Two Worlds Collide #2

Our first 2024 wine-meets-beer collaboration, combining Logan Wines’ freshly pressed riesling grape juice - skins, stems and all - with NZ hops and Kolsch yeast to create this unique, very drinkable beer.

Style:  Kolsch/Wine Beer

ABV: 7.3%

ECB: 5 

IBU: 20

Malts: Atlas

Hops: Motueka

Yeast: Kolsch 

Other: Grapes! And Grape Juice 

Colour: Light straw, beautifully clear

Aroma: Light fruits, citrus and sweet fruit

Body: Very thin, with high carbonation, zippy

Flavour: Same as aroma

Bitterness: Low - the beer is balanced more with the grape’s acidity

Tasting Notes

A light, fresh, and easy-drinking beer. The grape variety comes through in pear, green apple, lime, lemon and orange blossom, both on the nose and palate. Crisp from the grape acidity, made in a Kolsch style with tropical notes of orange blossom and green apple. 

It’s a very drinkable beer for the high ABV. A high acidity leaves a quick finish, ready for another sip.  

Brewer’s Notes

A touch of sulphur on the nose, this dissipates quickly - pour the beer and let it ‘breathe’. We used the uncrushed, fresh grapes in the mash with the grain, along with fresh clear juice to give a more rounded and complex character. We also mash-hopped with a hop from New Zealand (Motueka) to accentuate the lime/lemon and used Kolsch yeast.

All of this together yields the biotransformation of grapes and hops to give more chances for the varietal character to shine. Winemaker Peter Logan said: “You can really taste the varietal character. It’s exactly what I was hoping for, and yet I’m surprised by it, so that’s very humbling and cool!"