#ISBFX #Brewday4 - Keeping Things Simple
“You know I'm always moanin'
But you jumpstart my serotonin
But how d'you know you've ever really loved?”
“The Shy Retirer” - Arab Strap
Another early morning start.
And a journey to tick something off my bucket list.
The brewery list at ISBF is carefully curated. “All killer, no filler” being the appropriate phrase. And today's brewery fit that phrase perfectly.
Some of my closest friends know significantly more about this industry than I, but when we have chats about those breweries that should be “up there” in people's lists, this brewery is always on those lists.
Stylistically, unafraid to try something new, different. Fearless about leaning into Heritage. No hesitation about the unconventional (Spoiler Alert : like today!)
Simple Things Fermentations just fit this event like the warmest of gloves.
“No hesitation about the unconventional…. “
The idea behind - and the recipe for - this beer had been the subject of discussion for a number of weeks, with emails flying excitedly around.
And we all were excited for this.
Mashing in was done and dusted by the time I got there (it WAS a long journey TBF 🤣) with transfer to the boil under way. The grain bill completely had me drooling, with a significant amount of Cara & Chocolate Rye added to the Bohemian Pilsner, Vienna & Munich Malts.
This is a totally malt led beer and the rich aromas in the brewery reflected that. Olfactory bliss.
Now then. Unusually - and I think this is a first for me - there are no hops in this beer.
And another quirk of this beer? An incredibly short boil - and that was only to dissolve some sugars to boost the fermentables.
I'm going to attempt to explain the style that we were aligning with…. Or a place adjacent to the style….
A Sahti.
A Sahti is an ancient (apparently as far back as The Vikings) farmhouse Beer style. An authentic Sahti has some “interesting” characteristics - to put it mildly!
Mashing in would be - traditionally - 5 to 9 hours long. It is a “raw” ale, in that the wort would not be boiled.
One of the ingredients for flavour would be certain Juniper branches, but there are significant issues both with sourcing here and with toxicity if you pick/use the wrong ones.
Given this - and other issues - this beer is not a Sahti in the traditional/ancient sense. But it's damn close. We'll call it Sahti Style.
The initial idea of a Sahti came from the utter psycho Tim (ISBF Keg Maestro) an idea which was both absolutely in the wheelhouse of STF and hugely intrigued Phil & Ewan......
I missed the mashing in, but got the chance to check out some of the more interesting Rye Malts used. And drooled. (Love Rye me!)
As I said earlier. No hops. But this doesn't mean no flavour. Oh no.
Meet the Toddler Triffids (aka Spruce Tips). And the Juniper berries. (I got close to those berries and - I s**t you not - exclaimed “who needs hops!”)
The smells were simply wonderful. Those Vikings knew stuff
Before I knew it, transfer was done, mash tun emptied and we were headed into Glasgow for a swift beer. (I HAD to visit a classic….)
I've taken part in something like 100 brew days. But never something like this. This beer will be the first beer I taste post set up.
The history, the planning, the thought that has gone into the making of it is just mind boggling.
I'm a history nerd. And I want to taste some.
Welcome to…..
(I love the Salford music nod!)
Thanks to Phil for inviting us up, to both him & Ewan for their time and effort in formulating the recipe. And to little Eli who popped in, briefly, with his Dad (Ewan) and was an absolute 🌟
And where will you get this historical marvel first? (as if I need to tell you?)
Tickets are heading to sell out. So if you haven't got yours, click on this link and do your tastebuds a flavour. You will be helping a wonderful charity while you do.
Back (VERY) soon with #ISBFX #Brewday5
Be kind to one another.
Jim x