Balance Brewing & Blending have released two new beers this month, and both are saisons, although both are quite different.
Saison de Maison Blend 7 (6.5% ABV) is, unsurprisingly, the seventh iteration of the brewer’s house saison. It’s a blend of barrel-aged beer fermented with saison yeast, lactobacillus, and brettanomyces, and dry-hopped with Fuggles.
“Fuggles is a unique and characterful British hop,” says the brewer. “It brings earthy spice to the aroma, along with floral, fruity green tea on the palate. Peach and herbal notes mingle with pleasing acidity and vivacious funk.”
Groove (6% ABV) is Balance’s first amber saison. A blend of barrel-aged beer fermented with saison yeast, lactobacillus, and brettanomyces, this one is dry-hopped with First Gold, grown in Kent.
Brewed with Maris Otter, wheat, and oats, and Vienna and crystal malts, this beer has malty notes of marmalade on toast, which meld with tart strawberry and soft, woody tannins. There is subtle hoppy bitterness which brings out the spicy, floral tones of First Gold.
