The Scent of Summer
In the Belgian brewing tradition, we at Bruz Beers place a high value on innovation and creativity. It’s easy to get caught up in a heavy brewing schedule making flagship beers. But sometimes, you have to cut loose a little, so we encourage our brewing team to come up with new ideas and then brew them.
Josh Martin With a Glass of Hanging Branches
Our latest experiment gone great is an offering from our brewer Josh Martin. An accomplished brewer with a love of Saisons, Josh’s latest beer-child is Hanging Branches – a Saison brewed with elderflowers, and it’s a beauty!
The Scent of Summer
Elderflowers are truly the scent of summer. They bloom on the Elder tree in the spring and summer months and have a sweet, floral aroma and flavor. Elderflowers have been used for centuries in teas, wines, syrups and liqueurs (such at St. Germain).
Are Elderflowers and Elderberries the Same Thing?
Yes and no. They are from the same tree but from different parts. Elderflowers bloom in the spring as clusters of small white flowers. Elderberries taste like a combination of blueberries and blackberries, and are used in wines, teas, extracts and often for medicinal purposes, in addition to jams and jellies and as a culinary ingredient in both sweet and savory dishes.
Hanging Branches
The name Hanging Branches is a reference to the ancient practice of hanging an Elder branch over one’s door to ward off the Devil and evil spirits. Elder trees are the stuff of many superstitions and mystical beliefs. Supposedly, Elder wood was the wood of the cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified and the tree from which Judas Iscariot hanged himself. In some folklore, it is known as the “Witch’s Tree” and witches flew on Elder branches rather than brooms. Even Harry Potter had an “Elder wand” made from the wood.
Our Hanging Branches beer uses Pilsner malt and Munich Wheat malt, with Columbus and Saaz hops and a special Saison yeast cultivated for us by Propagate Labs. A healthy dose of elderflowers was added at the end of the boil. Hanging Branches is a hazy, medium-gold beer with a big, dense cream-colored head. In the aroma, the malts are nicely balanced with the fresh scent of the elderflowers and a light touch of the delicate Saaz hops. The sweet floral notes in the flavor blend harmoniously with the soft malty notes and fruit esters from the unique yeast strain. Bitterness is light, the mouthfeel is soft, and finish is dry and lingering with a refreshing spritz of carbonation.
Stop by either Bruz location soon for a taste of an exceptional Saison that will conjure up images of bright summer days.
Santé!
