Arbor Brewing Company

Bollywood Blonde

Description

Gorgeous copper-orange ale with a rich, enticing aroma of oranges and lemongrass. Crisp and refreshing on the palate. A perfect blend of malt, spice, and sweet and zesty hints of citrus.

History

Nestled between beer-loving Germany and wine-loving France, for centuries Belgium has produced some of the most interesting, complex, sophisticated, and delicious styles the beer world has to offer. The Blonde pays homage to this grand tradition. Brewed with a unique blend of rich malts, sweet orange peel, spicy hops, and zesty coriander for a delicious brew that straddles the line between beer, cider, and wine.

Food Pairings

The fruity character and extremely low bitterness of the Blonde make it a perfect pairing for spicy dishes like curries, Jamaican jerk, spicy barbecue, Tex-Mex, as well as pastries or breads made with fruits or nuts.

Brasserie Greff Special Reserve

Availability

Year-round

Description

A complex and vinous medium-bodied brew that combines the tangy sweet-tart fruitiness of a fine balsamic vinegar with the brooding musty earthiness of a Bordeaux.

History

This special brew was created by aging our 9% ABV Jackhammer Old for a year in a Gueuze-inoculated oak cask and then bottle conditioning for another year before serving. The blend of micro-organisms residing in the oak (Lactobacillus, Brettanomyces, and Pediococcus) are responsible for creating the acids and esters that give this beer its enchanting sour flavors.

Food Pairings

The balance of earthy/tangy and sweet/tart make for a very food-friendly beer with a broad range of pairings. Pair like you would with semi-dry red or white wines, or more fruit-forward or spicy dry reds like Merlot or red zinfandel. Great as an appetizer or dessert beer with ginger Stilton.

Brune Barrel Aged Brown

Availability

Available year-round at the Brewpub.

Description

Brune is a classic, refreshingly soured Flemish style brown ale in the Rodenbach tradition. A dark, copper-red, medium-bodied ale with subtle spiced sour cherry and woodsy notes. This beer has a pronounced tart sourness on the palate that follows through with complex, malty, and earthy vinous flavors.

Buzz Saw American IPA

Availability

Year Round

Description

A big, bold hop-forward west coast style IPA. The malt character is subdued to showcase a blend of Simcoe, Amarillo, and Centennial Hops creating a lingering dry finish with notes of pine, grapefruit, and apricot.

History

Buzzsaw’s recipe is the creation of former head brewer Bill Gerds. It was named in honor of Treetown’s original industry and was named best of show at the 2011 World Expo of Beer.

Food Pairings

A classic American craft style that pairs well with classic American bar food. Try it with pizza, nachos, burgers, or a corned beef Reuben.

Divette

Description

A tart and refreshing barrel-aged blonde ale spiced with orange peel and coriander. The combination of spices, oak aging, and bottle-conditioning creates a unique flavor experience that seems part beer, part wine, and part cider even though it is made with one hundred percent malted barley.

History

Divette is part of our barrel-aged sour series. It is made by conditioning our Blonde in oak barrels inoculated with a Belgian Gueuze to promote the cultivation of beneficial micro-organisms like Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus that create a host of acids and esters not found in conventional brews.

Food Pairings

Mild acidity and tannins create a vinous character that pairs beautifully with food. Pair like a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc with oysters, chevre, light pasta, or white meat. Avoid high acidity foods like citrus sauces and tomato-based recipes.

Framboise

Availability

May to August

Description

Part of our sour series, the Framboise is made by adding whole raspberries to our Belgian-style blonde for a crisp and refreshing brew with tart raspberry, and subtle notes of zesty orange peel and spicy coriander.

History

Our take on this classic style is neither spontaneously fermented nor barrel aged, but the addition of lactic and raspberries to our crisp Blonde create a flavor that is refreshingly tart without being aggressively sour or acidic.

Food Pairings

We love this beer with white chocolate, hazelnuts, raspberry cobbler, creamy pastas, salmon, or roasted fowl.

Huxell Best Bitter

Description

This golden, light-bodied, easy-drinking “session beer” may weigh in at 4.2% ABV, but it’s no entry-level puff beer. It is a classic English Bitter called “one of the best beers brewed in the USA in the last 20 years” by Duncan Ward Deputy Head Steward of the Great British Beer Festival.

