Difference between revisions of "De Garde Brewing"

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==Overview==
 
==Overview==
In 2012, Linsey and Trevor Rogers founded '''de Garde Brewing''' in Tillamook, Oregon. De Garde is often considered the first exclusive [[Spontaneous_Fermentation|spontaneously fermented beer]] producer in the United States, despite initial intentions to also produce conventional beers. Due to the positive progression of their first three spontaneous beer batches, the Rogers decided to solely focus on spontaneous fermentation because it is a "representation of [their] heart and soul" <ref name="craftbeertemple">[http://craftbeertemple.com/videoblog/2015/05/on-location-at-de-garde-brewing/ The Beer Temple Episode #264: On Location at De Garde Brewing]</ref> (~11 min in). De Garde's first beers were released to the public in 2013 <ref name="bierversuche">[http://www.bierversuche.ch/blog/2016/05/interview-with-trevor-rogers-of-de-garde-brewing/ Interview with Trevor Rogers of De Garde Brewing. Retrieved 2/25/2018.]</ref>.
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In 2012, Linsey and Trevor Rogers founded '''de Garde Brewing''' in Tillamook, Oregon. De Garde is often considered the first exclusive [[Spontaneous_Fermentation|spontaneously fermented beer]] producer in the United States, despite initial intentions to also produce conventional beers <ref name="wweek">[http://www.wweek.com/outdoors/2016/05/27/tillamooks-de-garde-might-be-the-worlds-quirkiest-brewery/ Tillamook's De Garde Might Be the World's Quirkiest Brewery. Retrieved 3/5/2018]</ref>. Due to the positive progression of their first spontaneous beer batch, the Rogers decided to solely focus on spontaneous fermentation because it is a "representation of [their] heart and soul" <ref name="craftbeertemple">[http://craftbeertemple.com/videoblog/2015/05/on-location-at-de-garde-brewing/ The Beer Temple Episode #264: On Location at De Garde Brewing]</ref> (~11 min in).  
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The first de Garde beers were released to the public in 2013 <ref name="bierversuche">[http://www.bierversuche.ch/blog/2016/05/interview-with-trevor-rogers-of-de-garde-brewing/ Interview with Trevor Rogers of De Garde Brewing. Retrieved 2/25/2018.]</ref>. Notable releases include Bu Weisse, a [[Berliner_Weissbier | Berliner Weisse]]-inspired low-alcohol beer (often fruited), Saison Premiere, a [[Saison | saison]]-inspired blend (often fruited), and The Broken Truck, a [[Gueuze | gueuze]]-inspired blend of one-, two-, and three-year-old beers. Roughly 90-95% of de Garde's beers are sold directly out of the tasting room <ref name="wweek"></ref><ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~9 min in).
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In 2016, de Garde was named fifth best brewery in the world <ref>[https://www.ratebeer.com/ratebeerbest/BestBrewers-World2016.asp RateBeer Top Brewers In The World For the Year 2015]></ref> and top brewery in Oregon by RateBeer <ref>[https://www.ratebeer.com/ratebeerbest/BestBeers-State2016.asp 2016 RateBeer Top Beers, Brewers, New Brewers By Subregion. Retrieved 3/5/2018.]></ref>.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
(In progress)
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Trevor Rogers is a former assistant manager of Pelican Brewery <ref name="newschoolbeer">[http://www.newschoolbeer.com/2013/03/de-garde-brewing-opening-soon-with-a-wildbarrel-agedfarmhouse-focus.html De Garde Brewing Opening Soon With a Wild/Barrel-Aged/Farmhouse Focus. Retrieved 2/25/2018.]</ref> but boasts an original affection for [[Wine | wine]] - even working several wine industry jobs and at one point planning a career in wine <ref name="talkbeer">[https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/de-garde-brewing.5908/ Talk Beer- AMA De Garde Brewing. Retrieved 2/25/2018.]</ref> (page 2 post #22). He credits Brouwerij Rodenbach for opening his eyes to [[Mixed Fermentation|mixed fermentation beers]] <ref name="craftcommander">[http://www.craftcommander.com/10-questions/2015/7/9/trevor-rogers-de-garde-brewing Trevor Rogers of de Garde Brewing. Retrieved 1/28/2017.]</ref>, [[3_Fonteinen | 3 Fonteinen]], [[Cantillon]], and Tilquin as the catalysts to encourage his exploration of spontaneously fermented beer <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 1 post #4) <ref name="bierversuche"></ref><ref name="craftcommander"></ref>, and Upright Brewery and Block 15 Brewing for introducing wild beers to consumers in Oregon <ref name="oregonbeer">[https://web.archive.org/web/20160328182620/https://www.oregonbeergrowler.com/blog/de-garde-goes-wild-in-tillamook "de Garde Goes Wild in Tillamook".  Gail Oberst.  Beer Growler blog. 1/31/2014.  Retrieved from Web Archive (03/28/2016 archive) on 08/28/2018.]</ref>.
  
