Wildflower Spring 2022
REGION: Marrickville, NSW
SIZE: 750ml / ABV: 5.5%
"Spring is the first of a series of seasonal ales. It was brewed in mid-July using wholly certified organic, regenerative grains from Organically Greenwood and hopped entirely with whole-cone Fuggle and Victoria hops grown by Ryefield in Bemboka, NSW. At knockout, the hot wort was passed over Meyer lemon homegrown by Shane Roberts and finger limes grown by Currys Mountain Estate in Gerringong, NSW. It was then fermented with our house culture of microflora wholly foraged from native flowers in NSW.
After primary fermentation, we blended the beer with the pith and juice of a significant volume of 'Yango Gold' Poormans oranges from legendary citrus growers Elsa Payne and Peter Dryden (Please note that the label says Poor Man's orange, but should have been written 'Poormans', I will amend for next year.) This is an unusual orange that is the product of a cross between a tangerine and pomelo. We did add some other things and played with some other techniques but in the spirit of one of the people who influenced this beer after our recent Belgium trip, I'll just keep that to myself.
Citrus nose, lemon, cumquat and grapefruit juice and zest to the fore. Savoury orange marmalade and hints of limoncello, blend with primary fermentation derived esters of jackfruit and clove. The palate has a citrus core showing the Poormans orange flesh and juice, light and clean, rippling across the palate with brightness and zip. Richer fruits play across the back palate but the citrus is the hero adding a clean pithy bitterness to the beer." - Topher
It's difficult to overstate the impact of Wildflower since its inception only a few years ago in 2017. Hailing from Texas, Topher Boehm has an impressive resume - from Brasserie Thiriez to Jester King to his background in astrophysics - not to mention his unique house yeast. Cultivated from foraged wildflowers native to NSW, think wattle blossoms and banksia, blended with a Belgian saison strain, creating something truly individual which speaks of place. Topher even sprayed the entire brewery with inoculated wort when he moved in, just to make sure everything was literally covered in the house culture.