Evensong “Canon” Table Beer with Brett

Name: Common Land
Brewer: Evensong Brewing
Style: Brett Beer (Base Style: Saison (Table-Strength))
ABV: 3.4%
Review Year: 2023

Canon by Evensong Brewing is a fully-attenuated “farmhouse” beer that features a base of pilsner malt, spelt, flaked wheat, and wheat malt and was bittered with EKG and late additions of Saaz and Celeia hops. Canon was also fermented out to terminal gravity in stainless steel over six weeks with Saison yeast and a tandem of Brett strains. Lagered for another six weeks for extra smoothness.

STYLE GUIDELINES

This beer is being evaluated as a Brett Beer (28A) with the Saison (25B) (Table strength) 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

Aroma
Soft wheat and barley; faint lemon zest added vibrancy.
Appearance
Clear pale straw; thick mousse-like white head.
Flavor
Light on the palate, yet complex. Wheat, barley, with citrus accents; subtle mineral, herbal, and gum-like notes, the latter reminiscent of a Weissbier. Medium-low bitterness; very dry. Finished likewise dry with soft lingering herbal bitterness.
Mouthfeel
Light-bodied, high carbonation, effervescent.

THE VERDICT

While Canon appears to be a light and easy-drinking summertime beverage, it is a very complex beer. This beer embodies our favorite qualities of a low-strength Saison such as drinkability, effervescence, and dryness. This Evensong creation also borrows some Brett beer characteristics such as dryness, and light citrus fruitiness. Gum-flavor is something associated with the German wheat beer style, Weissbier, but its presence seemed to have enhanced the overall drinking experience of this beer. Very good.

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Beers from the UK