Trevor Rogers is formerly of Pelican Brewery <ref name="newschoolbeer">[http://www.newschoolbeer.com/2013/03/de-garde-brewing-opening-soon-with-a-wildbarrel-agedfarmhouse-focus.html De Garde Brewing Opening Soon With a Wild/Barrel-Aged/Farmhouse Focus. Retrieved 2/25/2018.]</ref> but boasts an original affection for wine - even working several wine industry jobs and at one point planning a career in wine <ref>[https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/de-garde-brewing.5908/page-2#post-158205 Talk Beer - AMA De Garde Brewing. Retrieved 2/25/2018.]</ref>. He credits Brouwerij Rodenbach for opening his eyes to [[Mixed Fermentation|mixed fermentation beers]] <ref name="craftcommander">[http://www.craftcommander.com/10-questions/2015/7/9/trevor-rogers-de-garde-brewing Trevor Rogers of de Garde Brewing. Retrieved 1/28/2017.]</ref>, 3 Fonteinen, Cantillon, and Tilquin as the catalysts to encourage his exploration of spontaneously fermented beer <ref>[https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/de-garde-brewing.5908/#post-157048 Talk Beer - AMA De Garde Brewing. Retrieved 2/25/2018.]</ref><ref name="bierversuche"></ref><ref name="craftcommander"></ref>, and Upright Brewery and Block 15 Brewing for introducing wild beers to consumers in Oregon <ref name="oregonbeer">[http://www.oregonbeergrowler.com/blog/de-garde-goes-wild-in-tillamook de Garde Goes Wild in Tillamook. Retrieved 2/25/2018.]</ref>.  
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Before selecting a physical home for the brewery, Rogers wanted to qualify potential locations for spontaneous fermentation character. He exposed sterile wort to ambient microflora along more than 100 miles of the Oregon Coast (from Newport to Astoria) <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~5 min in) <ref name="wweek"></ref>, originally targeted for its consistent year-round temperature and climate <ref name="bierversuche"></ref>. Using a grist of pilsner and wheat, Rogers brewed 15-gallon trial batches on a MoreBeer! Tippy-Dump BrewSculpture. The wort was chilled and split into food grade buckets, standardized to 1-gallon volumes for consistency. The buckets were brought to prospective locations and left uncovered overnight, emulating the function of a [[Coolship | coolship]]. Once retrieved, the beer was allowed to ferment for approximately 12 months before undergoing sensory assessment to understand the unique representation of ambient microflora from that area <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~5 min in). Rogers noticed a distinct sensory difference in spontaneously fermented trial beers in as few as 10 miles apart <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~4 min in). This trial batch method allowed Rogers to refine his list of prospective locations and repeat batches to qualify consistency <ref name="bierversuche"></ref>. Ultimately, Tillamook was selected for its desirable microflora character and shorter [[Spontaneous_Fermentation#Microbial_Succession_During_Fermentation | fermentation timeline]] <ref name="beerandbrewing">[https://beerandbrewing.com/breakout-brewer-de-garde-brewing/ Breakout Brewer: de Garde Brewing. Retrieved 2/25/2018.]</ref>.
  
