The other pair within the quartet of early spring releases we received from Boatrocker – along with Saison and Double Happiness – are new iterations of popular releases from their barrel program. In the case of Sternweisse, it's a beer that could barely be more popular at Crafty Towers, where it's a much anticipated release each year. It's a "double barrel-aged Berliner Weisse" with those barrels previously hosting Starward Whisky and chardonnay.
Once again in 2020 it's a delicate yet complex delight. The whisky elements are more subdued that past releases (if memory serves correctly) and it may be a little more bracing in terms of acidity, while the oak, vinous elements, light malt sweetness and young Brett aroma combine to create something cleansing, sprightly and simply marvellous.
House Red is a Belgian-inspired sour red created using the solera method of blending liquids of different ages – in this case, 12, 24 and 48-month-old beers that each bring with them varying levels of lactic and acetic acid plus no little Brettanomyces (and no doubt much else besides). They deliver a potent, quenching hit to the palate, one that's wrapped in a deep, hearty, rich malt character. If I still ate animals, I could see this going down a treat with something intense and gamey; as it is, it goes down a treat as a sipper with depth aplenty.
James Smith
Published March 17, 2020 2020-03-17 00:00:00
