Wild Beer n: Any beer fermented or matured with yeast and/or bacteria other than those belonging to the genus Saccharomyces.
We have begun working on small batch wild ales! These ales are inspired by the great Belgian breweries such as Rodenbach, Cantillon, Carocole, and many more. Our wild ale program includes aging beer in a used Oregon wine barrels and introducing different amounts of Brettanomyces, Lacotbacillus, and Pediococus.
In time – 6 months to 2 years – these wild yeast and bacteria add extreme and complex flavors and feel to the beer. These flavors, depending on the beer and wild organism added include sourness, horse blanket, wood, fruit, and more. After months of cellaring, the aged beer is sometimes blended with young beer for the final product.
If you are unfamiliar with this style of beer, do yourself a favor and head to your local bottle shop and ask for some wild ale! Drink these beers with an open mind, as they are unlike any beer you have ever set your lips on! Then be ready for your beer world to be rocked! We anticipate our first wild ale to be available at our pub and in special 720ml bottles by Fall 2010.
UPDATE AUGUST 14TH:
We have three different wild ales aging in our cellar:
1) Wild “Ferme de La Ville 15”. We took barrels worth of our saison last spring and hit it with Brett & Lacto. This beer is really showing some great wild signs, good aroma and slight sour notes. The classic pecile has formed over the top of the beer! The plan is to blend this old batch in with a new batch next spring, recreating the classic Saison style.
2)“Mysticgold”, This is our Lambic Inspired brew. Gold in color with a good amount of Pilsner malts and unmalted wheat. We fermented this brew entirely in the barrels with a special Blend of Brett & Lacto from a Belgian Brewery. The aroma is really nice, big notes of pineapple, mild barnyard, and fruit. The lactic just beginning to kick in with a very mild sourness. The plan for Mysticgold is to serve some blended with young batched, unblended, and blended with the Valley’s finest fruits next summer.
3) “Illusions” Illusions is a one of a kind American Wild Ale. We brewed black ale inspired by a Schwartzbier recipe but fermented with a Trapist yeast strain. After primary fermentation, we racked Illusions into barrels and added a different blend of Brett & Lacto. This brew is picking up the soft sour notes early with a mild funk character. The mild roast provides a great backdrop.