Denmark-based Artisan Brewing take seasonally-appropriate inspiration from the Far North to create a mango macadamia sour. If such a concept has you wondering just how many bags of lactose could be jammed into Northern Grove before the stainless welds split, these Belgo-loving brewers chose discretion instead.
"What if we make a dessert-style beer without lactose?" says state sales manager Josh Edmeades.
The resultant beer leads with playful juicy mango aromatics supported by a subtle nuttiness that suggests a bold beer ahead. Instead, the surprisingly light-bodied palate maintains those themes while elevating drinkability, before clean tartness leaves this delightfully fresh dessert-style beer both moreish and dry.
When taken as a pair, it’s a nice setup for the second entry into Artisan’s collaborative tenth birthday series. Brewed in cahoots with Falcon-based Wedgetail Brewing, Quipster retains much you'd expect to find in a typical, sessionable Belgian witbier style; it's just been vaulted into a heady realm as all of their birthday releases will be, fittingly, 10 percent ABV.
At such weight, you’d assume this would be akin to some sort of blonde barleywine; however, all of the style elements have been skilfully scaled: it's light-bodied for size, harmonised with orange peel freshness and subtle spice phenolics, all while maintaining absurd drinkability.
Now, if only the there was a short riposte with which to close my thoughts on Quipster. Perhaps something Shakespearean such as making it a felony to drink a small beer.
Guy Southern
Published February 4, 2025 2025-02-04 00:00:00