History

Huxell was first brewed in honor of our dear friend and amazing ultimate Frisbee teammate Dave “Cipher” Huxell who left us a few years back. Proceeds from this beer were used to capitalize an Arbor Community Foundation fund in his honor that benefits literacy, the environment, and animal rights in our community.

Food Pairings

Mild and quenching, Huxell is perfect for your backyard barbecue or to tuck away in your picnic basket. Enjoy it with deli sandwiches, grilled meats and veggies, baked brie, and an assortment of salty snacks.

HXL IPA

Description

Great hop flavors without being excessively bitter. Centennial flavor and aroma hops smack of citrusy grapefruit and tangerine with hints of pine. Malt is subdued but provides enough heft to balance the hops. Long crisp clean dry finish.

History

First brewed to commemorate our 1600th batch, the HXL is a full-flavored, high gravity version of our Huxell. We used twice as much malted barley to hike the ABV to 7.5% and added boatloads of Centennial hops for a lasting tangy bitterness.

Food Pairings

Remember that bitterness intensifies heat so beware if pairing with anything spicy. Bold flavors will stand up to red meat and bitterness will cut through creamy sauces.

Michael Faricy’s Irish Stout

Description

This crowd-pleaser has a dark coffee-like appearance with a creamy head and smoky, roasted grain aromas. It is rich and creamy on the palate with chalky, burnt flavors balanced by lush dark chocolates and never turns too dry through the smoky finish. Full-flavored yet highly drinkable—rich and creamy without being thick or heavy.

History

This recipe was originally created as a home brew in 1993 to commemorate the life and times of our dear friend Michael Faricy. When we opened Arbor Brewing Company in 1995 it became an instant hit and went on to win Gold in 1998 at the World Beer Championships topping such notables as Guinness and Murphy’s.

Food Pairings

Smoked salmon, oysters, corned beef hash, shepherd’s pie, deviled eggs, baked brie, bleu cheese tart, chocolate covered strawberries, and cheese cake.

Milestone Porter

Description

Milestone is a robust porter—dark, rich and full-bodied with a complex palate displaying hints of chocolate, figs, raisins, toasted nuts, and a subtle sour smokiness.

History

Drinkers in early eighteenth century London were in the habit of ordering a combination of two or three different cask ales to be blended into their glass. Eventually a local brewer developed a beer that was said to combine the merits of the entire range in one cask. His delivery man was in the habit of shouting “Porter!” to announce his arrival to his customers and the name stuck.

Food Pairings

Pairs well with earthy and savory flavors. Great with a cheese board, duck, rosemary roasted potatoes, or serve for dessert with strawberry shortcake or cheesecake.

No Parking Pilsner

Description

Our traditional northern German-style Pilsner is brewed with all German malts and imported German Tettnang hops for a classic crisp, dry, full-flavored Pilsner character. It is a deep golden, medium-bodied lager. Crisp and clean with a mildly salty noble hop bitterness.

History

This beer was first brewed as a rallying cry when the city tore down the parking across the street from the pub and was threatening not to replace it—with the hopes of forcing people out of their cars and onto the bus. After a protracted campaign and a good deal of help from our Downtown Development Authority, the old structure was replaced with a beautiful new structure.

Food Pairings

This versatile brew pairs beautifully with fried or spicy foods, grilled or seared tuna or salmon, grilled asparagus, creamy Havarti, and sushi.

Olde Number 22 German Alt

Description

A surprisingly easy-drinking dark ale. Smooth, malty, and well-balanced; dry without being too bitter; and full-flavored without being too heavy. Very subtle smoky hints.

History

Olde Number 22 is a special kind of Alt called a sticke or secret alt. This style was traditionally brewed in German brewpubs as a reward to loyal regulars. At a time when German brews were priced according to alcohol content, brewpubs would brew a secret alt that was richer, maltier, and higher in gravity. They served it unadvertised at the regular alt price exclusively to the regulars who knew to ask for it.

Food Pairings

Pairs especially well with grilled or smoked meat, fish, and veggies. Try it with hearty stews or rich macaroni and cheese. Serve with a cheese board of aged cheddar, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Humboldt fog and brie.

Red Snapper Roasted Pale Ale

Description

A deep reddish brew with medium body and carbonation. This toasty, malty, and dry pale ale has a depth of hop taste and roasty notes in the palate and finish and blends the rich malty character of an Amber Ale, the crisp hops of an American Pale Ale, and the roasty, nutty flavors of an English Brown.

