With the weather in December 2023 destroying much of the Adelaide Hills' fruit, the Wheaty team had to almost forage to find berries for their fruited beers. They release plenty of them, a situation heightened by experiments with their foeder. It forced Jade and her team to compromise a little, adding raspberries and blackberries to the mix, atop a sour saison base.
There's no evidence berries were used sparingly in Sour Berry Saison: they absolutely zing out of the glass. Big, punchy, fresh and fruity, they definitely punch above their weight aroma and flavour wise, matched by the beer's sour side which adds to the raspberry tartness and with a touch of wheat and oak which really ties this complex, fruity, slightly funky sour together.
The foeder has also been put to use in Redlove Cider, another collab with LOBO Cider. Redlove apple juice was fermented in the large oak vessel with Ferveo's French saison yeast and the result is a real wake up call! If one is feeling lethargic and lacking in sleep, this cider with fix that. It hits the front of the palate with gusto, awakening the mouth with fresh, juicy, tart apples, while the finish is super dry and crisp, refreshing the inner core and awakening the soul.
Matt King
Published January 17, 2024 2024-01-17 00:00:00
