Saison De l’Epeautre

Well, dinner plans changed, but I still went with this beer. Just too excited to try it, and had a feeling it would be fine with some Orange and Ginger marinated Talapia. Served it with a bit of cous cous and a nice salad that gave me the opportunity to test drive the white wine vinegar that my friend Kim Adams from the Gang of Pour gifted to me at our annual Toledo wine and food gathering last weekend. Suffice it to say that I see a vinegar crock in my near future. Great intensity of flavor. I can’t think of a commercial vinegar that even comes close.

So, the beer. Caged and corked 750 ml bottle. Grain bill is 30% spelt. The cork had a rather cryptic “2.005″ on it, which I assume to be the year of production. Alcohol is listed at 6%, and it cost $8.50.

Poured a slightly hazy light gold with an outrageous bright white sticky head that threatened to overflow my glass with each pour. On the nose, it was wonderfully funky, with a ton of yeast character and some delicate, well-integrated spice notes (from the yeast and grain, not actual spices – I believe). Gorgeously harmonious in the mouth, with a firm spine of acidity supporting lovely dry crackery flavors. Really long and an excellent companion to the food. This would go with a wide range of dishes – one of those magic beers that complements rather than dominates.

The brewery itself is an interesting endeavor. A small family affair, with the sons taking over now for the mother and father. Read all about it here: Blaugies Website
Imported by the Shelton Brothers (link in the list to the right).