History

The Red Snapper recipe was conceived as a home brew recipe in Matt & Rene’s Ypsilanti kitchen long before it became commercially available. Named after good friend and fellow ultimate Frisbee player Don “Red Snapper” Staub, it was first “released” to much approval at the 1992 Poultry Days Chicken Festival and Frisbee Tournament in Versailles Ohio.

Food Pairings

Pairs like an American Pale ale and a dry Irish Stout. Great with cured meats, battered pan-fried fish, ham, and roast beef au jus.

Sacred Cow IPA

Description

Coppery-gold hue with a full floral cascade hop aroma. Rich bready malts lay a perfect foundation for the profusion of tangy, citrusy hops that infuse this beer with a distinct ruby-red grapefruit quality that starts on the palate and lingers through a long satisfying finish.

History

At our original Pub location in Ann Arbor, we serve the sacred cow cask-conditioned on a British Beer engine. It has less carbonation and is served about 10–12 degrees warmer than our other ales which really allows the flavors to open up. But it’s rich malts and robust tangy citrusy hops also stand up beautifully to crisp carbonation and a good chill. At ABC India this recipe goes by the name Raging Elephant.

Food Pairings

Bitterness cuts through fat and intensifies heat. Great with pork belly, beef tenderloin, fried chicken, and grilled brats. Also great with aged hard cheeses or a rich cheese fondue with crusty bread.

Tally Wacker

Availability

Tally Wacker Scottish Ale is a year-round specialty beer available exclusively at Corner Brewery.

Description

A mild, malt-forward, food-friendly, copper-colored ale with a hint of toasted caramel up front, a slightly peaty character and just a dash of fresh, grassy hops for balance.

Food Pairings

Moderately sharp or earthy cheeses, roast beef, baked ham, sweet potato and caramelized onion frittata, mellow roasted garlic.

Ypsi Gypsi Pale Ale

Availability

August to March

Description

A clean, light, hop-infused American Pale Ale with notes of citrus and fresh-baked bread.

History

This beguiling brew is flavorful and rich yet light and refreshing. A preponderance of pale malts gives it a lighter body and moderate alcohol level for great drinkability.

Food Pairings

This well-balanced, moderately bitter beer goes with just about anything you like to eat. It also drinks great all by itself. Try it with spaghetti in rich tomato and olive sauce, a salami and cheese plate, enchiladas, pasta primavera, or pizza.

Aurora Arborealis

Availability

April to June

Description

The Arborealis is a rich, full-bodied ale weighing in at 7.6% ABV.  It has a substantial malt foundation that provides a perfect balance to its 83 IBU.  Aromatic, citrusy and floral with a subtle alcohol warmth and a refreshing dry finish.

History

Double India Pale Ales are to beer what huge California Reds are to wine. There is nothing subtle about this style which flaunts its high gravity and lavish use of hops. Our Aurora Arborealis was born out of the “great hop shortage of 2008” when cascades were hard to come by and we discovered the Aurora hop and loved it so much we decided to brew a double IPA exclusively with this new found gem.

Food Pairings

Big bold beers need foods that can stand up to an aggressive flavor profile. Try this with bold cheeses like extra sharp aged cheddar, bleu cheese, gorgonzola, and Limburger; wild game; or a creamy cheese sauce like Alfredo.

Black Magic Coconut Porter

Availability

Released on Black Friday.

Description

This robust porter is flavored with toasted coconut that comes through well in the nose. Smooth with roasty, chocolatey notes that give it a full flavor. Released on Black Friday, this coconut porter is sure to put you in the shopping mood.

Brown Betty Imperial Brown Ale

Availability

This Holiday Ale is released in early December.

Description

A full-bodied, Imperial Northern English Brown Ale with malty notes full of chocolate, caramel, and toffee with an underlying nuttiness. The English yeast gives way to light fruit esters and the subtle earthy, spicy hop flavors come from the East Kent Golding Hops. This mildly bitter Holiday brown is sure to please your palate and tickle your taste buds.

Chips And Salsa

Description

Like nothing you’ve ever tasted. Brewed with corn flour, tomatoes, cilantro, garlic, onions, and salt, this beer is a fiesta in a glass. The base is a light lager and the salsa flavor is pronounced but well-integrated resulting in a deliciously unique and drinkable brew.

Crye Baby Rye

Description

Made with pale caramel malts and 35% rye, this beer has a malty-sweet and spicy frame. Complimented with Mt. Hood hops for an easy-drinking taste that makes this beer seem more tame than its actual 7% ABV.

