Baltimore Beer stop #2...
Sunday we stopped in for brunch before preparing our bodies for Sleep, Converge, Margrudergrind, and more at Maryland Deathfest. With another long day ahead, good food and good beer were again in order.
The Story? Gypsy brewer Brian Strumke has been traveling the globe for the last 3 years, brewing conceptual beers at various breweries, similar to how Mikkeller and Evil Twin operate Most of their ales fall somewhere on the saison/farmhouse/Belgian spectrum, but with innovative and creative experiments with herbs, wild yeasts, and a variety of aging techniques and barrels. The result is an ever-growing resume of complex, world-class creations with an expert hand for balance and nuance.
Since Brian doesn't have a physical brewery and Maryland laws restrict many aspects of being able to sell beer at breweries, the beautifully named Of Love & Regret is the home of many draught and rare bottles from Stillwater to be consumed on premise (some for take-away as well). A wonderful interior and fabulous staff with gourmet selections for foodies and beer lovers alike.
Debauched (Brunello): Scandinavian Farmhouse Ale | 6.7% ABV
I jumped right in while waiting for my Roast Ribeye French Dip (which was as amazing as it sounds), with a 375 mL bottle of Stillwater's Debauched - a Scandinavian Farmhouse ale brewed with whole Juniper bushes, aged for months in Spanish Brunello barrels, then re-fermented with multiple strains of Brettanomyces. I couldn't pass this one up and glad I didn't...
Huge sour nose of funk and tart right off the bat. Nice fluffy head. Low carbonation. Cool and smooth. Not over powering and a great, high-quality sour to start with.
Wet up front with a sneaky dry finish. Several sips in, the tart blurs into funk. Incredibly complex without being overwhelming, like a low-carbonation Champagne. Hints of lemon throughout with a big wet mouthfeel that is easy down.
Towards the end of the bottle we're met with a string of earthy funk flavors and a long musty finish. Beautiful.
Débutante: Farmhouse Ale | 6.4% ABV
My first draught of brunch. I ordered this in part as my partner's twin sisters were having a débutante-themed 16th birthday party the following day, which we'd be missing because of the trip. The other reason is it sounded wonderful and I am going to make my way through everything this man brews at some point.
To start, there's a light air of honey on the nose. Dry, prickly carbonation on the tongue. Very delicately spiced and incredibly well-balanced taste. Subtle is the name of the game with this one. Almost bitter. Mild funk and fruit rind with honey comb - not honey sweet. Tart wheat finish.
Jaded: Wheat Saison | 9% ABV
Brewed in collaboration with Urbain Coutteau of De Struise Brouwers, this chestnut colored wheat saison is finished with rose hips, violets and jasmine.
An herbal wake-up beer! Much more in-your-face than my previous two glasses. Bright for a second, then it darkens up with some big malts. The jasmine, violet, and rose hips are superbly blended and balanced. Floral coating of the tongue with a dry finish. Complex pepper and nutty elements throughout. For an experienced pallet.
Hardly Barreto: Farmhouse Ale with Brett. | (unknown ABV)
This one was a special surprise. Brewed for
Max's Taphouse owner Casey Hart's wedding, this brew is the aforementioned Débutante plus Brettanomyces. Twist my arm.
Immediate tangy brett on the nose. Bright taste and lively carbonation. Light mouthfeel with a mild funk. A pleasantly light sour for a special occasion. Not released to the public.
Overall a top-notch experience. Knowledgeable, approachable staff. Quick service. Robust tap selection of Stillwater and other local brews and similarly minded imports. One of the best gastropubs I've been to and will undoubtedly be visiting again.
