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Phantom cake, ghost cake, cake of Schroedinger, there is no cake, but you can't stop thinking about the cake: vanilla, nuts, creamy roundness, chocolate. Full-bodied, fragrant, intence, sweet, but no way cloying. Ten kinds of malt, vanilla beans, roasted peanuts, lactose, Magnum for bitterness, but you won't find it there. Forget dieting, sweets for everyone! Buy the way, will you recognize the cake we thought about while brewing this?
When you carefully and thoughtfully chose the base beer, select beans, roast them specifically, brew coffee, decide which of four varieties to use, and thrice play with proportions of other ingredients it is time for a new crossover to be born. It's a beer version of the coffee beverage Flat Red, created by Vadim Granovskiy, owner of the local roastery Coffee in Acrtion. Rouge Brut IPA, oranges, pomegranates, cold brew embraced together in this collab. Coffee meets Beer. And it's wonderful.
Stopover is a long-stay between two flights from one destination to another. So for Brazilian brewer Wagner Falci from Daoravida brewery travel from Milano to Rome included 26-hours stopover in Kyiv. And that's how the first ever Brazilian-Ukrainian collab was born. True Brazilian style Catharina Sour was brewed using Brazilian experience and knowledge and Ukranian fresh ripe grapes of local variety. So it was Brazil and Ukraine via Italy (though UK was involved as well) in the name of the beer, which connects people. Again.
So each year this time comes, when all around is conquered by La Calabaza. The same calabaza which originated from Mexico, got the nickname of Jack-o'-lantern in Ireland, though this nickname is remembered only once a year. But no matter what are the origins of names or holidays for a brewer pumpkin is first and foremost a great seasonal ingredient. You can add it in every possible style of beer without any constraints and limitations and who doesn't love to play as hard as he can? So this year meet the cousin of our Splash "hopped" with baked pumpkin, cinnamon and acacia honey.
Rouge is a younger brother of our Brut IPA and cousin of Redember, and it got the best of both: it's dry, effervescent, got an amazing color and fruity undertones. It's a celebration in a glass, like rose champagne, bubbles, fireworks, happy voices and flutes clutter. Calista and Pacific Gem hops give this beer very sparkling-wine berry aroma. Do you have a friend who likes sparkling wines but have no idea that beer can be similar? Bring him or her a glass of Rouge.
Norwegian yeast, Carpathian juniper and hops, grown in Kyiv, this is our north Ølen, Norwegian Farmhouse ale, mysterious beast of far-away Nordic brewers. They brew their øl – beer – using juniper infusion, with almost no hops, and bear saliva (oh no, it’s from Kalevala) kveik, very special indigenous yeast. From the first day we’ve learned of it’s existence, we’ve been eager to have a go on it, and at last we’ve gathered all ingredients needed. So now we’ll find out what kind of beverages ancient Norseman drank. Or not so ancient, because this beer is still brewed and enjoyed.
This is older brother of O'Gurke, our first attempt of "Grandma's pickles jar". In the beginning it was just Captain Salt + Tomato, but since one-time experiment it has grow up into seasonal must have and festival hangover relief. The name has found it itself, being a nick-name given by lovers, and now it's destined to stay forever.
When breweries meet and decide to brew something together, sometimes it takes a lot of efforts to choose an idea. But not this time. Expertise and experience of Saugatuck multiplied by love for the Varvar Milk Stout, and so we have a square milk stout. Or rather Imperial Milk Stout. Almost a month of e-mailing, more than a day and night of brewing, artwork, naming, a bit of magic and love for beer, and that's it. "Awaken your inner sweet-tooth and open up new flavor horizons!". No. Just enjoy this beer brought to you by three teams: Saugatuck Brewing Company, Beermasterday by Silpo and Varvar Brewery. And yes, beer is connecting people.
Et tu, Brute? Yes, we too. We couldn't contain our curiosity and attempted this newest sub-genre of IPA. It's completely different from his hazy cousins, not sweet at all, but bone-dry, crisp, light-bodied, and aromatic nonetheless thanks to duo of Citra and El dorado. So, Brute, to be or not to be?
When first summer apricots are in full swing, heavy branches pregnant with fruit, ripe orange cheeks basking in golden morning light, seeping through the mist... Oh, stop, it's another story completely and there is no fruit in it. But it's completely impossible not to think of apricots when holding a glass of our Mist. The color, the aroma... But it's more about morning haze than about fruits, because they are missing from this Milkshake IPA, there is only lactose and bit of vanilla. Just don't think of apricots.
