Brussels Gets a New Gueuze Producer
Brussels Beer Project is marking the 10th anniversary of its brand with the release of its first traditional gueuze, called Dansaert, named for the street where its taproom and brewery opened in 2015. While lambic production and gueuze blending have made a steady comeback in the Pajottenland region, just west and southwest of Brussels, Cantillon has been the only gueuze producer in the city of Brussels for decades. Brussels Beer Project says it made 90 hectoliters (about 77 barrels) of Dansaert, with plans to release the beer September 9 and 10 at its Wanderlust Anniversary Festival. Brewer Tiago Falcone describes the gueuze as having notes of “peach and apricot, mingling with floral and oaky accents from its maturation in barrels. On the palate, it combines lively acidity with a soft, velvety mouthfeel.”
California Senate Endorses National Black Brewers Day
By a vote of 38-0, the California State Senate on August 28 unanimously approved a resolution to proclaim October 10 as Black Brewers Day. That date commemorates the day in 1970 when Ted Mack hosted a celebration of his purchase of the People’s Brewery in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, thought to be the first Black-owned brewery in the United States. The state resolution encourages Californians to participate with various events. Initiated by Kevin Johnson—former NBA player, former Sacramento mayor, and current owner of Oak Park Brewing—the recently formed National Black Brewers Association has been advocating for the establishment of a National Black Brewers Day as part of its mission to promote more Black brewery ownership and involvement in the industry.
Hop YQH-1320 EXP Gets a Proper Name: Elani
Just as harvest was getting under way, hop distributor Yakima Quality Hops announced a new name—Elani—for proprietary variety YQH-1320 EXP. YQH describes Elani as having “tropical notes of pineapple and guava along with white peach and citrus aromas of tangerine, lime, and orange zest,” as well as being “clean and bright.” The company says that the variety has high heat tolerance and high yields and that it’s currently being grown in Washington by CLS Farms and Leo Gasseling & Sons, and in Idaho by Gooding Farms. YQH owner Tim Sattler originally found the hop in Idaho’s St. Joe River Valley, an area where brewers going back to the late 19th century cultivated hops; Elani may have been the result of cross-pollination there. The name honors Sattler’s late sister, Melanie.