Before selecting a physical home for the brewery, Rogers wanted to qualify potential locations for spontaneous fermentation character. He exposed sterile wort to ambient microflora in various towns along the Oregon Coast <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref>, originally considered for its consistent year-round temperature and climate <ref name="bierversuche"></ref>. Using a grist of pilsner and wheat, Rogers brewed 15-gallon trial batches on a MoreBeer! Tippy-Dump BrewSculpture. The wort was chilled and split into food grade buckets, standardized to 1-gallon volumes for consistency. The buckets were brought to prospective locations and left uncovered overnight, emulating the function of a coolship. Once retrieved, the beer was allowed to ferment for approximately 12 months before undergoing sensory assessment to understand the unique representation of ambient microflora from that area. Rogers noticed a distinct sensory difference in spontaneously fermented trial beers in as few as 10 miles apart <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref>. This trial batch method allowed Rogers to refine his list of prospective locations and repeat batches to qualify consistency <ref name="bierversuche"></ref>. Ultimately, Tillamook was selected for its desirable microflora character and shorter fermentation timeline <ref name="beerandbrewing">[https://beerandbrewing.com/breakout-brewer-de-garde-brewing/ Breakout Brewer: de Garde Brewing. Retrieved 2/25/2018.]</ref>.
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De Garde initiated brewing operations in 2012 in downtown Tillamook using a 7 bbl brewing system. Their initial focus was to brew a wide variety of clean beers and spontaneously fermented beers <ref name="newschoolbeer"></ref>, however the early success of initial spontaneous batches encouraged the shift to a singular focus. Rogers specifically credits the first batch of Bu Weisse, brewed on a whim to determine brewhouse efficiency and specifications, for reinforcing his desire to pursue spontaneous fermentation exclusively <ref name="wweek"></ref><ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~2 min in). By 2015, the Bu Weisse beers represented 15-20% of total production, quickly becoming de Garde's flagship beer <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~2 min in). In 2014, they closed the 2nd St. location and moved to a new 3,000 sq ft facility four miles south, next to the Tillamook Air Museum <ref name="bendsource">[https://www.bendsource.com/bend/the-wild-wizards-at-de-garde/Content?oid=2426667 The Wild Wizards At De Garde. Retrieved 3/5/2018.]</ref>. They expanded to a new 10 bbl system, which can squeeze out up to 15 bbl of wort due to the modest gravity and alcohol content of many of the beers <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~26 min in). The expansion also included a 14 bbl coolship fabricated by Practical Fusion of Hillsboro, Oregon <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 22 post #421). In 2017, after more than two years of renovations, de Garde returned to downtown Tillamook with the opening of their new tasting room and brewery. Their existing 10 bbl brewhouse was moved to this new location which promises to hold more than 2,000 oak vessels, including dozens of [Foeder | foeders] <ref>[http://www.newschoolbeer.com/2017/12/inside-look-de-garde-brewings-new-tasting-room-brewery.html An Inside Look at De Garde Brewing’s New Tasting Room & Brewery. Retrieved 3/4/2018.]</ref>. With the expansion, they intend to shift from using small format oak vessels (~60 gal) in favor of large format ones (~130-550 gal) in an effort to increase efficiency and limit oxidation <ref>[https://www.portlandmercury.com/lush-life/2017/11/08/19453175/inside-de-garde-brewings-expansion Inside de Garde Brewing’s Expansion. Retrieved 3/4/2018.]</ref>.
  
De Garde initiated brewing operations in 2012 in downtown Tillamook using a 7-bbl brewing system. Their initial focus was to brew a wide variety of clean beers and spontaneously fermented beers <ref name="newschoolbeer"></ref>, however the early success of initial spontaneous batches encouraged the shift to a singular focus. Rogers specifically credits the first batch of Bu Weisse, brewed on a whim to determine brewhouse efficiency and specifications, for reinforcing his desire to pursue spontaneous fermentation exclusively. By 2015, the Bu Weisse beers represented 15-20% of total production, quickly becoming de Garde's flagship beer <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref>.
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Today, de Garde is motivated to be as close to an authentic [[Lambic | lambic]] brewery outside of Belgium. They rely strictly on ambient microflora to create a local manifestation of spontaneously fermented beer <ref name="thesourhour1">[http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/the-sour-hour-de-garde-brewing/ The Sour Hour Episode 20 - De Garde Brewing.]</ref> (~23 min in).  
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As the brewery matures, production and sales should converge to approximately 1,300-1,400 bbls per year <ref name="thesourhour2">[http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/the-sour-hour-episode-21/ The Sour Hour Episode 21 - De Garde Brewing.]</ref> (~7 min in).
  
