Upright Brewing (Portland, OR) will be releasing Fantasia this Friday January 20th. It’s built off a lambic backbone, with no spontaneous fermentation. It has, however, spent its entire life in oak. The beer never touched stainless steel.
There were eight oak barrels used from four different wineries. Fantasia was kept company in those oak barrels by 800 pounds of fresh peaches from Baird family orchards normally found at Portland, OR area farmer’s markets. The whole fresh peaches were added to the extra long boil. At completion of the boil the beer and fruit along with plenty of barley malt, aged hops, saison yeasts, lactobacillus and brettanomyces were poured into the oak barrels ready for fermentation.
Once fermentation slowed, each barrel was topped with Upright’s house farmhouse wheat beer Four and Tokay d’ Portland, a small batch barrel-aged strong ale. Seven of the eight barrels were then blended and bottled in 750ml champagne style bottles and wax dipped. After a bit of bottle conditioning, Fantasia is ready to be enjoyed.
Fantasia is expected to age for up to two years and next year’s batch has already been brewed. Bottles will go on sale at the brewery on Friday 1/20 at 4:30pm with a 1 case per person limit. $20/bottle and $225/case. The peachy brew will also be available on draft at the brewery that day.
