American Wild Ales

Victory Red, a future sour red ale

Victory Red, a Flemish-style red ale, is on the Pennsylvania based brewery’s lineup in the near future.

This particular type of sour ale got its start in the West Flanders area of Belgium. The sour ale matures in oak barrels with Continue Reading →

Orpheus Wandering Blues Blueberry Sour is back

Orpheus Wandering Blues, a blueberry sour ale was the Atlanta based brewery’s first bottle release. Bottles are available again starting today.

Orpheus Wandering Blues uses Mosaic hops, fermented with saison yeast, and soured with the brewery’s house Lactobacillus. The blueberries were juiced Continue Reading →

Jester King Nocturn Chrysalis returns

Jester King Nocturn Chrysalis returns this September, marking a 2016 return.

In this re-release the brewery added Kiowi blackberries to oak barrels that contained a mature sour red ale.  The ale spent the summer re-fermenting from wild yeast unique to Texas Hill Country Continue Reading →

Posted in Victory Brewing Company, Headlines

Victory Red, a future sour red ale

Victory Red, a Flemish-style red ale, is on the Pennsylvania based brewery’s lineup in the near future.

This particular type of sour ale got its start in the West Flanders area of Belgium. The sour ale matures in oak barrels with Lactobacillus and/or Sacchromyces. Many bottled Flanders red ales are a blend of young, sweeter, stainless steel fermented beer, and older oak matured beer.

RELATED: Victory Jubilee, a Biere de Champagne

That’s a segway for ‘expertly blended’ seen on the Victory Red label. The brewery touts three years of oak aging that set the stage for the final release.

Our brewers’ passion and dedication to tradition comes to life in this extremely limited Flemish-style sour red ale. Three years in oak barrels, mixed-culture fermentation and expert blending have come together to marry tart and tannic notes from natural oak souring with intense impressions of dark fruit. Join us in savoring the complex and effervescent ale that is Victory Red.

Victory Red will be a 750 milliliter bottle release. The beer has not yet been announced by the brewery.

Style: American Sour/Wild Ale
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Debut: TBA

5.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Orpheus Brewing, Seasonal Return

Orpheus Wandering Blues Blueberry Sour is back

Orpheus Wandering Blues, a blueberry sour ale was the Atlanta based brewery’s first bottle release. Bottles are available again starting today.

Orpheus Wandering Blues uses Mosaic hops, fermented with saison yeast, and soured with the brewery’s house Lactobacillus. The blueberries were juiced by Arden’s Garden.

RELATED: Orpheus Coffee Minotaur coming in August

After the fateful serpent bite which killed his wife, Eurydice, Orpheus spent years wandering the earth in mourning. His sad songs eventually moved a stone and opened the entrance to the underworld, where he journeyed down to Hades in search of her. In his wandering, visions of Eurydice danced around in his head, both his curse and his solace.

Orpheus Wandering Blues is back on tap as of July 28th. 22 ounce bottles will be available at both the brewery, and limited distribution starting August 31st, 2016.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (w/ Blueberries)
Hops: Mosaic
Malts: Two row barley, white wheat, flaked wheat
Yeast: French Saison, House Lactobacillus

Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft
Latest Return: 7/28/16 (Draft) Bottles, 8/31/16

7% ABV

Image via Orpheus Brewing

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in SweetWater Brewing, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Debut day: SweetWater Smokey and the Brett. It’s fantastic.

SweetWater Smokey and the Brett debuts today; a part of the brewery’s ongoing Dank Tank Series. The name is actually based on an all too real beer heist (not just an amazing movie).

Let’s begin with the real story. Employees arrived at the brewery back in June, to find two flatbeds full of freshly packed beer missing. As it turns out, thieves drove up to the brewery in an 18 wheel cab and drove off with the flatbeds. The geniuses didn’t disable the GPS trackers, and it wasn’t long before the beer was recovered.

RELATED: SweetWater retires Hop Hash

If you think about it, it’s a little bit like the Burt Reynolds classic – Smokey and the Bandit. Minus a rockstar cast, Sally Field, and well, real life crime.

SweetWater Smokey and the Brett – wild India pale ale (that is, brewed with Brettanomyces) spawns the next fictitious adventure of the series main character, El Danko.

What You’re Sippin: Slow fermentation of Brettanomyces gives aromas of grapefruit and apricot. Acidity and tartness fade into light bitterness from a well balanced hop profile. Dry hopping showcases the New Zealand nugs, creating a slightly sweet and funky, complex and developed Brett IPA.

The brewery really nailed it on this release. Smokey is the most brettanomyces forward beer SweetWater has never released. Very hop forward and bright. Expect citrusy, juicy hops woven into a big brett background.

