Name: 2021 Harvest Ale
Brewer: Brood Fermentation (New Zealand)
Style: Wild Specialty Beer (Base Style: Saison)
ABV: 5.6%
Review Year: 2022
The 2021 Harvest Ale is a bottle-conditioned Saison brewed by Brood Fermentation from Nelson, New Zealand. This saison was barrel-fermented with organic Chardonnay lees and fresh Riwaka hops and was then aged for another four months in the barrel. Silver medalist at the 2021 New Zealand Beer Awards.
STYLE GUIDELINES
This beer is being evaluated as a Wild Specialty Beer (28C) with Saison (25B) as the base style in the context of the 2021 Beer Style Guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). The most current version can be found on the BJCP website.
TASTING NOTES
Pours clear deep gold; thin white head. Moderately high guava, and orange peel, with light notes of lactic acid, white wine, oak, and floral/jasmine tea. Light-medium-bodied; moderately high carbonation. The flavor profile melded medium-low orange pith with low lactic acidity. Low bitterness; very dry. Finished dry; lingering cantaloupe and floral notes.
THE VERDICT
Brood Fermentation’s 2021 Harvest Ale is a refreshing farmhouse ale that painted a unique theme of rustic and vibrant aromas and flavors composed mainly of guava, orange peel, white wine, and, of course, oak. Dryness was spot-on, while the acidity felt appropriate. We particularly enjoyed the refreshing and easy-drinking quality of this beer and think it is the ideal beverage to drink when painting outdoors during an autumn afternoon. Excellent.
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