Thursday, May 14, 2009

Two new brews

I was at Whole Foods today to pick up some food while I’m incapacitated. I haven’t had a drink since I fell but I can’t go to a store with a decent beer selection and not check it out. Thankfully I did as I discovered two new brews. First I picked up two 12 oz bottles of Avery Brewing’s Barbant. This is a new beer for them so far only bottled once in February. I didn’t notice the price until after I got home: $8.99 per 12 oz bottle! A little description from their website

Beer Style: Barrel-Aged Wild Ale
Alcohol By Volume: 8.7% 

No. 1 Brabant is a luscious dark ale fermented with two strains of wild yeast (brettanomyces) then aged for 8 months in Zinfandel barrels. We hope you enjoy sifting through the vast layers of complexity in this mysterious ale. 

Serve at 45 to 55 degrees F

A dark ale aged in Zinfandel barrels. That should be yummy.

I also spied a new 750ml bottle from Allagash. Interestingly enough it’s also made with a brettanomyces yeast strain.  From their website

Allagash Confluence Ale is created with a mixed fermentation; utilizing our house primary Belgian style yeast in combination with our proprietary Brettanomyces strain. The two yeast strains work in tandem creating a marriage between spice and fruit flavors that ultimately leave a lingering silky mouth feel. 

Confluence is brewed with a blend of both imported pilsner and domestic pale malts as well as a portion of caramel malt, resulting in a complex malty profile. Tettnang and East Kent Golding hops are added in the brew process to balance the intricate malty profile while adding a sweet and spicy citrus aroma. 

After fermentation, Confluence undergoes a lengthy aging process in stainless steel tanks to enhance the flavors. Prior to bottling, it is dry hopped with a Glacier hops, providing a pleasant balance of aromas. Confluence is then bottle conditioned and aged in our cellar prior to release. 

ABV: 7.5%
Original Gravity: 1064
Recommended Cellaring Temp: 50°F
Recommended Serving Temp: 40-50°F

Looking forward to both these beauties soon.

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