Herevana – #206 – Garage Project – Mountain Call

Here we have a Garage Project – Mountain Call. Like a Siren’s call all of the Wild Workshop beers scream quality and wanty, and true to form it’s been in the fridge waiting its turn for the outing on the Herevana post, and probably Insta, and associated Meta sites.

Unsurprisingly a product of the Garage Project Wild Workshop, Mountain Call is in the style of Farmhouse Ale (other) of 7.2%,  and they do all that in  Wellington, New Zealand.

Lapsang Souchong is a Chinese smoked tea with an intensely smoky, piney character, the tea leaves are smoked over pine branches. So a beer combining the tartness of a sour with distinctive smoky tea notes. What could go wrong?

Gān bēi!

Of course I went mad and had a nice fine china tea cup handy.

It looks nice in either the cup or glass. and has a light pleasing odour.

Then there’s the taste, given that I have used the word “intense” I am surprised that this isn’t that at all, but it’s a rather sweet, soft really very enjoyably smooth and very pleasing beer, with a an underlying bitterness that is as aide rather than the star.

It really does seem very delicate with things like peach and grapes in the mix, that there isn’t a smokiness doesn’t seem to be an issue. The art in this is in the lingering and lasting taste, after-taste seems rather harsh and unnecessary, and whist it does warm in the glass the smokiness becomes a little more noticeable and is immediately very enjoyable too.

Foeder aged sour beer, fermented with our own unique house culture, then infused with the finest Lapsang Souchong tea, creates an exquisite journey of complex sour and delicate smoke, pine resin and dried logan fruit.
said the brewer

The Pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a big 9 on the arbitrary scale. This is rather the most delicious and delicate thing I’ve had for quite a while, it is a full experience and drama without added drama or unnecessary bits trying to crowd in.

Music There’s always time to play some Brian Jonestown Massacre – I’ve got Revelation on Vinyl playing

Herevana beers are those I drink at home, I’m not at some beer festival, like, for instance, Beervana, but am just in my kitchen, usually, dining room table, sometimes, or outside, occasionally, where I can take an average picture and write in real time about the beer that I’ve invested in, both in a monetary and emotional way.

Philip himself.

SAISON

Fruity esters dominate the aroma. Clarity is good with a large foamy head on top. The addition of several spices and herbs create a complex fruity or citrusy flavor. Light to medium bodied with very high carbonation. Alcohol level is medium to high.

Saison / Farmhouse – Flavored

The Flavored Saison, or Flavored Farmhouse Ale, is a refreshing, highly-attenuated, moderately-bitter, moderate-strength Belgian ale with a very dry finish with a clear flavoring element. Typically highly carbonated, and using non-barley cereal grains and optional spices for complexity, as complements the expressive yeast character that is fruity, spicy, and not overly phenolic. It features an harmonious marriage of the additive and beer, but still recognizable as a beer. The additive character should be evident but in balance with the beer. (For example: fruits, spices, herbs, vegetables, coffee, honey, chocolate, maple sirup, chilies, nuts, vanilla, liquor – BUT not including Smoked malt, barrel-aging or a Sour element resulting from the brewing process).