What would happen if you mix idea and efforts of one brewer with experience and meticulousness of another? You'll get a double effect. And this is just that case. The winning recipe of Lizard the Brewer was brewed at our brewery. Deep, burnt, intense, extravagant experiment is out of the tank and named Doppio Effect. You can't find a better name for it. It will be a waker. You have our word.
So, the idea of Grandma's pickles has been nagging us forever, and we've stopped resisting at last. The cucumber version of our Captain Salt is a treat for weird beer taste lovers, an eye-opener and horizon-expander, it's a revelation for everyone who dare to taste it. We add fresh cucumber, fresh as the whole idea.
Almost 9 month ago we've brewed two future saisons, added wild yeast, and left them to ferment. We added grape into one, and honey into another. But don't expect any excessive sweetness, stubborn yeast consumed almost all the sugars. That's why W1 is dry and crisp and refreshing, as summer saison should be. Just as we wanted it to be. And let's applaud our designers for the W1 cut from the real honey-comb.
So, who we've got here, so wild, so undomesticated and untamed? Bone dry, 100% fermented. Our first release of wild program we've dedicated our small brewhouse to. Bretts, isolated wild yeast, the most exciting and unexpected will be happening here. Whn we've promised a lot of surprises for this year we weren't joking. All range will have a name W, shortened from "Wild", and we are not going to hold our horses. It won't be fast though, you know, all this bugs need time to grow and do their magic. So the first one is a rgape saison, and his honeyed brother will be coming after soon.
Since the first barrel we've got, the idea of making something dark, strong and sour has been floating around. To make something truly unconventional and bit crazy. So we've made strong porter, introduced it to Bretts, poured it in the barrel. And it hasn't disappointed. It's a beer for brave explorers, but aren't we all like that? It's not a high fashion yet, but pretty close to it.
Remember our Leprechaun? So this one has got a pot of peanuts instead of gold (you asked us for peanut beer for so long we couldn't wait anymore), and we've got completely new mythological creature. Does this one eats peanuts all the time instead of smoking pipe? Is it mischievous or does it help to peel peanuts? Who knows. All these creatures have their own life, even if it's a fruit of your own imagination.
Once upon a time all beer and malt were smoky, because malt was dried on the smoke of the open fire. But since the invention of smokeless drying and roasting brewers picked up new fashion and forgot about smoked malts (not in Bamberg, but it's another story though). We've came back to the origins and brewed a Wee Heavy, using Scottish peated malt, therefore combining traditional and non-traditional into one. It's a brew for grown-ups. Fans of Islay whiskey will like it for sure.
So, where to start? Firstly, March 8th was all-female brew-day (under guidance of our head brewer though) at our brewery, and we are immensely proud and happy to be a stage of this event, showing that ladies love and are interested in beer as well. And indeed why shouldn't they? Beer is great drink, so why miss it? We chose a saison style for this day, fresh and crisp beer usually with distinct peppery aroma provided by special yeast and sometimes pepper as well. In attempt to underline this spiciness we added pink pepper to the brew, though pink pepper is not basically a pepper, but cousin of cardamom, so beer won't be hot. Female and male appreciators of unusual flavor will love it for sure. Because beer is for all.
Nothing makes a brewer happy as a possibility to brew new style, they say. Well, it's true, so here it is, new beast of ours, grisette. As the legend goes it's a beer of covered with grey dust Belgian miners and grisettes in grey dresses, serving this drinkable, thirst-quenching ale. So it's a high time to brew this wheat, hoppy (by Belgian standards, of course) and extremely light beer for warm season. We've done just that and called the beast Grizzly. But it's not angry and sleep-deprived, but gentle and kind.
So, we can't stop co-creating, and it's understandable. Who will miss such a rewarding and great activity? And this is another beer brewed together with beer community, after getting the pool of ideas and voting on them. You've asked for porter with prunes, we've brewed porter with prunes and the author of this idea. No, we have't added the author to the brew, he just helped us during the brew-day, but we added plenty of prunes. We've "plummed" our porter before whirpool, during fermentation and conditioning as well.
Monastery brewing has wide and deep roots in the history of beer, as well as in geography. Monks brewed for everyday consumptions and for fest occasions. The most famous is beer brewed for Easter celebration, Germans, Belgians, Dutch had Lenten beer, and Scandinavians had Påskebryg - "Easter brew". It could be pale or dark, spiced or herbed, but one common trait prevailed: it was high in ABV, full-bodied and filling. Our version is more Belgian, but who said we can't combine all traditions in one?
We are so tired of winter. So it's time to call fro spring and that's why we've brewed our new single-hop APA Jarrylo. This US variety of hops renders beer both bitterness and aroma, and when fresh gives nice banana and spice aroma reminiscent of German hefeweizens. But in the beer this namesake of Slavic god of spring and fertility hop aroma delves into berries and ripe fruits. And it is ready just in time for the you-know-what-holiday. These yeast know something.
