Sip Northwest, Fall 2018
Liquid Assets A R O U N D T H E W O R L D Beer for Keeping Hang On to Bière de Garde 12 S I P N O R T H W E S T C O M ingredients and airborne yeast strains that are unique to the region The beers color varies om golden to brown and the fl avor focuses on a complex malt body Slightly sweet and spicy when well executed it is dry on the fi nish Compared with saison its more familiar Belgian cousin bière de garde off ers less tartness and spiciness that is it is a bit less funky with more focus on the malt and less on the hops herbs and or uity character Alcohol strength varies om 6 to 85 percent ABV American brewers take license with the style using the tradition as a starting point Stateside versions often use Brettanomyces a widely cultivated wild yeast strain to emulate the fl avor of the original indigenous yeast One thing modern versions of bière de garde have in common with their old world counterparts is time A er all this is quite literally a beer for keeping so barrel aging is common on both sides of the Atlantic In the Nord Pas de Calais region of France before BY KENDALL JONES the advent of the modern technology that brewers today take for granted farmers brewed bière de garde beer for keeping in French during the winter and spring months when lower ambient air temperatures minimized fermentation problems The beer was then stored for consumption throughout the summer and into the fall Although it is a rather obscure rare beer style bière de garde is produced year round by commercial breweries with modern technical conveniences like temperature control systems to ensure proper fermentation There are still some small producers in France that rely on traditional rustic farmhouse methods using locally grown SUDSY KEEPSAKES Kopstootje UPRIGHT BREWING A great example of how American brewers twist the tradition this one is aged in vermouth barrels and features herbal flavors commonly associated with gin The grainy character is matched with berry sweetness that dries on the fi nish Bière de Garde FREMONT BREWING The slightly tart aroma carries through to the flavor with a bit of fruity twang that transforms into a thick blanket of grain flavors evaporating quickly on your tongue Keeras Yard ATWOOD ALES Brewed on a real working farm near the Canadian border in Blaine Washington stone fruit aromas waft from this amber brew giving way to flavors of caramel and toasted rye bread with just a hint of fruity esters coming through at th e end
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