Brewed for Arctic expeditions during the 1800s, it was the strongest beer of its day so it wouldn’t freeze.
Style wise it is a STRONG Burton ale which means dark and malty sweet. It is very different than an imperial stout in that there is very little roast malt, instead it gets most of its color from dark sugar syrups. The black color and deep caramel flavors keep it distinct from a barleywine of the time as well.
The aroma is like a mix of sweet dessert wine and Italian amaro with raisin/licorice notes. The flavor is rich with chocolate covered raisin and deep toffee. Fat, chewy body with a long, but not cloying, finish.
A big honker of a beer that hasn’t existed for at least a century. The aging potential of this is 5-10+ years. Available at the brewery (bottles only) this weekend and at local bottle shops next week. 500 ml bottle $12
Author: Mike Karnowski
Tokyo Style Gose (for Damo Suzuki)
The idea for this mythological beer style started with imagining how brewers around the world would approach classic styles. Traditional Gose is a sour wheat beer flavored with salt and coriander.
Through a a Japanese culinary lens we substituted local white miso for the salt and pickled sushi ginger for the coriander. Mixed fermentation in stainless gives a bright but not aggressive acidity, the miso gives the characteristic sports drink salinity with a hint of umami. Topped off with delicate ginger flavor and you have one of the most refreshing and food friendly beers. 5% ABV $8
Mixed Citrus Saison (for Mark Rothko)
Mixed Citrus Saison (for Mark Rothko) 6% ABV. A traditional farmhouse saison brewed using local malt, free rise Mixed Citrus Saison (for Mark Rothko) 6% ABV. A traditional farmhouse saison brewed using local malt,Mixed Citrus Saison (for Mark Rothko) 6% ABV. A traditional farmhouse saison brewed using local malt, free rise fermentation and aged on lemon, orange, grapefruit and Bergamot orange peel. Complex aroma with classic saison yeast character combined with bright citrus. Bright and fruity flavor that finishes with a crisp bitterness. A great warm weather slammer or a perfect food pairing. and aged on lemon, orange, grapefruit and Bergamot orange peel. Complex aroma with classic saison yeast character combined with bright citrus. Bright and fruity flavor that finishes with a crisp bitterness. A great warm weather slammer or a perfect food pairing. $8
Vintage XX Stout circa 1850 (for Mick Ronson)
Vintage XX Stout circa 1850 (for Mick Ronson) 7.4% ABV. A re-creation of a mid 1800s stout. Brewed with the finest English pale, brown and black malts and a boatload of East Kent Goldings hops. Loaded with espresso, fudge and licorice notes and finishes with a firm bitterness.
This is in my opinion, the perfect stout. Almost Imperial Stout level flavor but a more approachable ABV %. Aging for a year or two will soften the hops but if you are a fan of bittersweet chocolate or dark coffee this should be right up your alley. $9
The Rise and Fall of English Porter Box Set
Six historical recreations following the rise and fall (and rebirth) of English Porter. Includes detailed booklet that has tasting notes and recipes and a commemorative teku glass. Sold Out!
Biere De Noel (for Saint Bibiana)
This year’s Christmas beer is a classic Belgian style quad with subtle spicing with fresh orange peel and a pinch of allspice.
Light holiday spice blends nicely with delicate Belgian yeast notes in the aroma. The flavor is sweet toffee/caramel with a hint of licorice. Drinks dangerously easy for a 12%+ beer, perfect for sipping in front of a fireplace or post thanksgiving dinner.
Aging potential on this is immense, at least 5 years if not 10.
Patersbier (for Saint Arnold)
Patersbier (for Saint Arnold) 6.7% ABV. The Trappist monks brew strong, mostly darker beers for the public but they make a beer just for the monks to drink that is lower in alcohol and usually lighter in color. Patersbier=beer for the fathers.
Our take on the style uses 100% Belgian pils malt, delicious Belgian beet sugar and French Aramis hops. Free rise fermentation using our house Belgian yeast.
Hoppier and drier than a typical blonde with a bright spicy yeast nose with some grassy hops. Malty yet very dry this will appeal to saison drinkers but without the phenolic yeast. Not really a beer for aging.
Traditional Imperial Stout circa 1850 (for Vasily Arkhipov)
My favorite beer that we make is our traditional Imperial Stout. A timeless beauty that needs no adjucts or gimmicks. Brewed with only the finest English Maris Otter, brown and black malts and firmly bittered with East Kent Goldings hops.
Coffee, cocoa and some fruit from the yeast in the aroma, the flavor is dense with espresso, dark chocolate fudge and bitter German licorice candies. Dangerously drinkable despite being 11% ABV.
Past releases are drinking fantastic with 3-4 years of aging but it isn’t necessary.
Tokyo Style Gose (for Hattori Hanzo)
Tokyo Style Gose (for Hattori Hanzo) 4.5% ABV. Traditional Gose is a German sour wheat beer brewed with salt and coriander. We re-imagined it through the eye of a Japanese brewer and substituted local white miso for the salt and pickled sushi ginger for the coriander.
The result is a bright, tart refresher that would be amazing paired with charcuterie or pool side. Big ginger aroma with a subtle umami note from the miso.
While examples of this beer at 2-3 years old are still wonderful this is not meant for aging. Only 500 bottles produced.
Original IPA circa 1840 (for Winston Churchill)
This is not a modern IPA, it’s not even a vintage west coast IPA, this is IPA as it tasted back when it was actually shipped to India. 100% Maris Otter pale malt and an eye watering 160 calculated IBUs of traditional East Kent Goldings hops. Aged in oak barrels with Brettanomyces for a full year then dry hopped with even more Goldings hops.
The aroma is like a Christmas cake with orange marmalade, gingerbread and warm spices. It’s definitely funky from the Brett but not in the typical “barnyard” way. The funk flavor battles it out with mouth coating hop resin and a bit of oak tannins. Unbelievably complex yet surprisingly drinkable.
We release this once a year and it has its fans that think it’s the best beer we make and for others it’s just too weird. What is for sure is that Zebulon is likely the only brewery in the world making this style. I think everyone should try it at least once, if only to know how IPA tasted originally.7.8% ABV.