Category: breweries

Vine Park F.B.X Series

By on April 16, 2011in breweries

This sounds cool… Vine Park has teamed up with Furthermore to do some collaborative Belgian Wittes. They’ll be releasing them one by one in growlers. All beers come from one brew session but have been fermented with different yeasts. Try them all? Okay, if you insist…

…and though we promised we’d shut our mouths beyond saying that the F and B do not stand for “Furthermore” or “beer,” Furthermore’s Facebook posting lets the cat out of the bag… Fatty Boomblatty is indeed the base beer for these wittes.

I Am Brau, Hear Me Roar

By on April 15, 2011in breweries

Brau Bros. are roaring into spring like a lion with their new seasonal offering.  It’ll be available in six packs and in draught soon.

It’s official, our spring seasonal is in the bottle and conditioning as we speak.  It’s a Belgian Saison, brewed in the most traditional way.  Here’s a brief descriptor:

Forgotten Flem Farmhouse Ale

Forgotten Flem is a fitting tribute to the many Belgian Farmers who settled the prairies of  Southwest Minnesota.  Brewed in a farmhouse brewery within feet of hop bines and barley fields,  Forgotten Flem Ale is a product of genuine ingredients and classic brewing technique.    Multiple yeast strains drive complexity and months of aging develop nuanced yet distinct flavors.  Even today it’s not unusual to hear the thick accents of French and Belgian Farmers in and around Lucan.  We’re very pleased to offer them a taste of home!

Description:
Traditionally, farmhouse ales were brewed with whatever ingredients the farm produced and could spare.  As an estate brewery, we’ve taken the same approach.  In addition to quality two-row barley, generous amounts of wheat and rye are added to give this ale a truly classic malt bill.  However the star of the show is the yeast.  A  unique saison strain is employed which ferments a spicy and fruity, yet dry beer  A second strain is used for bottle conditioning, which builds layers of complexity through rich yeast nuances

Service:
This complex ale was brewed to be served slightly chilled, in a thistle glass.   Bottle conditioning will leave a small amount of sediment which can be swirled to mix or decanted.  Slightly hazy and pale golden in color, Forgotten Flem will pour a generous, bright white head and release an aroma of mixed fruit and toasted grains.

Profile:
ABV = 5.3%
Color = 8 SRM
Bitterness = 51 IBU
Hops = Willamette
Yeast = Belgian Saison, Champagne

This beer introduced us to some new (old) brewing techniques.  First, we fermented it very hot, well over ninety degrees.  There’s a lot of rye in this beer, and it was as noticeable in the lauter tun as it is in the glass.  True to traditional old-world saison, Flem is moderately sized, aggressively hopped, and made with plenty of wheat and rye.  The complexities of rye, wheat, multiple yeast strains, and bottle conditioning make for a unique beer.

Olvalde Tasting at Heritage

By on April 14, 2011in beer events, beer stores, breweries

Curious to try one of Minnesota’s latest offerings? The folks at Heritage will have Joe Pond from Olvalde Farmhouse Ales at the store today for a tasting of his first beer, The Auroch’s Horn.

Rollingstone, Minnesota? I’ve never heard of it either, but that’s the home of Olvalde Farm, outside of Winona way down the Mississippi. In a town where his only off-sale retail option is the Mini Mart, Joe Pond is making original Belgian-style beers using authentic techniques from that country’s long brewing history. It’s not like he is a rookie at this either, honing his skills at hometown brewery Summit and Goose Island in Chicago. His first 750ml release is closest in style to a Braggot, and their website gives an interesting description:

The Auroch’s Horn is a modern reinterpretation of ancient ale brewed throughout Europe more than two thousand years ago. Ale was a staple of the barbarian diet, with Roman historians documenting a beverage made with barley, wheat, and honey in Britannia, Gaul, and Germania. The ale was consumed from the horn of the auroch (or aurochs), a now extinct wild bull.

Despite an awesome honey flavor, this beer is not overly sweet, with a slight hop bitterness to keep it balanced. It’s one of the more interesting brews we’ve had lately, and you can throw your support behind a Minnesota brewery.

We’ll have Joe in store for this week’s Thursday tasting on the 14th from 5-7PM so you can get the story right from him. We’ve also made The Auroch’s Horn our bomber of the week and it will be 20% off this week only.

Beer & Beast at Acadia

By on April 11, 2011in bars/restaurants, beer events, breweries

As Spring returns, so too does Acadia’s Beer & Beast.

The BEER: Lift Bridge Farm Girl infused with ancho peppers, otherwise known as the Hot & Spicy Farm Girl.
The BEAST: Texas barbecued brisket, slow-cooked over low coals for almost a whole day.
$12 for dinner and a pint; $15 for dinner and 2 pints.
Y’all Come!