Stoned Vol 1 (Barrel-aged Fruit Sour with Apricot and White Peach) & Stoned Vol 2 (Barrel-aged Fruit Sour with Apricot and Plum)
MIXED CASED INCLUDES:
For this rather complex brewing process, it all started with a very traditional pale ale style, brewed with selected yeast in a clean stainless steel fermentation vessel.
It is however post the fermentation where things got really interesting. We added 10% Apricot pulp to the base beer and transferred this to a large 2500L French oak barrel, also known as a Foudre. The Apricot pulp would then further ferment, increasing the alcohol, while at the same time lending a fantastic natural acidity to the beer. To add a dimension of complexity, we inoculated Brettanomyces into the mix. Brettanomyces is a natural wild yeast that is incredibly hardy and known to produce complex earthy aromas and flavours adding great depth to any beer.
Fast forward 18 months and the beer had really matured into an elegant masterpiece, however, the process was not complete. We then transferred portions of this beer to smaller 225L French oak barrels with the addition of whole white peaches into some and plums into other barrels. Hence the names of Stoned Vol 1 & Vol 2. The beers in the barrel were then allowed to further age and integrate for another 8 months. Thereafter, the beer was filtered, a small amount of priming sugar and Champagne yeast was added and the beer was allowed to naturally carbonate within the bottle; very similar to the process used to carbonate traditional Cap Classique or Champagne.
Although the beers started as one, there is a distinct difference between the two stone fruit variants used to finish them off. Both possess an amazing acidity and according to JC Steyn, Brewer at Devil’s Peak, he tends to find the white peach as having a pronounced freshness and vibrancy while the plum has a darker fruit note with a lovely earthy undertone.
While the tradition is to drink beer as fresh as possible, these beers are truly made to last and will certainly benefit from some extended cellaring.
Ingredients: Barley Malt, Oats, Wheat malt, Stone fruit (Apricots, peach, plum), Lactose, Hops, Yeast
Inventory Last Updated: Apr 25, 2024