Today, de Garde is motivated to be as close to an authentic lambic brewery outside of Belgium. They rely strictly on ambient microflora to create a local manifestation of spontaneously fermented beer <ref name="thesourhour1">[http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/the-sour-hour-de-garde-brewing/</ The Sour Hour Episode 20.]</ref>.
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The name de Garde is inspired from the concept of beers destined for keeping, holding, and cellaring – a reference to the breweries who have inspired Rogers in both process and product. De Garde purposefully brews beers that will evolve over time, giving credence to both inspiration and reality <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~19 min in).
As the brewery matures, production and sales should converge to approximately 1,300 - 1,400 bbls per year <ref name="thesourhour2">[http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/the-sour-hour-episode-21/</ The Sour Hour Episode 21.]</ref>.
 
 
 
The name de Garde is inspired from the concept of beers destined for keeping, holding, and cellaring – a reference to the breweries who have inspired Rogers in both process and product. De Garde purposefully brews beers that will evolve over time, giving credence to both inspiration and reality <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref>.
 
  
 
==Brewing Methods==
 
==Brewing Methods==
(In progress)
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De Garde brews spontaneously fermented beers year-round due to the steady, cool, wet climate in Tillamook <ref name="oregonbeer"></ref>.
 
 
90-95% of of the grist used in de Garde beers is Northwest grown and/or malted <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> and only some recipes use raw grain, such as unmalted wheat in Saison Premiere <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref>. Oats are sometimes used to reduce dryness <ref name="bierversuche"></ref>.
 
  
De Garde prefers three or four-year-old aged Cascade or Willamette hops for most of its recipes. Rogers is not particularly fond of the cheesy character of aged hops, instead preferring a wild, earthy, and herbal character. In his experience, aged hops can also contribute a noticeable tannins, particularly in more aggressively hopped beers <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref>. Beers are hopped at 1.5 to 3.0 lb/bbl, with the latter representing the hopping rate in the lambic-inspired beers. They have progressively increased the hopping rate over the years to prevent beers from becoming too acidic. Occasionally, non-aged hops are used at the end of the boil, in the whirlpool, or dry hop for fresh hop character found in some of the saison-inspired recipes <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref>, such as Azacca in Saison Troisieme, designed to marry the fruity yeast esters with fruity hop flavors <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref>. In Spears, de Garde used 5 lb/bbl of hops <ref>[https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/de-garde-brewing.5908/page-4#post-164405]</ref>. Bales of aged hops are lab-tested for de Garde to ensure they are not too aggressive or mild <ref name="bierversuche"></ref>.
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90-95% of of the grist used in de Garde's beer is Northwest grown and/or malted <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~33 min in) and only some recipes use [[Grain | raw grain]], such as unmalted wheat in Saison Premiere <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~22 min in). Oats are sometimes used to reduce dryness <ref name="bierversuche"></ref>.
  