History

Originally named Duggie Style Rye in honor of long-time Arbor Brewing Company brewer Doug Jakubiak, the recipe and named changed when head brewer Bill Gerds came on board and reinvented this crowd pleaser to make it his own. So good grown men will cry like a baby when it’s not on tap!

Food Pairings

The Crye Baby loves heat. Pair it with Jamaican-jerk chicken, Mexican or Tex-Mex cuisine, Thai, Vietnamese, or Indian food.

Dark Side Black IPA

Availability

Released on Halloween.

Description

Brewed with roasted malts which give it a black appearance, this beer still retains the hop aroma of an IPA thanks to the ample Summit, Columbus, and Cascade hops added to the boil. Dry hopped with Cascade and Columbus hops to really take you to the dark side this Halloween season.

Demetrius

Availability

There are ony 30 cases of this special brew available for 2010. Packaged in, corked and caged 750ml bottles. May be purchased as singles or by the case.

Description

Arbor Brewing Company is proud to offer this exclusive, limited-edition, hand-packaged and bottle-conditioned ale in the Belgian Aged Pale tradition. Our interpretation of this rare Belgian stye was created by aging our Larry Hoppe Double IPA for six months in gueuze-innoculated oak casks and then bottle conditioning for a minimum of two months. The result is a unique ale with a bright golden hue, moderate carbonation, and a burst of complex fruity, spicy, sweet-tart, and earthy flavors, with a quenching acidity in the finish. As with most bottle-conditioned ales, there may be a thin layer of sediment on the bottom of the bottle. For best results, uncork slowly and decant gently into a glass without disturbing the sediment.

Food Pairings

Sharp or pungent cheeses, pasta with cream sauce, wild game and spicy curries.

Espresso Love Breakfast Stout

Availability

Available on draft at the brewpub every March while supplies last. Available on draft at Corner Brewery every February–April.

Description

Oatmeal and 20 pounds of fresh roasted coffee from the Ugly Mug Café contribute to a mildly chalky espresso character balanced by a rich, sweet creamy maltiness. Coffee finish dissolves into chocolate with a slight roasty bitterness.

Festival Saison

Availability

May to August

Description

Enjoy a creative take on a classic summer style, made with spicy rye malt and pink peppercorn for a zesty and refreshing thirst-quenching brew. Available exclusively at Arbor Brewing Company, with $1 per pint donated to support “Top of the Park”.

History

Festival Saison was created and offered in partnership with the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. It is on tap exclusively at ABC Brewpub and we donate one dollar from each pint sold to help support the festival.

Food Pairings

The fruitiness and mild hopping of this beer make it a perfect pairing for foods with heat like Jamaican Jerk or spicy barbecue. Also great with citrusy salads and pork.

Flamboyant Wild Red

Availability

Available in December at Corner Brewery while supplies last.

Description

A unique ale with a bright mahogany hue and moderate carbonation. Flamboyant Wild Red features a a burst of complex fruity, spicy, sweet-tart, and earthy flavors with a quenching acidity in the finish.

History

Our interpretation of this classic Belgian style was created by aging our Jackhammer Olde Ale for six months in gueuze-inoculated oak casks and then bottle conditioning for a minimum of two months.

Framboozled

Availability

Brewed in June and available while supplies last.

Description

The newest addition to the sour series is richly complex and reminiscent of brandy-soaked dark fruits, toasted nuts, and a sweet balsamic reduction. Framboozled features a hint of barnyard funk from extended barrel aging in the presence of friendly microbes.

History

This amazing brew is a year in the making. We start with our slightly boozy 7.25% Strawberry Blonde, brewed with orange peel, coriander, and strawberries. Then we age it in gueuze-inoculated oak barrels for at least nine months, finally re-fermenting it with whole raspberries before bottle-conditioning.

Food Pairings

Framboozled’s dark and brooding flavor profile pairs like an earthy Bordeaux, a spicy Red Zinfandel, or a Cabernet Sauvignon. Think big juicy steak, roast duck, sharp hard cheese, or rich dark chocolate.

Hop Town Brown

Availability

July to September

Description

A robust brown ale that drinks like an IPA. Enticing citrusy hop aromas lead into a rich and complex palate of caramelly, nutty, and toasty malts perfectly balanced by a big full hop flavor.

