Beer #106 - W/C 6 March 2017
BREWERY // The Ek brothers (Fredrik, Christian and André) started Brekeriet in the small village of Djurslöv outside of Malmö in Autumn 2012. Brekeriet is the only brewery in Sweden to exclusively ferment beer using wild yeast and/or bacteria. In the early days of the brewery, they got hit by an infection of wild Brettanomyces yeast while experimenting with barrel fermentation. This would have been a disaster for most other breweries but the bothers Ek embraced the sourness and built a portfolio of beers around their new microscopic friends. To keep things interesting, they regularly incorporate wild local fruits and berries into their beers too. Brekeriet have a very limited production and we think this may be the first time their beer has made it to the Southern Hemisphere. We're just glad those yeast didn't get held up in quarantine...
BEER // Illustrious, bright, sparkling, splendid. It could be suggested that naming one's beer 'Brilliant' is rather cocksure but, in this case, we reckon Brekeriet hit the nail on the head. Saison beers are also known as Farmhouse Ales after the tiny farmhouses in Belgium's French-speaking Wallonia region where the style was first brewed. The style was historically brewed at the end of Winter to last through the Summer season (or saison). This is an elegant and simple example of a classic saison fermented with multiple strains of saccharomyces and brettanomyces yeast. It is tart, dry, effervescent and a little funky. While hops and malt commonly take the centre stage, here it is really the yeast that shines with flavours reminiscent of white wine, pepper, fresh dough, clove and spices. Brilliant is carbonated naturally in the bottle, leaving a thin layer of yeast on the bottom. Some people prefer to pour in the yeast and others leave it in the bottle, it is really down to personal taste.
BREWERY // Brekeriet
BEER // Brilliant
STYLE // Saison
ORIGIN // Landskrona, Sweden
ABV // 5.5%
TEMPERATURE // Cellar - 10-12C
FOOD MATCH // Mussels. Herb Roasted Chicken. Salad w. Lemon Vinaigrette. Raclette
GLASS // Tulip