Last week, The Diamond, on Franklin Ave. in Greenpoint, received one of only ten kegs of Brett, a new beer from Kelso of Brooklyn. Brett is brewed with brettanomyces yeast, a strain found in many Flemish and Belgian ales, known for its sharp, sour flavor. The most well known ales with brettanomyces are Lambics, but their sourness is typically masked by the addition of fruit syrups (like in Lindemans Framboise or Kreik). The signature sour beer is the Flanders Red Ale, the best known of which is Rodenbach.
Kelso takes a more delicate approcach to this often-overpowering yeast. Their Brett is a tart ale with notes of strawberry in the nose. There is just a hint of sourness in the begining of each sip, but the aftertaste is mild and clean. It’s a great summer beer, and a great sour beer for beginners. People who love pale ales, hefeweizens, white ales, and pilsners should all give this one a shot. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the use of the brettanomyces yeast, and it’s hint of sourness might even become a flavor that you crave. I know I do.
Photo: