. Once the yeast is extracted it is placed into a petri dish so that it may grow to the size necessary for brewing. Next the researchers take the yeast to a brewery to create and test out the new insect-inspired beer.
All those who have tasted the bug-brew have described its taste as being more sweet and tart than your typical beer. Although finding new methods of creating beer may sound like a noble academic pursuit to some, others may think that making beer does not need to be improved. However, the taste of the bug-brew seems to be universally praised.
Would you be willing to buy beer made from bugs if such a beer were to be less costly?
