American Wild Ales

Jester King Bière de Blanc du Bois returns Friday

Jester King Bière de Blanc du Bois — the brewery’s farmhouse beer brewed with Texas grown Blanc du Bois grapes, returns seasonally on January 6th.

This creation first debuted in 2014, the brainchild of Adrienne Ballou, Jester King’s barrel program lead. To create Jester Continue Reading →

Funky. Odell Elephunk, a wild IPA debuts

Odell Elephunk, an imperial “wild” IPA is hitting shelves now.

The brewery touts this newbie as “a perfect balance between sweet and tart.” Per the Odell’s sales sheet, the base India pale ale has been aged in oak barrels with wild yeast.

Pungent tropical Continue Reading →

Posted in Creature Comforts, Coming Soon, Jester King Brewery

Creature Comforts Curious 10 to debut on sold out tour

Creature Comforts Curious 10 will be available on a special brewery tour on January 21st.

This 10th iteration in the Curious Series partners Creature Comforts once again with Austin, Texas based Jester King Brewery. ((Last summer, the duo released another collaboration, Mutualism.) This mixed fermentation beer is made with grits from local Dayspring Farms, and grape skins from Yonah Mountain Vineyards (Cleveland, GA).

Creature Comforts Curious 10 underwent four separate fermentations in oak barrels over the past 18 months.

The beer pours with a transparent rose hue and quickly dissipating white foam. The aroma and flavor are that of a delicate floral and the beer softly expresses strawberry, hibiscus, nectarine, pear, and lemon with a crisp, light mouthfeel and very clean finish.

Creature Comforts Curious 10 will be available in 16.9 ounce bottles, on a now sold-out tour.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Grits, Grape Skins. Oak Aged.)
Availability: 16.9oz Bottles. Extremely Limited.
Debut: 1/21/17

6.1% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Creature Comforts, Seasonal Return, Seventh Sun Brewing

Creature Comforts Southerly Love collaboration returns this month

In summer 2014,  Creature Comforts (Athens, GA) collaborated with 7venth Sun Brewery (Dunedin, FL). The result of that (very warm) brewday party was Creature Comforts Southerly Love.

Southerly Love is an American wild ale, slightly kettle soured with lactobacillus and fermented with the house brettanomyces yeast blend. This January, Creature Comforts Southerly Love returns briefly to the brewery’s lineup. The 2017 edition features Idaho 7, Cascade, and Crystal hops.

“We used a solid dose of funky, tropical and aromatic hops, both in the brewhouse and as a dry hop, to add complexity and intrigue to the beer. The result was a synthesis of yeast and hop flavors, melded into a balanced, cohesive and just plain delicious beer.” – Co-Founder and Brewmaster Adam Beauchamp

The new label was designed by University of Georgia Scientific Illustration Student Katie Schmidt.

Creature Comforts Southerly Love will be available in 750ml bottles and draft at the brewery in Athens, Georgia on January 17th.

Style: American Wild Ale
Hops: Idaho 7, Cascade Crystal
Availability: 750ml bottles, Draft.
Latest Return: January, 2017

6.4% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Two Roads Brewing, New Releases

Two Roads Zero 2 Sixty Tart IPA hits 10 states this month

Two Roads Zero 2 Sixty Tart IPA kicks off the new year for Stratford, Connecticut brewery.

This India pale ale features a few varieties of hops, including Comet, Chinook. It’s tart, because the beer was carefully kettle soured with lactic acid and then fermented on the brewery’s house ale yeast strain.

“We ferment this with a mix of lactic acid producing bacteria and our house ale yeast. The degree of souring has to be carefully monitored so that the tart flavors remain in balance with the fruit and herbal characteristics of the hops. Balance is the key!” – Phil Markowski, Two Roads Master Brewer

Two Roads Zero 2 Sixty Tart IPA is available on draft, and in 12 ounce bottles and cans.

Style: American IPA/Sour Ale
Hops: Comet, Chinook

Availability: 12oz Cans, 12oz Bottles, Draft. Seasonal release.
Debut: Mid-January, 2017

6% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Seasonal Return, Jester King Brewery

Jester King Bière de Blanc du Bois returns Friday

Jester King Bière de Blanc du Bois — the brewery’s farmhouse beer brewed with Texas grown Blanc du Bois grapes, returns seasonally on January 6th.

This creation first debuted in 2014, the brainchild of Adrienne Ballou, Jester King’s barrel program lead. To create Jester King Bière de Blanc du Bois, Ballou simulated orange wine fermentation techniques. During this process, the grape skins, seeds, and stems are left in the wine during primary fermentation. (As opposed to separating the skins prior to fermenting.)

Jester King Bière de Blanc du Bois is fermented and matured in oak barrels with wild yeast and souring bacteria. After fermentation, it was refermented with the Blanc du Bois grapes.

Batch 2 of Jester King Bière de Blanc du Bois will be available at the brewery starting January 6th, 2017.

Style: American Wild Ales (w/ Grapes. Oak Aged.)
Availability: 500ml bottles. 1,800 available. $20
Return: 1/6/17

6.7% ABV

Pics via Jester King

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Belgium, Headlines

From the foeder: New Belgium French Oak Saison

New Belgium French Oak Saison is slated for bottles in the near future.

The Fort Collins, Colorado location is home to one of the largest wood cellars in America. You can thank New Belgium’s brewmaster Peter Bouckaert for that vision, and his past work with Belgium’s renown sour producer, Rodenbach. The brewery’s foeders are responsible for American sour favorites like La Folie and Tart Lychee.

Soon, New Belgium French Oak Saison will emerge from the wood as well. The base farmhouse ale is a sour blend that been foeder matured for 14 to 19 months.

French Oak Saison is our unique take on the original 18th Century saisons brewed along the Belgian and French countryside. The dry and refreshing tartness created by oak barrel maturation. Amusez-vous bien!

New Belgium French Oak Saison will be a 22 ounce bottle and draft release.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (Oak Aged)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: TBA

7.5% ABV

Overhead view of New Belgium’s wood cellar. Image: New Belgium

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, The Unknown Brewing Co.

Unknown Brewing Twas the Night, literally just before Christmas

Unknown Brewing Twas the Night, releases almost literally the night before Christmas, has hit shelves.

This beer is flying under the radar a bit, sneaking onto shelves the week of Christmas. The dark sour ale was brewed during Christmas of 2015, and has spend a majority of 2016 aging in oak barrels. Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you have to sip stouts by the fire.

Unknown Brewing Twas the Night is available in limited quantities the week of December 20th.

Style: American Sour/Wild Ale (Barrel Aged)
Availability: 500ml Bottles
Debut: Christmas, 2016

6.8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Odell Brewing, New Releases

Funky. Odell Elephunk, a wild IPA debuts

Odell Elephunk, an imperial “wild” IPA is hitting shelves now.

The brewery touts this newbie as “a perfect balance between sweet and tart.” Per the Odell’s sales sheet, the base India pale ale has been aged in oak barrels with wild yeast.

Pungent tropical fruit aromas burst forward while oak-aged traits of vanilla, brown sugar and cedar create a slightly sweet contrast to the tart flavor.

Odell Elephunk is available in limited quantities in 12 ounce bottles and draft.

Style: American Wild Ale (Oak Aged)
Availability: 12oz Bottles. No draft.
Debut: December, 2016

9.9% ABV

Ed note: Removed draft availability. Bottles only. 

by Reid Ramsay