Brau Bros. are roaring into spring like a lion with their new seasonal offering.  It’ll be available in six packs and in draught soon.

It’s official, our spring seasonal is in the bottle and conditioning as we speak.  It’s a Belgian Saison, brewed in the most traditional way.  Here’s a brief descriptor:

Forgotten Flem Farmhouse Ale

Forgotten Flem is a fitting tribute to the many Belgian Farmers who settled the prairies of  Southwest Minnesota.  Brewed in a farmhouse brewery within feet of hop bines and barley fields,  Forgotten Flem Ale is a product of genuine ingredients and classic brewing technique.    Multiple yeast strains drive complexity and months of aging develop nuanced yet distinct flavors.  Even today it’s not unusual to hear the thick accents of French and Belgian Farmers in and around Lucan.  We’re very pleased to offer them a taste of home!

Description:
Traditionally, farmhouse ales were brewed with whatever ingredients the farm produced and could spare.  As an estate brewery, we’ve taken the same approach.  In addition to quality two-row barley, generous amounts of wheat and rye are added to give this ale a truly classic malt bill.  However the star of the show is the yeast.  A  unique saison strain is employed which ferments a spicy and fruity, yet dry beer  A second strain is used for bottle conditioning, which builds layers of complexity through rich yeast nuances

Service:
This complex ale was brewed to be served slightly chilled, in a thistle glass.   Bottle conditioning will leave a small amount of sediment which can be swirled to mix or decanted.  Slightly hazy and pale golden in color, Forgotten Flem will pour a generous, bright white head and release an aroma of mixed fruit and toasted grains.

Profile:
ABV = 5.3%
Color = 8 SRM
Bitterness = 51 IBU
Hops = Willamette
Yeast = Belgian Saison, Champagne

This beer introduced us to some new (old) brewing techniques.  First, we fermented it very hot, well over ninety degrees.  There’s a lot of rye in this beer, and it was as noticeable in the lauter tun as it is in the glass.  True to traditional old-world saison, Flem is moderately sized, aggressively hopped, and made with plenty of wheat and rye.  The complexities of rye, wheat, multiple yeast strains, and bottle conditioning make for a unique beer.

Here’s an update from the Brothers Brau.

Just wanted to drop a line and let everyone know whats going on at the brewery.

First, thanks for the great response to MooJoos and Bancreagie!  And thanks for being patient.  We’re in the process of ramping up production in order to maximize our capacity.  We hope to never catch up, but we also hope to make more beer in the near future.  Our next seasonal has taken up quite a bit of our capacity.  It’s very different than anything we’ve brewed in the passed, and we’re really excited to introduce and drink it.  The bulk has been brewed, but it will need a few weeks bottle-conditioning.  Details to follow soon.

Couple of events coming up that we’re excited about: Tomorrow night (Thursday March 24) I’ll be up in Minneapolis drinking beer with my TC friends at Common Roots.  If you’ve never been there, I highly recommend it!  This is as good a reason as any to check it out.  I should be set up and pouring about 7pm and I’ll be bringing some special beers, Rubus Black Blackberry Imperial Porter, MooJoos Oatmeal Milk Stout, Sheephead Ale, and a quarter barrel (the only one that will make it to the cities!) of Brau Bros’ Imperial Black Ale.  These guys really support local breweries, and it’s much appreciated.

Also, on Saturday Night I’ll be up at McCann’s in St. Cloud for March Mashness, put on by the Cloudy Town Brewers.  A lot of St.Cloud homebrewers have made the trek out to Lucan to tour the brewery, and I’m looking forward to returning the favor.  Yours truly will be the guest speaker, and it’s always a blast to talk shop with homebrewers, so stop out and enjoy some of Chris’s terrific brews.

We’re doing our best to keep the brewery from floating away.  Hopefully things will dry up soon so we can begin work in the hopyard.  Remember, hop shoots should be up very soon!!

Take care, and thanks for supporting the brewery

Dustin

From the inestimable brewing talent in Lucan, MN (Brau Bros.), comes the following news:

Hey Everyone,

New year, new beer!

In the next few weeks we’ll be releasing MooJoos Oatmeal Milk Stout. MooJoos blends the silky smooth characteristics of an Oatmeal Stout with the sweet, round body of a Milk Stout.

Many pilot batches were brewed before we settled on a final recipe. The malt bill is extremely deep, which helps to build complexity in the beer. Milk chocolate and coffee are evident, however you will also find cedar, toffee, anise, smoke, and a fruitiness derived from a classic British yeast.

A large percentage of oats is utilized, both toasted and flaked. In the boil kettle, pure milk lactose (from local, Minnesota dairy farms!) is added which will leave the beer sweet, creamy, and big-bodied.

Of course, as with all of our beers, we try whenever possible to use locally grown, raised, processed, and sold, ingredients. We still have some estate barley that is blended in, as well as a few hops from last year’s crop. We’ve used most, and we’re looking forward to expanding our estate production.

MooJoos will be available in bottles and on draft, make sure to ask for it at your favorite pub, restaurant, or retailer. The release will be soft, and we’re hoping for early February. I’ll make sure to check back with a ship date.

Dustin