History

American Brown Ales are bigger and hoppier than their English cousins. By increasing both malt and hops these beers offer more flavor while still maintaining the perfect balance for great drinkability. They often feature a stronger hop aroma, a citrusy American hop character, and a fresh dry-hopped aroma offering American pale ale and IPA lovers a great change of pace.

Food Pairings

The full flavor and perfect balance of spicy hops and malty sweetness make this a perfect beer to stand up to bold flavors like a garlicky pasta sauce, a rich lamb stew, or a spicy chili.

Hoptoberfest

Availability

September until it’s gone!

Description

This deliciously drinkable beer is the perfect balance between rich malts and spicy hops allowing both to shine without neither dominating the other. Our twist on this traditional style is a boat-load of late addition of noble hops that enhance the hop flavor and aroma without increasing the bitterness.

Jackhammer Old Ale

Description

This strong ale has a clear alcohol presence, a complex fruity palate, and a dry, spicy, rather assertive hop counterbalance in the finish. It was first brewed and named during the demolition of the old Fourth and Washington parking structure when downtown felt like Jurassic Park and all of its neighbors needed something a little stronger to get us through! The Michigan Microbrewery and Brewpub Guide calls it, “an excellent, true-to-style beer with a subtle yet distinct chocolate covered cherry quality.”

Larry Hoppe Double IPA

Availability

October through December.

Description

A hand-crafted blend of Cascade, Aurora, Horizon, Cluster, and Centennial hops for a mouthwatering aroma of citrusy flavor.

Mackinac Island Fudge Stout

Availability

June to August

Description

A roasty, dry stout made with real fudge for a subtle chocolate-fudge character without being sweet or heavy.

History

This beer is great by itself but we also love it in a “carriage bomb.” Fill a pint glass one-half to two-thirds full of Mackinac Island Fudge Stout and then drop in a shot glass with half espresso vodka and half Irish cream—delicious!

Food Pairings

Let your imagination run wild. A great dessert beer with cheesecake, strawberry shortcake, and yes even fudge. But this brew will also pair beautifully with smoked salmon, roast chicken, beef stew, creamy buttery cheese, or hazelnuts.

Night Stalker Pumpkin Cream Stout

Availability

Released around Halloween.

Description

This traditional cream stout is brewed with lactose which adds body as well as sweetness that compliments the roastiness of the stout. Nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove spices give it a pumpkin pie flavor, but drink it up while you can! This Bill Gerds creation, which is released around Halloween, is brewed only once a year.

Oktoberfest Bier

Availability

Available at the Brewpub every September while supplies last.

Description

A beautiful reddish-orange lager with a nice foamy white head. Perfectly balanced with a complex and spicy hop character that is delicately offset by sweet malts, so that both flavors shine through but neither dominates the other.

History

This Märzen-style lager is the traditional beer of Munich’s Oktoberfest. Literally translated it means “March Beer” and the name stems from the time before refrigeration when the last batch of the spring was brewed in March and then stored (or lagered) in Alpine cellars throughout the warm Bavarian summer. It was then brought back out and served during Oktoberfest and the rest of the fall harvest celebrations.

Phat Abbot Belgian Dubbel

Availability

October through December, while supplies last.

Description

A dark, rich Belgian abbey style ale made with Trappist yeast and dark Belgian candy sugar for a more traditional, malty trappist character.

Tasting notes: Deep mahogany with a rich, complex palate. Toffee, toasted malts, dried dark fruits, and sweet candy sugar balanced by a subtle earthy, woodsy quality and spicy hops.

Food Pairings

Wonderful with beef; chocolate; buttery cheeses; and sharp cheese and wine fondue.

Phat Abbot Belgian Tripel

Availability

Fall

Description

This traditional Belgian-style triple is strong, fruity, and slightly sour. It starts with a big malt presence, followed up by a pronounced candy sugar sweetness, and balanced with a spicy hop finish. A must-try.

Sea Leggz Rye Porter

Description

A rich full-throated porter with a thick, creamy and chalky mouthful. A perfect balance of roasty, chocolaty malts, spicy rye and pervasive hop bitterness.

History

Created by Logan as a special favor to Rene who loves all things rye and all things porter. Thanks, Dove!

Food Pairings

Baked Brie, chocolate-covered strawberries, macaroni and cheese, barbecue pork, New England clam chowder, and blue cheese tart.

Sodibo

Availability

Available in March in 750ml bottles at Corner Brewery while supplies last.