SweetWater Smokey and the Brett is a draft and 22 ounce bottle offering for a limited time stating August 31st.

Style: American Wild Ale
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: 8/31/16

7.3% ABV

Ed Note: The beer is a “brett IPA” per SweetWater. Because of the Brettanomyces, we classify this as American Wild Ale. 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Jester King Brewery, Seasonal Return

Jester King Nocturn Chrysalis returns

Jester King Nocturn Chrysalis returns this September, marking a 2016 return.

In this re-release the brewery added Kiowi blackberries to oak barrels that contained a mature sour red ale.  The ale spent the summer re-fermenting from wild yeast unique to Texas Hill Country surrounding the brewery.

Interesting fact about blackberries during re-fermentation. Just as in wine, the blackberries rise to the top of the barrel to form a “cap.” This means the brewers had to punch them back down into the brew a few times a day. This is important to get all the flavor and color from the blackberries.

After fruit fermentation, Jester King Nocturn Chrysalis was transferred to more oak barrels to continue re-ferment. Then allowed to bottle condition. Each step refines the beer more and more.

The first release of this beer was in October of 2013. 3,500 bottles will be available at the brewery on September 2nd.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Blackberries, Oak Aged)
Availability: 500 ml bottles.
Arrival: September 2, 2016

7.1% ABV

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Carolina Bauernhaus Ales, New Releases

Carolina Bauernhaus 18 Mile Red Grand Cru bottles debuted this week

Carolina Bauernhaus 18 Mile Red Grand Cru bottles will be available starting this week. The Anderson, South Carolina based brewery debuted their first bottles in June.

Carolina Bauernhaus 18 Mile Red Grand Cru is the brewery’s Belgian-style red sour ale, brewed with rye malt, and aged for six months in Tempranillo barrels. The souring Lactobacillus bacteria was isolated from opuntia fruit by SouthYeast Labs in La France, South Carolina.

This is a sour red ale brewed with NC heirloom rye malt fermented and aged for six months in a single regional wine barrel. This ale has a bright acidity and is filled with dark fruit notes and an oaky character. The acidity is drawn from a strain of native lactobacillus, a blend of local yeasts, and a pair of Brettanomyces strains.

22 ounce bottles will be on sale in the brewery’s tap room starting August, 23rd.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (Wine Barrel Aged)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft. (Tap room)
Debut: 8/23/16

7.2% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Allagash Brewing, Don't Miss This

A french aperitif creates upcoming Allagash Emile

Allagash Emile will soon grace the Portland, Maine based brewery’s small bottle series. Another wild beer with a great backstory.

The American sour/wild ale has been aging in oak foudres that once held Pineau des Charentes, a French aperitif. The drink is essentially a fortified wine that is blended with a clear brandy and matured.

RELATED: Allagash FV 13

Allagash Emile (named for the man that proportedly created the sibling to cognac, is a fermented Allagash house yeast, then aged in foudres with Lactobacillus and Pediococcus.

The color of mature rosewood with ruby highlights, Emile carries the aroma of black currants and elderberries with hearty, earthy undertones. Notes of both dark chocolate and dates infuse the taste, making for a beer that’s part France, part Belgium, and all Maine.

Allagash Emile will be a 12.7 ounce bottle release. The brewery will announce a release date in the near future.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (Foudre Aged. Pineau des Charentes.)
Hops: Northern Brewer
Malts: 2-Row, Red Wheat, Special B, Local Oats, Midnight Wheat

Availability: 12.7oz Bottes

7.2% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Victory Brewing Company, Headlines

Chardonnay meets monkey in Victory Sour Monkey Remix

Just as Victory Sour Monkey hits shelves again for the second time Victory Sour Monkey Remix surfaces, a barrel aged edition of the sour/wild ale.

The base beer for this is the very well known Victory Golden Monkey, the brewery’s Belgian-style tripel ale, brewed with Westmalle yeast. Victory Sour Monkey takes shape thanks to extended fermentation using Brettanomyces and Lactobacillus (hitting shelves again now).

Victory Sour Monkey Remix takes things a step further with Chardonnay barrel-aging.

Now usually we don’t do this, but sometimes an instant classic is just begging for a Remix. Chardonnay barrel aging puts a whole new spin on our already tastefully twisted Sour Monkey, with notes of vanilla and oak, rounding out its lemony tart tang and dry finish. Experience this exclusive, next level evolution of our beloved Golden Monkey for yourself.

Victory Sour Monkey Remix will be a 750 milliliter bottle conditioned release. The brewery has not officially announced this beer.

Style: American Wild Ale (Chardonnay Barrel Aged)
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Debut: TBA

9.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay