American Wild Ales

Dry hopped sour: Carolina Bauernhaus Kuningilin

Carolina Bauernhaus Kuningilin debuts on June 24th.

Nearby Asheville, North Carolina Riverbend Malt House and their Wrens Abruzzi Rye Malt serves at the base inspiration for this new release. Head brewery and co-founder Keston Helfrich oak soured a golden ale, then Continue Reading →

Posted in Carolina Bauernhaus Ales, New Releases

Dry hopped sour: Carolina Bauernhaus Kuningilin

Carolina Bauernhaus Kuningilin debuts on June 24th.

Nearby Asheville, North Carolina Riverbend Malt House and their Wrens Abruzzi Rye Malt serves at the base inspiration for this new release. Head brewery and co-founder Keston Helfrich oak soured a golden ale, then dry-hopped it with Vic Secret and Amarillo hops.

RELATED: Carolina Bauernhaus & the sweetest watermelons

The wren, not only the name of the malt, but pictured on the label, is “king of the birds” according to German legend. It is said it got that title by hitching a ride on the back of an eagle in order to become the highest flying bird in the world.

The spicy and earthy character of the rye malt used in this rustic refined ale is held aloft by a tart acidity drawn from our house strain of natively collected lactobacillus and crowned by a bright dry hop blend of Vic Secret and Amarillo hops.

Carolina Bauernhaus Kuningilin will be available in 750 milliliter bottles when the brewery opens on June 24th.

Style: American Wild Ale
Hops: Vic Secret, Amarillo
Malt: Wrens Abruzzi Rye

Availability: 750ml Bottles
Debut: 6/24/17

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Avery Brewing, New Releases

Avery Ginger Sour is Botanicals & Barrels release #6

Avery Ginger Sour is coming to the brewery’s Botanicals & Barrels Series this month.

AT A GLANCE: Avery Botanicals & Barrels Series

Hand picking the barrels and each herbal addition is what makes this Avery series one of the most diverse in their portfolio. The lineup features a Tangerine Quad (in bourbon), Apricot Sour (oak), Raspberry Sour, Vanilla Bean Stout (aged in bourbon), and newly released Coconut Porter.

The sixth release in the series is Avery Ginger Sour, an oak aged wild ale featuring fresh ginger root. The brewery sourced fresh ginger from Boulder, Colorado local, Pressery. Fresh ginger was pressed and added to the base beer within 24 hours.

Verdant fresh ginger is artfully rooted in radiant tartness, peaking in the unmistakable burst and bite of this bright barrel-aged sour ale.

Avery Ginger Sour will be a 22 ounce bottle and draft offering. With this release, there are six Botanicals & Barrels Series offerings available year-round.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (w/ Ginger. Oak Aged.)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: 6/16/17

7.3% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Jester King Brewery, Seasonal Return

Jester King Montmorency vs Balaton, Batch 4 debuts June 16th

Jester King Montmorency vs Balaton (Batch 4) will be available on June 16th.

The name, Montmorency vs. Balaton describes the two types of cherries that make this release. The base beer is pale wort (basically what would be a pale ale) that is fermented in foudres and stainless steel tanks, then transferred to neutral oak barrels for as long a 14 months.

The barrel are then blended, then re-fermented with four pounds per gallon of the Michigan cherries.

Jester King Montmorency vs Balaton finishes at 6.1% alcohol by volume. Available in 500 milliliter bottles and draft starting Friday, June 16th at the brewery in Austin, Texas.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Cherries)
Availability: 500ml Bottles, Draft.
Latest Return: 6/16/17

6.1% ABV

Image: Jester King

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Birds Fly South Ale Project, Don't Miss This

Birds Fly South Skin & Bone, one of the brewery’s best

Birds Fly South Skin & Bone, a collaboration with Tarpon Springs, Florida’s Saint Somewhere Brewing Company.