Description

Sodibo is a sophisticated and complex ale with a bright golden hue and moderate carbonation. It features a burst of complex fruity, spicy, sweet-tart, and earthy flavors with a quenching acidity in the finish.

History

Our interpretation of this rare Belgian style was created by aging our spiced Belgian-style Blonde for six months in gueuze-inoculated oak casks and then bottle conditioning for a minimum of two months.

Strawberry Blonde

Availability

May to August

Description

Rich and flavorful medium bodied beer with a fresh, floral strawberry aroma. Citrus, spice, and fruit are blended seamlessly for a subtle yet distinct flavor that never turns too sweet.

History

This special brew starts with a flavorful medium-bodied Belgian style blonde ale spiced with sweet orange peel and zesty coriander. Then we add fresh strawberries and pure strawberry essence for a sophisticated strawberry ale that doesn’t forget it’s a beer.

Food Pairings

Great with tangy barbecue, balsamic vinaigrette, citrusy or spicy dishes, and strawberry rhubarb pie.

Super Snapper Very Special Bitter

Description

Super Snapper is a strong, roasty, hoppy, complex ale—kind of like a Red Snapper meets an IPA.

We started with the Red Snapper recipe and added 150 pounds more Pilsner malt, 20 pounds more caramel malt, 7.5 pounds more Cascade bittering hops during the boil, and an extra pound of Cascades to dry hop in the fermenter. The result is a hybrid ale that is a deep reddish copper with a medium body, rich roasty malts, and zesty, citrusy hops on the palette. It has a long bitter finish that derives from both the roasted malts and the 47 IBU.

History

Super Snapper was brewed to commemorate Arbor Brewing Company and the Brewpub’s tenth anniversary.

Terminator Dopplebock

Availability

Released every year at the Brewpub the day before Thanksgiving.

Description

Our winter lager is perhaps our most famous beer, though no longer the strongest. Like all traditional German Dopplebocks it is richly spicy with a subtly sweet malt palate and a clean, crisp, dry hop finish.

History

Historically, dopplebocks were brewed with high alcohol content and served as “liquid bread” for the monks while fasting. Monks who brewed the first dopplebocks named their beer salvator meaning “savior.” Today, brewers often add “ator” to the ending of their beers as a nod to the style.

Tree Fort

Availability

April to June

Description

A light-bodied American pale ale with a soft golden hue. It combines a subtle biscuit-like maltiness with crisp carbonation and a tangy Noble hop character with a big enticing aroma.

History

Brewed for our friends at Tree Fort Bikes, this is the perfect thirst-quencher after a hard race or a leisurely ride. Sort of the classic lawnmower beer re-imagined for a more sophisticated beer palate. Big on flavor but light on body and alcohol, it’s proof that you can have a refreshing and quenching brew without compromising taste.

Food Pairings

The food-friendly flavor profile pairs especially well with spicy Mexican dishes, buffalo chicken, Jamaican Jerk marinated steak, and spicy Creole—like jambalaya.

Triple Stone ESB

Description

A profusion of tangy hops dominates this British ale from the nose through the long bitter finish. Cask-conditioned and served gently carbonated at cellar temperature. A must try for IPA fans.

History

Unlike conventional ales which go from fermenter to serving tank fully carbonated and under pressure, cask ales leave the fermenter flat, and are transferred to a cask along with unfermented malt. In the cask, the ale goes through a secondary fermentation which leaves it gently carbonated. Stored and hand pulled at cellar temperature—53–58 degrees Fahrenheit.

Velvet Hammer

Availability

Available in June, while supplies last.

Description

Each vintage of the Velvet Hammer has a slightly different flavor composition as our oak barrels age and mature. But it is always vinous and tart with dark fruits and a moderate acidity with subtle earthy and barnyard undertones.

History

Velvet Hammer is part of our sour series and is available only at Corner Brewery. It is a Belgian Dubbel-style base beer aged in a gueuze-inoculated oak cask for a year and then bottle conditioned. A new vintage is released the first Saturday in June on Velvet Hammer Day.

Food Pairings

The flavor and acidity make the Velvet Hammer great for both cooking and pairing. It is the perfect base for beef stew, will reduce down to a wonderful balsamic-like glaze for meats or as a base for salad dressing. Pairs well with rich and fatty meat dishes like roast duck. We also love it with ginger Stilton and chocolate-covered dried cherries.