Rogers is not adverse to using imported ingredients, such as European malts and hops, when no suitable domestic substitute exists since it contributes to the overall quality of his beers <ref>[https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/de-garde-brewing.5908/page-7#post-182214]</ref>
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De Garde prefers three or four-year-old aged Cascade or Willamette [[Hops | hops]] for most of its recipes. Rogers is not particularly fond of the cheesy character of aged hops, instead preferring a wild, earthy, and herbal character <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~31 min in). In his experience, aged hops can also contribute noticeable tannins, particularly in more aggressively hopped beers <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~52 min in). Beers are hopped at 1.5-3.0 lb/bbl (0.8-1.5 oz/gal), with the latter representing the rate used in lambic-inspired beers <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~31 min in). Brewers have progressively increased the hopping rate over the years to prevent beers from becoming too acidic <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~30 min in). Bales of aged hops are lab-tested for de Garde to ensure they are not too aggressive or mild <ref name="bierversuche"></ref>. Occasionally, non-aged hops are used at the end of the boil, in the whirlpool, or dry hop for fresh hop character. This is common in some saison-inspired recipes <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~31 min in), such as Azacca in Saison Troisieme, designed to marry the fruity yeast esters with fruity hop flavors <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~22 min in). In Spears, de Garde used a total of 5.0 lb/bbl (2.6 oz/gal) of hops <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 4 post #80).
  
Tillamook water is mineral deficient much like distilled water. Rogers does not treat the water for the vast majority of recipes because he wants the beer to be an authentic representation of the environment <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref>.
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Rogers is not averse to using imported ingredients, such as European malts and hops, when no suitable domestic substitute exists since it contributes to the overall quality of his beers <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 7 post #138).
  
Rogers experimented with traditional turbid mash regimens but switched to a radical modern approach instead <ref name="beervana">[http://beervana.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-spontaneous-files-de-garde-brewing.html]</ref>. De Garde uses a typical mash procedure, though some recipes require higher-than-normal mash temperatures. This helps produce wort that "could be found at almost any brewery" with the exception of more adjuncts, such as wheat. Mash pH is adjusted on occasion, specifically for the Berliner Weisse/Gose-Inspired recipes since brewers intentionally avoid the enteric bacteria phase of spontaneous fermentation to shorten fermentation duration and produce less funky character. It is important to note, however that no pH adjustments are made after the mash <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref>. The Berliner Weisse/Gose-inspired beers are mashed at 150°F for a longer duration for a more fermentable wort <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref>. The lambic-inspired beers are an entirely different recipe designed to be slightly less fermentable <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref>. A high mash temperature, bordering on the edge of denaturing conversion enzymes, is used for most beers <ref>[https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/de-garde-brewing.5908/page-4#post-163644]</ref>. A hot sparge is used to rinse the grain <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref>.
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Tillamook water is mineral deficient much like distilled water. Rogers does not treat the water for the vast majority of recipes because he wants the beer to be an authentic representation of the environment. Exceptions include hop-forward and saison-inspired recipes where gypsum and calcium chloride is added in nominal amounts <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~32 min in).  
  
De Garde does not oxygenate the wort <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref>.
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Rogers experimented with traditional [[Turbid_Mash | turbid mash]] regimens but switched to a modern approach instead <ref name="beervana">[http://beervana.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-spontaneous-files-de-garde-brewing.html The Spontaneous Files: De Garde Brewing. Retrieved 3/3/2018.]</ref>. He uses a typical mash procedure, featuring a higher-than-normal mash temperature <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~24 min in), bordering on the edge of denaturing conversion enzymes, for most beers <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 4 post #71). In general, de Garde produces wort that "could be found at any brewery" with the exception of more adjuncts, such as wheat. Mash pH is adjusted on occasion, specifically for the Berliner Weisse/[[Gose | gose]]-inspired recipes since brewers intentionally avoid the enteric bacteria phase of spontaneous fermentation to shorten fermentation duration and produce less funky character. It is important to note, however that no pH adjustments are made after the mash <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~26 min in). The Berliner Weisse/gose-inspired beers are mashed at 150°F for a longer duration for a more fermentable wort. The lambic-inspired beers are an entirely different recipe designed to be slightly less fermentable <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~25 min in). A hot sparge is used to rinse the grain <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~52 min in).
  
De Garde describes their system size as 15 bbl despite the mash tun being realistically sized for 10 bbl batches <ref name="bierversuche"></ref>. Brewers can squeeze up to 15 bbl due to the modest gravity and alcohol content of many of the beers <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref>.
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Brewers do not oxygenate the wort <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~27 min in). