春の気まぐれ 2019 (Haru no Kimagure 2019)

We look to our Kimagure series of beers to experiment with new ingredients, techniques, and interpretations of the Pale Ale and IPA style. This year’s 'Haru no Kimagure' is no different, and we looked to bridge the gap between the traditional American Pale Ale and its more modern cousins. Traditionally, this style is known for pairing the slight malt sweetness gained from using a small amount slightly roasted grains with the distinct citrus and grapefruit character that is quintessential to American hops. In more modern takes, the focus is on less bitterness and malt character in favour of a marked increase in juicy hop aroma and flavour. As we pondered the recipe for this year’s 'Haru no Kimagure', we started to wonder: can’t these two concepts live in harmony?

With this concept in mind we set out to craft a beer that had the same visual and malt flavour characteristics of the original while at the same time taking hints from current preferences for a softer, fruiter hop character. To accomplish this we looked to using 100% traditional C-hops hops solely from Crosby Hop Farm in the Willamette Valley. Despite being the quintessential American varieties of Cascade, Chinook, and Centennial, each contributed a unique soft, almost sweet floral note to the beer, which melded perfectly with the sweeter flavours from Golden Promise, Munich, and Crystal T50 malts. To round it all out we kept the bitterness low and fermented to a dry finish, meaning this beer is full of flavor and sure to be the perfect choice for any pale ale lover regardless of generation!

Style: Pale Ale

Malt Bill:

Pilsner, Golden Promise, Crystal T50, Munich

Hops:

Bittering: Chinook

Flavour/Aroma: Chinook, Cascade, Centennial

Yeast: American Ale

ABV: 5.5%

IBU: 26

Gas Volumes: 2.4