They say that Leprechauns are mischievous wrong-doers, calm old good shoemakers, stealthy wine cellar invaders and drinkers, three-wishes granters, pot of gold owners, expert musicians and the list goes on and on. But one thing is sure: Leprechaun is one of the best known symbol of Ireland being second only to shamrock.
Well, our Leprechaun can grant you at least one wish which is to tame your thirst for a nice red Irish ale.
Our way is constant search, never-ending experimentation, questions and inquiries. And our brewer is a fountain of ideas, a burst of curiosity, a torrent of inquisitiveness. That's why he hasn't added any hops for boil, but threw a bunch of it at whirpool and dry-hopping. That's why bitterness is 0 IBU, and all the tropical power of Mosaic, Simcoe, Amarillo and Ekuanot is reserved for flavor. You won't believe your receptors. So we named this one "Splash". Splash of flavor and emotions.
We are so tired of winter. So it's time to call fro spring and that's why we've brewed our new single-hop APA Jarrylo. This US variety of hops renders beer both bitterness and aroma, and when fresh gives nice banana and spice aroma reminiscent of German hefeweizens. But in the beer this namesake of Slavic god of spring and fertility hop aroma delves into berries and ripe fruits. And it is ready just in time for the you-know-what-holiday. These yeast know something.
Prost! Cheers! Budmo! It doesn't matter what do you say over a glass of beer, because good beer unites people and reject language barriers. We brewed this full-bodied, intense Weizenbock with a head brewer of German Kraft Beer for almost 26 hours! Why Weizenbock, will you ask. Because Toby is extremely experienced and trained in classical German beers, and we appreciate good ol' classics no less than experimental brews. So why miss the opportunity to get a guidance from a professional? And it's always a huge load of fun!
We tenderly named our little new-yearish secret (not a secret anymore) Snowflakes. Three different yeast strains duly fermented the wort and made this ale very special and unlike any other, just as ever snowflake has it's own pattern. Wild grape yeast started the party, brewers yeast have joined the fun later and champagne yeast have added bubbles and sparkles. Unexpected and unpredictable holiday experiment. We do know what will pour in our celebratory glasses, do you?
Winter ESB is an amber-colored ale themed around winter and (you can't avoid it, no) tangerines.
It's a collaboration brew of MOVA brewering co. and Varvar Brewery. Intense, but extremely drinkable beer with mild flavor. Amber body, fine white head, waffs of citrusy and fruity aromas. Caramel notes interlaced with elegant hoppy bitterness will remind you of - you've got us - tangerines.
What happens when Varvars from Kyiv and Carpathian Bird get together? Listening to the sound of trembita they brew some crazy beer mashing in rye bread, baked and brought form the mountains by superfast cart. So, we called it "Varyat" (nuts or crazy), this beer is brewed with rye malt, rye bread, handful of hops and at whirpool we added smiles of the two rambunctious teams who made this collab possible.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Who said winter beer has to be strong, dark and spiced? Let's make all the season festive but instead of boring champagne drink pale sparkling ale. Light-bodied and refreshing, it sparkles like Bengal lights and bites your tongue with bubbles like winter frost bites your cheeks. Fermented with champagne yeast and lacto. Begone, the old, welcome, new traditions.
Every year thousands of pines... Oh, it's another story. This very pine loaded with sprucy craziness of Chinook with assault your taste-buds and will stomp on them with all it's might. More pines! More cones! You'll never get bored this year with this pine, we promise you as well as Fusion Crew who joined us in collaboration on this strong American ale.
We continue our experiments with APAs, and this time our endeavors are even more special. We used one of the newest hop varieties, only several commercial-scale fields exist at the moment. And being of German origin Callista is an unusual top choice for an APA. Callista has apricot, blackberry and raspberry notes when in its raw hop form and imparts passion fruit, peach, grapefruit and gooseberry aromas. The name which means "the most beautiful" in Greek hides the legend of Ursa Major constellation origin. Well, it's a pure enigma, but together we will solve it.
It all began last year in Nuremberg where our team visited big beer expo and fell in love with local rotbier. But this love had to ripe, special barley and certain yeast had to arrive, all the stars come in place and grant us time and inspirations. And here is the result. Like leaves of November, like shimmering ember, like liquid amber it is our red-copper Redember.
