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A special 'teabag' has been designed to transform ordinary bland lager into a refined craft beer.

The beer-bag works in the same way as fruit teas, but instead of infusing it in hot water the user drops it into a pint.

The sachet, which contains a blend of hops, fruit peels and natural spices, is left for two minutes to transform the flavour without the cost or calories of a craft beer.

(Image: HopTheory / BNPS)

Each 5g sachet can transfuse up to four beers, so one bag could keep the drinker going for a session at the pub.

The first infusion will take between two and four minutes, but once the bag is wet any further uses will only take about 30 seconds to transfuse.

Hop Theory, the company behind the bags, sources premium natural ingredients with no processed additives or preservatives and everything is prepared in a way to improve the transfuse time.

(Image: HopTheory / BNPS)

The first blend, Relativity, contains dried and ground orange peel, Cascade hops and ground coriander seeds.

The hops add a tangy bitterness associated with IPAs and create a frothy head, the orange adds a citrus flavour often associated with Belgian Witbier and the coriander seeds add sweetness and give off a lemon top note.

The ingredients are put in a woven mesh filter which is made from corn starch and 100 per cent biodegradable.

(Image: HopTheory / BNPS)

Hop Theory, which is based in Maryland in the US, is nearing its $25,000 target on crowd-funding site Kickstarter to produce the first blend.

It then has another four flavours planned for release in the future - raspberry, pumpkin, double IPA and peach.

The company was founded in 2013 by Bobby Gattuso, who was studying a biology degree at the time.

(Image: HopTheory / BNPS)

Mr Gattuso said: "I wanted to set out to make better beers and bring brewing to the bar.

"The craft beer industry had become my obsession, so I sought a career in microbrewing that would be different than the competition.

"Craft beer excels in taste but it's expensive. Light beer is cost effective and low in calories but lacks flavour.

"With Hop Theory, an average beer becomes craft.

"We have been meticulously fine-tuning the perfect balance of ingredients to create our first blend and are finally ready to begin production.

"Hop Theory is here to add customisation to the beer industry.

(Image: HopTheory / BNPS)

"Place this sachet of flavour in a pint glass and pour your beer of choice over the top.

"You can transform any light beer on the market or compliment your favourite crafts.

"Watch the ingredients infuse or casually drink as the contents in the sachet become saturated. Then enjoy your invigorated beer.

"There's only five calories in each sachet, so it improves a light beer without adding pounds or going penniless.

"It took a long time to create the perfect blend but finally Relativity was born and as our first blend, we think we nailed it. It is delicious and refreshing.

"No longer will you have to settle for what's being served or dream about the beer you could be having.

"Hop Theory lets you be the brewer; anytime and anywhere.

"We simply want to to give everyone control over how their beer tastes.

"We think beer is already pretty wonderful, but there's always room for improvement, right? It's also a great conversation starter."

The first beerbags will be delivered in July and 12 sachets cost $14.95 (£10).