American Wild Ales

Epic Sour Brainless on Peaches, Batch #3

Epic Sour Brainless on Peaches returns again in May, 2017, marking the third release of this beer.

When Epic built their Denver, Colorado brewery in 2013, the sour program took a major step forward with the addition of three 60 hectoliter oak foeders Continue Reading →

Apple sour: Carolina Bauernhaus Mulleficent

Carolina Bauernhaus Mulleficent, collaboration with nearby Brewery 85, debuts on April 1st.

The base beer is a golden sour ale fermented in oak, and blended with 800 pounds of Upstate South Carolina apples. Organic ginger, cinnamon and clove were also added, Continue Reading →

Lost Abbey Veritas 019 goes on sale March 28th

Lost Abbey Veritas 019, the 19th edition in the brewery’s “Veritas” line of beers, goes on sale this month.

The California based brewery calls this ongoing experiment a “relationship between fruit, barrel-aging, and the wild yeast Brettanomyces. Each release is unique, Continue Reading →

Posted in EPIC Brewing Company, Coming Soon

Epic Sour Brainless on Peaches, Batch #3

Epic Sour Brainless on Peaches returns again in May, 2017, marking the third release of this beer.

When Epic built their Denver, Colorado brewery in 2013, the sour program took a major step forward with the addition of three 60 hectoliter oak foeders (seen below). In 2014, some Brainless on Peaches casks got funked up by some errant wild yeast, and was so tasty, that Epic Sour Brainless on Peaches ended up launching the program. As of early 2017, the brewery now has 14 foeders.

Epic Sour Brainless on Peaches begins with one foeder filled with the souring bacteria, Lactobacillus, another with Brettanomyces. Scared to death of Pediococcus (aka “The Devil”), Epic filled wine casks with the Pedio and left the third foeder for blending.

The Final Blend.

Epic Sour Brainless on Peaches is a blend of the Brett and Lacto foeders, and all the Pediococcus wine casks that were blended into neutral oak white wine casks. The brewery’s new found love of Pediococcus eventually led them to finally funk up that third foeder with “The Devil”. Epic laments – this is the most sour edition of this beer to date.

Epic Brainless on Peaches Batch #3 is available in 375 milliliter bottles.

Style: American WIld/Sour Ale (w/ Peaches, Oak Aged.)
Availability: 375ml  bottles
Latest Return: May, 2017

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by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Carolina Bauernhaus Ales, Coming Soon

Apple sour: Carolina Bauernhaus Mulleficent

Carolina Bauernhaus Mulleficent, collaboration with nearby Brewery 85, debuts on April 1st.

The base beer is a golden sour ale fermented in oak, and blended with 800 pounds of Upstate South Carolina apples. Organic ginger, cinnamon and clove were also added, giving Carolina Bauernhaus Mulleficent mulled cider taste.

This bright golden has hints of apple skins and a bright tartness that finishes with a refreshing dryness and a subtle hint of spice.

Carolina Bauernhaus Mulleficent will be available in 750 mililiter bottles when the brewery opens on April 1st.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Ginger, Clove, Cinnamon. Oak Aged.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles

Debut: 4/1/17

5.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Lost Abbey, Don't Miss This

Lost Abbey Veritas 019 goes on sale March 28th

Lost Abbey Veritas 019, the 19th edition in the brewery’s “Veritas” line of beers, goes on sale this month.

The California based brewery calls this ongoing experiment a “relationship between fruit, barrel-aging, and the wild yeast Brettanomyces. Each release is unique, small-batch, and unforgettable.

Lost Abbey Veritas 019 is a blonde sour ale that has been aging in French oak for over a year, before being introduced to fresh raspberries. Per Tomme Arthur, Lost Abbey’s co-founder, “The last time we did a fruited sour this intense was Cable Car Kriek back in 2011.”

Pouring shockingly pink, Veritas 019 begins with sweet aromas of rich berries and notably peppery Brett. Intense, Vibrant Raspberry character leading to a refreshingly sour middle with notes of funk on the finish.

Lost Abbey is planning a preview weekend starting March 24th where Veritas 019 will be available on draft. Attendees will have an opportunity to purchase bottles for pickup in April.

