Sip Northwest, Spring 2019
Much of the beers dynamic character is owed to the use of coolships the massive sink like containers wherein spontaneous fermentations begin A pool party for innumerable fl avor enhancing microorganisms this inoculation process creates a thick wort that can feed wild yeast in barrels for years to come The extremely slow process imparts a distinctive stamp of terroir on each and every batch not to mention style and complexity Over the years we have worked with developing wort that produces a unique profi le when ran through the coolship and spontaneously fermented in oak barrels says Nick Arzner Block 15 co founder and brewer From our resident fl ora we are able to off er beer that is rooted in tradition with a profi le that is unique to our brewery Block 15 was the fi rst brewery in the Northwest to install a modern coolship system Their Turbulent Consequence series takes full advantage of this traditional setup mixing esh local uit into their peach and cherry Lambic inspired beers and carefully blending others to create gueuze inspired beer Lambic is to Belgium as Champagne is to France so Block 15 does not use the title and instead touts the Willamette Valley heritage of their series Inspiration Close At Hand Situated at the base of the Willamette Valley ALESONG BREWING BLENDING is crafting beers that are as inspired by the surrounding wine country as they are the bounty of area ingredients Like a winery Alesong is home to many oak barrels and the focus on blending is such that youd think the label was dabbling in Pinot Noir not farmhouse ales Like Block 15 Alesong is moved by the legacy of Belgian Lambic Beers are aged anywhere om three months to three years and o en take in area produce or herbs before a fi nal blend and bottling The wild beers are primarily aged in retired wine barrels while the beer fermented with more conventional yeast strains tend to age in old spirits barrels A er the aging blending and fermentation process Alesong favors bottle conditioning with more compelling sugar sources like honey or wine grape juice As a result Alesongs beers not only taste distinctive but take on another life a er going to bottle The process of bottle conditioning for those unfamiliar sparks an additional fermentation in the bottle by giving residual yeast a new food source The result such as Alesongs bright and grassy Farm Fresh or Visions conditioned with Muscat grape A pool party for innumerable flavor enhancing microorganisms the coolship inoculation process creates a thick wort that can feed wild yeast in barrels for years to come Alesong Brewing Blending 51 RIGHT PHOTO COURTESY ALESONG
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