Craft movement of beer was never all about the contents in the glass. It is experience, refinement, complexity of flavors, and the public ritual of enjoying something special. Over the years, the ideal match was found in culinary, e.g., stouts and chocolate, IPAs and spicy food in Thailand. However, with the development of the modern relaxation devices, a new state is becoming available to the appreciative drinker: the post-brew wind-down.

The artisan culture has never shunned the refined upgrade of replacing mass-produced, ill-made stuff with a subtle quality. The contemporary craft non-professional desires a more polished surface, and the blistering speed of the technological advancement of gadgets never stops to surprise (and fulfill).

Dry Herb Vaporizers: The Flavor-Forward Approach

Both craft beer and good-quality herbs are based on the same volatile organic compounds, also referred to as terpenes.

The terpenes in beer give the hops a citrus or pine, or earthy smell that makes a modern IPA so unlike any other. In herbs, terpenes are the building blocks of the complicated flavors and aroma profiles that distinguish different strains. They are both extremely heat-sensitive. Conventional burning techniques destroy these delicate flavor compounds immediately and give a harsh, acrid smoke, which hides the features beneath. This harshness is in direct opposition to the palate refinement one would cultivate if they enjoy craft beer.

It is for this reason that the technical refinement of modern, portable dry herb vaporizers seems so attractive. Instead of heating the material through burning, these machines pass through highly regulated heat-convection or conduction to heat the herb to a specific temperature, typically between 350 °F and 430 °F (175 °C and 220 °C).

This regulated heating liberates the active compounds and, most importantly, the entire range of the tasting terpenes as a clean vape. The end product will be easier to swallow in the throat and much more luscious in flavor, which is an organic complement to enjoying a perfectly made beer. They provide a restrained, refined, and tailor-made experience in a manner that is similar to accuracy itself in the brewing process.

Wearable Biofeedback Devices: Quantifying Calm

No, the most serious consumers of craft do not simply taste the beer; they are studying its influence, recording the tastes, and examining the impression. This analytical approach to enjoyment extends naturally to relaxation. Welcome the rise of wearable biofeedback devices, which are compact tools designed to optimize the body’s internal state. Add a layer of relaxation with these devices:

• Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS): This is a type of device, like the Apollo Neuro, that might induce the parasympathetic nervous system (the rest and digest mode) through low and accurate vibrations along the wrist or ankle. This is a medication-free, non-invasive method that has assisted in a rapid reduction of cortisol levels and reduction in chronic stress, and therefore facilitates a smooth transition at the end of a hectic work week to a relaxing evening.
• Brainwave Feedback: Headbands such as Muse can read your brain waves through EEG sensors and convert your mental state into audio cues to relax. If your mind wanders during meditation or relaxation, the audio feedback sharpens, and this offers the same kind of measurable optimization that a brewer seeks in their fermentation logs, which is data-driven improvement of a complex process.

These are highly portable and discrete tools that allow the user to find a measurable, predictable, and smoother route to calm, enhancing the enjoyment of the perfect nightcap.

High-Fidelity Portable Audio: Curating Ambiance

Whether one happens to be sitting in a dimly lit taproom or out on the porch for a quiet night, the ambiance is half the experience. The modern craft drinker gives sound the same reverence as flavor and demands audio quality far beyond what a phone speaker is capable of providing.

High-fidelity portable audio gear is the best entertainment to listen to after a long day, and much better than phone audio. Think amplifiers and digital-to-analog converters that reproduce the compressed music into a large soundstage. Combined with noise-cancelling, hi-fi headphones such as Sony or Sennheiser, you are able to build your own sound bubble as you drink a tasty craft beer. 

Smoother Finish to the Craft Day

To the craft drinker, it is quality and exquisiteness in each and every part of the enjoyment ceremony. A combination of devices, such as dry herb vaporizers, which refine flavor by using a specific temperature setting, wearable biofeedback devices that measure and optimize the relaxation response of the body, and high-fidelity audio equipment to enhance the ambiance of relaxation, offers an entire arsenal of devices required to find a smoother way to relax.

This is the next era of the craft lifestyle. One that has transitioned from simple consumption into an intentional, optimized experience.

Which piece of relaxation tech are you thinking about adding next to your refined wind-down ritual? Share your thoughts with us below!