Tag: terroir

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The Botany of Beer

Agriculture and beer are inextricably linked. Plant life and beer are as well, especially when beer and creativity are mixed. That is why The Botany of Beer is important.

This synopsis should convince you, like it did me, to dive into what the book offers…

“This book is a comprehensive and beautifully illustrated compendium of the characteristics and properties of the plants used in making beer around the world. The botanical expert Giuseppe Caruso presents scientifically rigorous descriptions, accompanied by his own hand-drawn ink images, of more than 500 species. For each one, he gives the scientific classification, common names, and information about morphology, geographical distribution and habitat, and cultivation range. Caruso provides detailed information about each plant’s applications in beer making, including which of its parts are employed, as well as its chemical composition, its potential toxicity, and examples of beers and styles in which it is typically used. The book also considers historical uses, aiding brewers who seek to rediscover ancient and early modern concoctions.”

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Terroir Firestone

Seems like Firestone Walker is cornering the high-end festival market. From the Barrel, Pils & Love and of course the super popular (rightly so) Invitational to the new Terroir.

There are rules to this earth driven event though. Each of the breweries making their way to the vineyard-y area of Los Olivos would be making their own beer but:

1. same grain bill
2. same maturation period in barrels
3. same co-fermented percentage of wort & wine grapes
AND “all grapes had to be grown within 100 miles of each brewery”

Beavertown – London, England
Garage Project – Wellington, New Zealand
Jester King – Austin, TX
Side Project – St. Louis, MO
Sierra Nevada – Chico, CA
Trillium – Boston, MA
+ BarrelWorks – Firestone Walker too.

Oh and there will be more beer (and wine). With Firestone Walker, there always is:
“This event will also feature five guest breweries who are not part of the 2018 Terroir Project but who are pushing boundaries & exploring new realms of wild ales. Also in attendance are four wineries whose grapes have been used in beers before.”

All for just $65 plus you will be far away from the madding LA crowd and amidst agriculture.

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Where It is Grown


Mikkeller has done a single-hop series in the past but now they are going the route of compare/contrast with Hop Terroir. The educations involved is to spot the taste differences because “A hop variety can taste markedly different depending on the country in which it’s grown and the processes involved in its production”.

Now there will be nine different beers with nine varieties of hops from various locations in the world.

The current line-up of Mikkeller Hop Terroir beers:

Hop variety: Amarillo/Cascade
IPA – Terroir Series Amarillo Idaho
IPA – Terroir Series Amarillo Washington State
IPA – Terroir Series Cascade Australia
IPA – Terroir Series Cascade Germany
IPA – Terroir Series Cascade Washington State

Hop variety: Centennial/Sorachi Ace
IPA – Terroir Series Centennial Washington State
IPA – Terroir Series Centennial Belgium
IPA – Terroir Series Sorachi Ace Belgium
IPA – Terroir Series Sorachi Ace Northwest US

To me the Cascade beers seem to be the best bet for creating truly unique beers with one single hop, though Sorachi Ace is intriguing since it is not seen as much. And hopefully, the L.A. Mikkeller outpost will have a tasting trial.

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Estate Beer from Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is honored to announce the release of Estate Ale–one of the world’s only estate-made beers brewed with 100% all-natural, locally-grown hops and barley, which are produced at the brewery in Chico, California. Inspired by the renowned winemaking region of its Napa and Sonoma neighbors, Sierra Nevada is the first brewery to develop its own terroir. This beer is brewed with ingredients that reflect the flavors of the environment and the seasonal rhythms of nature.