The general sale will occur online on Tuesday, March 28th at 12 Noon. No proxies. Sales are limited to 6 bottles per person, $41 dollars per bottle.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Raspberries. Oak Aged.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles. Extremely limited. No distro.
Presale: 3/24/17
Pickup: 4/23-4/25

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by Reid Ramsay
Posted in The Rare Barrel, Seasonal Return

The Rare Barrel Apropos of Nothing bottles return March 18th

The Rare Barrel Apropos of Nothing will be available again at the Berkeley, California taproom again this weekend.

The base beer is a golden sour ale, aged in oak barrels with elderberries and lavender, and a blend of bacteria and wild yeast.

Apropos of Nothing is a golden sour beer aged in oak barrels with elderberries and lavender. Fermented with a unique mix of microorganisms, this sour beer displays floral aromas and flavors of fresh blueberries, honey, and lemon zest.

The Rare Barrel Apropos of Nothing is a 750 milliliter bottle offering. The brewery’s “Ambassador” members are encouraged to visit the allocations page for their bottles. On sale in the tap room on March 18th.

Style: American Sour/Wild Ale (w/ Lavender, Elderberries)
Yeast: Saison Blend, French Saison, Brettanomyces bruxellensis var. Drei, & Brettanomyces lambicus
Bacteria: Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus buchneri, & Pediococcus damnosus

Availability: 750ml Bottles
Latest Return: 3/18/17

5.8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Carolina Bauernhaus Ales, Coming Soon

Carolina Bauernhaus Strawberry Farmhouse Ale bottles debut this weekend

Carolina Bauernhaus Strawberry Farmhouse Ale debuts on Saturday, March 18th.

The rye malt based American wild ale was fermented in Pinot Noir barrels using the house mixed culture. (Comprised of all that SouthYeast Labs goodness.) Then fresh strawberries were blended in, and the beer and aged for a full 10 months in the barrels.

We recently tried this on draft at the brewery, and were blown away. If you love fresh strawberries in a nice tart sour ale, you’ve found your beer. The strawberries taste the juiciest on the vine, with a touch of red wine in the finish. 40% of our tab was spent just on this beer.

Our dark saison was brewed using regional rye malt, then fermented & aged in Pinot Noir barrels with our native yeast blend. Over two pounds of locally harvested strawberries were blended in & the ale aged for 10 months in the barrels. This rustic saison has a huge strawberry nose and flavor notes underscored by an earthy rye spice.

Carolina Bauernhaus Strawberry Farmhouse Ale will be available in 750 milliliter bottles when the brewery opens on Saturday, March 18th.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Strawberries. Wine Barrel Aged.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Debut: 3/18/17

5.8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Belgium, New Releases

New Belgium Sour Saison

New Belgium Sour Saison

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Jester King Brewery, New Releases

100% Texas grown & malted barley makes Jester King Part & Parcel

Jester King Part & Parcel, brewed with 100% Texas grown and malted grain, debuts on Friday, March, 10th.

For four years now, Leander, Texas based Blacklands Malt has been creating the first state grown and malted barley. In October of 2016, the project came to fruition, and they delivered dark Munich malt grown near Lubbock to Jester King, dubbed “Endeavor”.

The Endeavor malt guided the recipe. It is high-protein, which develops darker color and flavor during kilning; ultimately deciding what Jester King Part & Parcel would become.

 “High protein grain is best used to make darker malts because they can develop rich melanoidin compounds and phenolics (or the “yummy stuff) – Brandon Ade, Blacklands Malt

Part & Parcel uses 100% Texas grown and malted barley from Blacklands, local well water, native yeast and bacteria, and Perle hops. Jester King laments, this might be the first SMASH beer (Single Malt and Single Hop) beer they’ve ever made.

Jester King Part & Parcel will be available in 750 milliliter bottles at the brewery in Austin, Texas starting March 10th.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale
Hops: Perle
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Debut: 3/10/17

5.5% ABV

Image: Jester King. Bottle Artwork: Josh Cockrell 

by Reid Ramsay