St. Louis based Schlafly Beer has announced a new release in its “From the Ibex Cellar” series, and it’s a beer unlike most any beer you have likely tried before. The new brew is Gin Barrel Sour Gruit and it is one of the few beers available on the market that is brewed without hops.
This new beer is brewed using an assortment of spices and fruits, among them juniper, marigolds, chamomile, lemon peel, and orange peel. These botanicals and spices, which are added to the mash at the end of the boil, form the basis of the beer’s character. Once the gruit has finished brewing, it is aged in gin barrels for approximately 4 months. Gin has a botanical and herbal character already and, with the added flavors of caramel, vanilla, oak, and smoke imparted from the barrels, you end up with an unusually complex brew that is extremely unique in the world of craft beer.
Schlafly founding brewer Stephen Hale points out that Gin Barrel Sour Gruit marks the first time his brewery has used gin barrels for aging.
“Our brewing team takes the unique flavor profile a step further by aging the gruit. This is the first time that we’ve experimented with aging in gin barrels, and the complementary botanical notes in the spirit of gin make for a perfect vessel to age the beer with a similar flavor profile,”says Hale.
Schlafly has made quite a lasting impression with its “From the Ibex Cellar” series and for good reason. Previous entries like Local Oak Ale, Barrel- Aged Imperial Stout, Imperial Coffee Stout, and Barrel Aged Saison were all memorable in their own way and received high praise from fans and critics alike. Gin Barrel Sour Gruit is a fitting addition to a creative beer series, one that will include one final release during the coming winter months.
From the Ibex Cellar Gin Sour Gruit is available right now at Schlafly brewpubs and will also be available in limited release in some Sclafly Beer markets. To track down this beer near you, utilize the Schlafly beer finder online at http://www.schlafly.com/beer-finder/.
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