Quick recap of the Brooklyn Brewmaster’s Series. Cookie Jar Porter. Black Ops. Dark Matter. There are more, but those are a few that have hit Atlanta. Next up – Sorachi Ace.
Released each April by Jolly Pumpkin Brewing (Dexter, MI) is E.S. Bam. Bam is a farmhouse ale with a big hop bill, and like other Jolly Pumpkin offerings is unpasteurized and unfiltered.
This seasonal offering by The Bruery (Placienta, CA) makes its first appearance in Atlanta. Saison De Lente is a farmhouse/saison that is both refreshing and light. Brewed with the wild yeast Brettanomyces, extra hops are added this saison for balanced Continue Reading →
You may or may not have seen this seasonal offering from Great Divide over the weekend. Colette is a saison from Great Divide, back for its second year.
Colette is a brewed as an homage to Belgian farmhouse workers. It is Continue Reading →
Back in July I got to brew this beer with 5 Seasons West. While the draft version isn’t tapping yet, a cask of this beer is ready to go!
It’s a saison brewed with dark malts (accenting chocolate and black patent malt. Hops are willamette and hallertau. It really should be an interesting beer with a nice flavor departure from some saisons you might have had in the past.
I get to tap this cask today, 5:55 pm @5 Seasons West! Come say hi!
5 Seasons Westside – 8/12, 5:55 pm
1000 Marietta Street Northwest
Atlanta, GA 30318-0683
Quick recap of the Brooklyn Brewmaster’s Series. Cookie Jar Porter. Black Ops. Dark Matter. There are more, but those are a few that have hit Atlanta. Next up – Sorachi Ace.
Sorachi Ace is a farmhouse ale, brewed with a rare unique hop Sorachi ace. It was developed in Japan at Sapporo Brewery in 1988. Ace is a cross between British Brewers Gold and Saaz hop varieties. This hop is very lemony in smell and flavor. Unlike other offerings by Brooklyn, Sorachi Ace features only this hop. Ace is unfiltered, uses a proprietary Belgian yeast strain, and is dry hopped also with Sorachi. Sorachi Ace is refermented in the bottle.
Ingredients –
Hops – Oregon Grown Sorachi Ace
Malts – German Two Row Pilsner
Yeast – Brooklyn grown Belgian
Taste Expectations – Lemon zest, lemongrass. Expect floral tones, with some spice and fruit. A nice clean saison.
Availability – 750ml Bottles, corked and caged. Bottle conditioned. No draft offerings.
6.5% ABV
Be the first to try Sorachi Ace free! Today at Hop City’s free tasting at Octane Coffee! 5:30 – 7:30
Octane Coffee
1009-b Marietta Street NW
Atlanta, GA (404) 815-9886
Released each April by Jolly Pumpkin Brewing (Dexter, MI) is E.S. Bam. Bam is a farmhouse ale with a big hop bill, and like other Jolly Pumpkin offerings is unpasteurized and unfiltered.
E.S. Bam is a spin off of Jolly’s year round offering Bam Biere, which is a lighter farmhouse ale.
Jolly Pumpkin describes E.S. Bam –
“Extra Special Farmhouse Ale
A Bam celebration of excess. More malt, more hops, same vivacious personality.”
Taste Expectations – Caramel malts, with some sour notes. Saison style funk from the yeast, with pine and citrus hops across the palate.
Availability – Seasonally in April. 750 ml Bottles. Draft findings are rare. Estimated retail – $10
4.7% ABV
NOW TAPPING AT CYPRESS STREET! Thanks @gunslinger19!
This seasonal offering by The Bruery (Placienta, CA) makes its first appearance in Atlanta. Saison De Lente is a farmhouse/saison that is both refreshing and light. Brewed with the wild yeast Brettanomyces, extra hops are added this saison for balanced character. Those of you who have had Saison Rue, there are some similarities, but with slightly less alcohol and lighter in body.
In tasting, note citrus, fruits, funk from the Brett yeast, and some tart. Some lemon, and spiciness from flavors like clove or cardamom. Saison is light and easy drinking, perfect for the coming spring.
Saison De Lente is offered seasonally, in 750ml champagne bottles, and limited draft offerings. Estimated retail – 8.99 a bottle.
All beer offerings by The Bruery are unfiltered, unpasteurized, and bottle-conditioned.
You may or may not have seen this seasonal offering from Great Divide over the weekend. Colette is a saison from Great Divide, back for its second year.
Colette is a brewed as an homage to Belgian farmhouse workers. It is just that scenario that farmhouse ales evolved. Read my previous post about the history of this ale HERE. This saison is brewed with barley, wheat, and rice at high temperatures, with a 4 yeast strain combination.
Tasting notes — In Colette you will note some spicy wheat tones, with orange and coriander. There are lots of fruity tones in this farmhouse ale, no doubt from the yeast strains used in the brewing. Slightly sweet, with a little bit of banana flavors. Very light and drinkable, great for the coming warm months.
Hopefully you now have some familiarity with this seasonal release. Last year Colette debuted in 22oz bottles and limited draft releases under the name Saison. This year Collette is found in 12oz 6pks and expanded draft offerings. Not entirely sure why GD chose the name Colette. However, looking into the origin of the name Colette — it means “People of Victory.” As this is a tribute to Belgian farmers, could be appropriate? Great Divide brews this for 2 months a year, so give it a try while its around.
Terrapin’s Side Project #7 – Maggie’s Farmhouse Ale
Maggie’s Farmhouse Ale
Terrapin’s newest side project series is on Atlanta shelves now. Maggie’s Farmhouse Ale follows up 90 shelling for a late summer entry.
While an old style, the popularity of farmhouse ales has grown over the past few years. Farmhouse ales can be further broken down into 2 subcategories based on geographic region. France — Biere de Garde (keeping beer), and Belgium — Saison (season.)
Saison’s originate from low ABV pale ales produced in farmhouses in Belgium, specifically Wallonia (a French speaking area, thus the French overtones in many saison brews.) Originally produced in order to refresh (and hydrate?) farm workers, the style has grown from there. While originally low ABV, 3-4% it’s decisively harder to find one that low now.
Saison’s are typically bottle conditioned (adding a small amount of yeast, sugar, or wort) and often times corked. A strong characteristic of Belgian beers, the yeast strains involved in saisons add to its unique flavor.
With that bit of background, here’s a little info from Spike, owner/brewer of Terrapin Brewery –
Welcome to the next version of Terrapin’s Side Project series of beers. Volume #7 “Maggie’s Farmhouse Ale.” Brewing this style of beer was as exciting as it was challenging because of it’s high fermentation temp. (90 F) and its finicky yeast strain. You’ll get all the aroma and flavors you’d expect from a farmhouse ale out of Maggie’s. The nose is a combination of grassy and spicy yeasty notes with an underlying bready earthiness character. The flavor is slightly sweet up front with a tartness in the middle followed with a white pepper/tart finish. Maggie’s offers the beer lover an old world style that is very pleasing to drink by itself or paired with fine foods. Cheers! Spike
ABV: 6.0%
Malts: 2-Row Malt, Vienna, Rye, Wheat, Flaked Oats, Acidulated
Hops: Super Styrian, East Kent Golding, Hallertau Hersbrucker
Back in July I got to brew this beer with 5 Seasons West. While the draft version isn’t tapping yet, a cask of this beer is ready to go!
