Photo: Charlie Essers, flickr
With America's divorce rate hitting 50 percent, half of all unions are destined to destruct. But out in sunny southern California, the crew behind the Bruery have ordained a marriage that just might last.
The Bruery's latest release, Mischief, assembles the DNA of two seemingly disparate beer styles: the sweet, potent Belgian ale and the fragrant, floral India pale ale. "I love IPA's, and I love dry and dangerously drinkable Belgian styles," muses brewmaster Patrick Rue. "Why not marry them?"
Like any good coupling, this was all about compatibility. Typically, most Belgian-yeast strains leave behind loads of residual sugars, making Tripels as sweet as soda. Rue opted for the Bruery's house yeast: "It's a perfect strain when you're looking for a bone-dry beer with a lot of finesse and character," Rue says. "Also, it's a bit more bitter than many other Belgian-style beers."
Rue and Co. amped up the inherent bitterness with some serious dry-hopping, which is evident upon pouring the cloudy, golden elixir. There's an intensely fresh of bouquet of citrusy, bright-green hops and hay, but the taste is much more balanced (Mischief only rates 35 IBUs). The ale drinks smooth and effervescent, with a juicy fruitiness mixed with resinous pine and a touch of pepper, before finishing bone dry.
Why's Mischief so mischievous? You won't notice the 8.5 percent ABV until it's too late.
How do you feel about hybrid beers? Spill it in the comments.
Joshua M. Bernstein has written about brews, bars and booze for New York Magazine, Time Out New York, ForbesTraveler.com and the New York Times.
2-02-2010 @10:13PM Robert Klein said... Mischief is one of my favorites from The Bruery and I agree about your comment of the juicy fruitness which makes this a daytime favorite. However, I recently tasted Oude Tart, a Flemish-Style Red Ale and ended up buying a few bottles at The Bruery in Placentia, CA. Thanks to a local, I was also fortunate to taste White Oak, a blended beer, 50% wheatwine aged in Bourbon barrels and 50% Mischief (Golden Strong Ale). I am know on the hunt for the famous Black Tuesday, I think I found a bottle, and I am not telling where! But for the record, my favorite is still Two Turtle Doves.
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