Cross-Continental Wild Beer Infused with Whole Black Currants from Poland<\/em><\/p>\n (Buellton, CA) \u2013 From the fields of Poland to the coast of California comes UnderCurrants \u2014 an inaugural cross-continental wild beer from Firestone Walker\u2019s<\/a> Barrelworks<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cWe have been toying around with the idea of a currant-infused beer for several years now,\u201d said Barrelworks\u2019 Master Blender Jim Crooks. \u201cWe finally decided to strike when we were able to score beautiful whole black currants from a farmer in Poland, which is renowned as one of the world\u2019s finest currant-growing regions.\u201d<\/p>\n The result is a wildly flavorful beer that is bursting with rich currant goodness.<\/p>\n This inaugural release of UnderCurrants will begin rolling out next week to all Firestone Walker markets in limited draft and 375-ml bottle formats. It is the second of five bottled Barrelworks wild ale releases slated for 2018.<\/p>\n The Making of UnderCurrants<\/p>\n After hand harvesting in Poland, the whole black currants were treated with IQF (individually quick frozen) technology to perfectly preserve their fresh aromas and flavors, then shipped to California and delivered to Barrelworks last summer.<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew that fresh fruit flavors were critical to the success of this beer, and this amazing IQF technology made it possible,\u201d Crooks said.<\/p>\n Crooks and his team blended the currants with 150 barrels of Agrestic Ale (Barrelworks\u2019 wild iteration of Firestone Walker\u2019s signature DBA pale ale) that had been aging for 12 to 48 months. The currant-infused Agrestic blend was then inoculated with Barrelworks\u2019 proprietary Brettanomyces yeast and aged for an additional four months in oak foeders.<\/p>\n Lastly, more Agrestic Ale was added back into the blend to achieve an optimal balance of currant flavor and texture. \u201cThe intensity of the currant flavors was out of this world,\u201d Crooks said. \u201cBy cutting more Agrestic into the final blend, we were able to dial everything into perfect balance.\u201d<\/p>\n An Homage to A Classic<\/p>\n UnderCurrants also pays homage to the iconic Consecration ale made by Russian River Brewing Company, with whom Firestone Walker has collaborated many times over the years. In fact, Barrelworks beers are bottled with a bottling line inherited from Russian River.<\/p>\n \u201cConsecration sets the standard for currant-infused beers, and UnderCurrants now becomes our own contribution to the style,\u201d said Jeffers Richardson, director of Barrelworks. \u201cWe think it will blow some minds.\u201d<\/p>\n Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a pioneering regional craft brewery founded in 1996 and located on the coast of California. Firestone Walker\u2019s main brewery in Paso Robles produces a diverse portfolio ranging from iconic pale ales to vintage barrel-aged beers. The Barrelworks facility in Buellton makes eccentric wild ales, while the Propagator pilot brewhouse in Venice specializes in R&D beers and limited local offerings. For more information: FirestoneBeer.com.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p><\/div>\n![\"Undercurrants](\"https:\/\/www.beerpulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Undercurrants-by-Firestone-Walker-Barrel-Works-BeerPulse.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n