Welcome to Beer Tastings, a weekly series in which Utah Beer News highlights a particularly tasty local brew. What are you drinking? Let us know!
Beer Tastings: Kveik 3
I’ve learned a lot about kveik in the last month, thanks to Shades Brewing’s Marcio Buffolo and Trent Fargher, whom I recently interviewed about the ancient Norwegian yeast.
Shades Brewing brewed with kveik — pronounced ka-wike — in a series of three golden sour ales. Kveik 1 is dry-hopped with Nelson Sauvin™ and already won a bronze medal (American Sour) at the 2018 North American Beer Awards in Idaho. Kveik 2, which is loaded with cherries, isn’t quite ready for its close up. And Kveik 3, nicknamed “Tropical Thunder” hit the market last Saturday.
Kveik 3’s big aromas of mango, pineapple and guava virtually transport you to a tropical island. I picked up mango and guava more than pineapple in the aroma and flavor. The tartness is nice, but it’s not overly puckering. The added lactose gives the golden sour ale a touch of sweetness and thicker mouthfeel.
- Brewery: Shades Brewing Company
- ABV: 6.3%
- Serving Style: Bottle (12 ounce)
- Date Tasted: July 14, 2018
- Purchase Location: Shades Brewing Company
Shades Brewing: South Salt Lake Innovator
Shades Brewing, formerly Shades of Pale Brewing Co., started filing its paperwork in 2009 in Park City, Utah. The brewery got the go-ahead to begin production in 2010. That first year, however, involved primarily recipe development, according to president and founder Trent Fargher.
Listen to a full interview with Trent on the founding of Shades Brewing.
Shades released its first full-scale beer — Jack Wagon Wheat — in May 2011 from a 500-square-foot facility in Park City.
Since then the brewery’s made a name for itself by offering a variety of styles on draft at its 17,000-square-foot taproom/brewery in South Salt Lake. And I could be wrong, but it seems to me its Grapefruit Revolution was one of the area’s first New England-style “hazy” IPAs.
Bottles to go can be picked up at the brewery or from liquor and grocery stores around the state.
“Making beer for beer lovers is fun,” Shades writes on its website. “We plan to keep it that way.”
Kveik 3 — Shades Brewing
Product Name: Kveik 3
Product Description: Big aromas of mango, pineapple and guava are prominent. I picked up mango and guava more than pineapple, though. The tartness is nice, but it’s not overly puckering. The added lactose gives the hazy-yellow golden sour ale a touch of sweetness and thicker mouthfeel.
- Aroma
- Appearance
- Flavor
- Mouthfeel
Overall Impression
Kveik — pronounced “ka-wike” — is an ancient Norwegian yeast Shades Brewing is using in a series of three distinct golden sour ales. Kveik 3 is nicknamed “Tropical Thunder” and expresses notes of mango, pineapple and guava. Lactose added gives the beer some sweetness to balance the tartness.
- Aroma: Lots of tropical fruit; for me, I get mango and guava more than pineapple
- Appearance: Hazy yellow; sparkling with a quick-fading head
- Flavor: Mango and guava; also pick up a little citrus (lemon?)
- Mouthfeel: Tart and sparkly; some creaminess comes through thanks to the lactose
But you don’t have to take my word for it.
Note: The tasting notes format is adapted from a Homebrew Academy Beer Tasting Mastery course I took in 2017.
