Timothy's Renaissance Beer
≈40% Munich malt, 30% wheat, 30% oats
≈7.3% ABV, 30 IBU
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Tasted last night at the guild meeting, thanks Timothy! It cracked open with a nice Champagne pop and poured a hazy golden colour with moderate white foam, short-lived head but it left-behind lots of fine Belgian lace. Strong aromas of husky grains, rising bread dough, noble hops (some signs of age/oxidation, but I bet that's true-to-style, similar to Belgian brewing practice to this day), slightly spicy yeast, harmonious hints of black pepper and clove. Great grainy flavours too, with a perfect balance of fruity, earthy hops, crisp not mushy, tart and refreshing. Light body but not thin or watery, spritzy carbonation but not as extreme as I expected, lingering bittersweet aftertaste which finally finished with a last noble hoppy snap. Complex but approachable, and deliciously "digestive." Smooth, no trace of the elevated alcohol percentage. I don't know if this is exactly what beer tasted like during the renaissance, but it's equivalent to a classic saison, which is one of my favourite styles especially this time of year. I can easily imagine this as a wilder, more expressive ancester of Pilsener. Very nicely done, mate! Best beer of the night, so much more interesting than all those Chico beers. If all your brews end up this good, look out world!