On the blackest of the darkest and coldest autumn nights it’s high time to drink the blackest pumpkin porter! The malt dark as volcano dust, the pumpking orange as lava, burst of spices made our new beer we named Pumpeii. Our brewer’s passionate and burning heart melted raw pumpkin, baked pumpkin, cinnamon, cardamom and allspice into one brew, which will remind someone of pumpkin pie and coffee, of vast varieties of beer flavours, of fleeting season. But in the end the taste is all that matters. And it’s not scary at all.
You can't avoid this classic style in Autumn. This time we used proper yeast strain and lagered this beer for half a year before release. So, bring the sausages, mustard, merriment and let the fun begin! And let it never end!
Doppelsticke means... Well, it's a bit complicated. Being a traditional German, but rebellious German style (can you imagine something like that?) this style couldn't possibly go by unnoticed craft brewers. Surely, anything strange and unusual always draws attention. So imagine a beer top-fermented lager-stored beer. That's it, thats altbier. So, story goest that "sticke" means "secret" in local German dialect, meaning the beer was stored for brewers personal consumption. "Doppel" means "double", so it's twice as guarded secret. But we are ready to share it with you. For total and profound goodness we've infused it with oak chips.
It's a big collab with all our fans for the Independence day. It was your suggestion to create rye beer with cherries, the art was also made by you, and we felt huge support during all the production. So cheers to you, cheers to our country and let's do something like this again!
As they say, new is well forgotten old, so we've brewed our ESB again. Extra Special Bitter, brother of Ordinary Bitter and Best Bitter. But don't let all this comparatives deceit you, they have almost nothing in common with bitterness. All these grades mean alcohol content. Just to let you know, Ordinary bitter usually has only 2,3-3% ABV. Contained, but elegant, conservative (Fuggle hops and all), but intense and flavorful as any contemporary craft.
Our APA family of Amarillo, Simcoe and Citra is dancing and greeting the newest member. Meet Wai-Iti, the youngest, the softest and frutiest brother from New Zealand. Gentle hoppiness is veiled by notes of peaches and apricots, lemony tang and bits of spice. We really wanted to try something special.
You know, when we decided to brew a NEDIPA, we've chosen the name on the spot. Because NEIPA should be soft and juicy and not bitter, but double IPA can't be sweet, no? But it's so fun to experiment and play with rules a bit, so the beer demanded to be named after something unreal and ephemeral. So this unicorn (no, this stubborn horse, this donkey!) surely took it's time to ferment instead of to be ready in no time with some magic involved. The yeasts refused to do the work, and our head brewer had to achieve 80lvl of commanding the beasts. But he did it. Without the magic wand.
“No time to explain” is not our way. So listen. They say that Celtic goddess Blodeuwedd name means ‘flower face’, because magicians created her from oak, meadowsweet, and broom flowers. Well, the first two plants are tightly connected to brewing. Oak barrels connection is obvious, and meadowsweet was one of bittering plants in those long gone - luckily! - ages of no hops usage. German hybrid style kolsch combines crispness and clarity of flavor of true lager and flowery&fruity aromas of ales. So, everything is in place: flowers, beer and Blodeuwedd (it would be too boring to name it after Freya, isn’t it?) Meet our new summerish twist.
Why do you need one more witbier will you ask. Because in Summer it is never enough of good wheat beer! And besides we are all for diversity and we had to play with brand new Belgian yeast. Summer, sand, sea, sunlounger, beach umbrella and a glass of cold beer - this is the sWit Summer. Well, seashore and the rest of the beach attributes can be imaginable, but refreshing, crisp, spicy wit is real as can be.
This beer can be a cherry in top of you summer (yes, pun is intended). It's a fresh, summery, sour-sweet fruity remedy from heat and thirst. It's our cherry twin of Sour Face.
This is the first but not the last beer we’ve made with our fans. You’ve chosen this one among all ideas you’ve generated yourselves. So it’s quite obvious the name honors the author of the proposal which won the day. Light and highly drinkable brown ale with hints of almonds. We’ve infused this beer with almonds for almost a week.
Old Salt sits on the crooked bench at tavern, smokes his old pipe, sniffs his glass and makes big gulp. And immediately he is engulfed by splashes of the waves, sea-gulls cries, sailors voices, whisper of sand of the unknown islands, he sees strained sails and feels hot kisses of beauties of faraway ports among salty touches of the ocean. Gradually illusion fades away. One more glass of “Captain Salt”, please. Think of it as of your very personal sea in the glass. WBA 2018 - Country Winner
When you do a double version of some style it's supposed to be Imperial. And this one is Imperial indeed (pun intended). Meet Napoleon, our Double Berliner Weisse, doubled in strength, but as fresh, tart and enjoyable as his predecessor. Think of a gulp of crisp and bubbly drink on a warm day. Get a glass, don a tricorne and feel a ruler of the world. Or forget tricorne.