Topic Archives: Farmhouse Ales
Firestone Walker Lil Opal Returns To Barrelworks Soon
Firestone Walker Lil Opal will be next up for re-release this year. The brewery releases Feral One again on Valentines Day 2015, with Lil Opal to follow shortly after. The barrel saison is aged in Viognier barrels.
Lil Opal was originally created nine years ago when master blender, then quality control manager, Jim “Sour Jim” Crooks peeled away from his regular brewery duties and began aging wild yeast (a.k.a. sour) beers in Viognier barrels acquired from local wineries. This illicit brett’d saison and Barrelworks progenitor returns in early 2015 with its second limited bottling. Maturation in barrels refines Lil’ Opal’s spicy and fruity yeast notes, and refreshes the palate with a soft, light acidity.
Firestone Walker will announce Lil Opal return date soon.
Style: Saison (Barrel Aged. Wine Barrels.)
Availability: 12.7oz Bottles, Corked & Caged.
2015 Return: TBA
5.9% ABV
Read more: Firestone Walker Barrelworks Series
Smuttynose Hayseed: a Beer & a Restaurant
Smuttynose Brewing (Hampton, NH) will release a new seasonal next month, alongside the opening of their farmhouse restaurant, Hayseed.
The brewery renovated a Victorian-era farmhouse into a 95 seat restaurant, with space for 35 more in in the beer garden. Hayseed features tables made from red oak trees that grew on-site, more than 20 taps, and a menu of locally sourced food.
“Opening this restaurant has been a long-time goal for Smuttynose,” said company founder Peter Egelston. “We are looking forward to expanding our hospitality, widening the choices of those who visit us to not only include brewery tours and samples, but also the opportunity to relax over a terrific meal and outstanding beer in a comfortable, informal setting.”
A new beer bearing the restaurant’s namesake Hayseed will debut in February as well. Smuttynose Hayseed is designed to be a lower alcohol by volume, flavorful table beer. Expect Hayseed’s arrival by the end of February.
Style: Farmhouse Ale (???)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Release: February 28th, 2015
?? ABV
Sneak Peek: Terrapin’s Next Reserve Series Release
Terrapin Beer Company (Athens, GA) French Toasted W-n-B just hit shelves, wrapping up the Special Reserve Series for 2014.
Terrapin’s Dustin Watts gives Beer Street Journal readers a sneak peek at the next in the series, coming early next year.
Jester King Figlet Debuts November 21st
Jester King Figlet, a collaboration with world famous Franklin Barbecue in Austin, Texas, debuts on November 21st, 2014.
The idea for this new offering started with an episode of “BBQ with Franklin” that focused on exploring the use of smoke in beer. Jester King took the idea a bit further by adding figs to the brew to impart the flavors of Franklin’s BBQ pits.
Texas figs were heat and cold smoked at Franklin Barbecue. Some were partially charred to impart a burnt flavor to the beer.
Jester King Figlet was brewed in July, 2014, then fermented for four months. Near the end of the stainless steel portion of fermentation, smoked figs were added to Figlet and allowed to re-ferment. As the sugars were broken down, the smoky aromas brought the finished flavor to a new level.
Figlet will available by the glass at the brewery, and in 750ml bottles.
Style: Farmhouse Ale (w/ Smoked Figs)
Availability: 750ml bottles, Draft.
Arrival: 11/21/14
6.2% ABV
Stillwater Remix Project: Rio de Sauvin
Stillwater Ales (Baltimore, MD) is remixing a familiar offering from Against the Grain – Rico Sauvin. ATG’s version is an IPA with Nelson Sauvin hops.
Stillwater is keeping with the tropical [Brazilian] theme by creating a tropical farmhouse ale, brewed with mango and passionfruit juice.
The boys at Against the Grain made a beer based on a fictional “sexy man” and uhh, his sheep friend.. So sticking with the theme and the fact that we have been spending some time in Brazil lately, we decided to amp up the sexy and host a tropical orgy of fruit flavors, hops, malt and yeast.. Umm Yeah.”
Stillwater Rio De Sauvin is estimated to ship in December, 2014.
Style: Farmhouse Ale (w/ Mango Juice, Passionfruit Juice)
Availability: 750ml Bottles
Arrival: December, 2014 (Estimated)
7.7% ABV
Great Divide Collette To Be Canned
Great Divide Brewing (Denver, CO) will be adding cans to the lineup in 2015, as a part a $30+ million dollar expansion.
Among the initial cans include Titan IPA, Hibernation and their year round farmhouse ale, Colette.
COLETTE is our homage to the saisons that Belgian farm workers have enjoyed for centuries. Brewed with barley, wheat and rice and fermented at high temperatures with a special blend of four different yeast strains, COLETTE is fruity and slightly tart, with a dry finish that makes it that rarest of treats — a beer as refreshing as it is complex.
If the timeline holds, the brewery should launch cans by summer, 2015. Great Divide is already available in 12oz bottles, and draft.
Style: Farmhouse Ale
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. 12oz Cans (2015). Year-round
7.3% ABV
Read more: Canned Craft Beer
Transmitter Brewing F6 Brett Farmhouse Ale