This beer was originally one of the first offerings by Birds Fly South Ale Project, based in Greenville, South Carolina. between the first release and this month’s returns, the brewery has opened a beautiful, wood heavy tap room in the city’s West End Water Tower District.

Skin & Bone is one of the best releases in the brewery’s budding arsenal. This beer hits on all the notes you chase in wild ales – tart, funk and funk. Each sip finishes with mellow hints of the chardonnay barrels. Looking back over 2016, Skin & Bone was easily one of the best new beers we tried. Definitely don’t miss this second round.

Birds Fly South Skin & Bone is on shelves now in upstate South Carolina in 750 milliliter bottles.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Peaches. Wine Aged.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Latest Return: May, 2017

5.8% ABV

Image: Beer Street Journal

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Jester King Brewery, New Releases

It’s all about the bees. Jester King Queen’s Order

Jester King Queen’s Order debuts at the brewery in Austin, Texas on May 19th.

The base beer is a farmhouse ale brewed with Texas-grown Eureka and Ujukitsu lemons, along with Texas Guajillo honey.Brewed back in February of the year, Jester King Queen’s Order was fermented in stainless steel with a blend of native yeast and bacteria.

“Queen’s Order” is a nod to the 1,000s of little workers that make the sticky, delicious nectar both in Texas and beyond. Austin is home to the National Honey Beer Summit taking place later this month.

Look at them crank. These are the tiny, well-oiled gears of an industry. They are paragons of fealty; each of their lifespans represents the durability of a replaceable component in a machine built for another’s purpose. It is fascinating to watch them buzz along endlessly like characters in their own dystopian novel, unaware of their audience and unable to afford a single thought beyond the Queen’s Order.

Jester King Queen’s Order will be available in 750 milliliter bottles and draft when the brewery opens on May 19th.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Honey. Lemons.)
Hops: Perle
Malts: Pilsner, Spelt, Rolled Oats

Availability: 750ml Bottles
Debut: 5/19/17

4% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Carolina Bauernhaus Ales, Coming Soon

Watermelons. Carolina Bauernhaus Bradford debuts May 20th

Carolina Bauernhaus Bradford, a watermelon wild ale, debuts on May 20th.

Heirloom Bradford watermelons take the lead in Carolina Bauernhaus Bradford. The melons are touted as one of the sweetest and most flavorful melon. The American wild ale has been fermenting in oak barrels for 10 months in a blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon barrels, before being introduced to the melons.

Our ale was fermented with a blend of native yeast locally collected by SouthYeast Labs and a blend of wild yeasts and bacteria added to the barrel. A massive amount of farm fresh Bradford watermelons were added after aging for a bright, refreshing, and very South Carolina summer-like flavor braced by a tart sour finish.

Carolina Bauernhaus Bradford will be available in 750 milliliter bottles, when the brewery opens on May 20th.

Style: American Wild Ale (w/ Watermelons. Wine Barrel Aged.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Debut: 5/20/17

6.2% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Three Taverns Brewery, Seasonal Return

Three Taverns Pomethus, aka Sour Asylum #5 returns in cans

Three Taverns Pomethus, aka Sour Asylum #5 will be available in cans at the brewery starting today.

The Decatur, Georgia based brewery’s Sour Asylum Series features various Lactobacillus fermented beers, sometimes with spice and fruit additions. Three Taverns Sour Asylum #5’s fruit of choice is pomegranate.

Pomethus is a facto-fermented sour brewed with pilsner and wheat malts and matured on pomegranate. Known to ancient traders as the “fruit of paradise,” the sacred pomegranate’s tartness and touch of sweetness are a delectable delight.

Three Taverns Pomethus was originally released last April in 750 milliliter bottles. 12 ounce cans are available as a to-go option on the tour starting today.

Style: American Wild/Sour Ale (w/ Pomegranate)
Availability: 12oz Cans. Draft.
Release: 4/29/16

4.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay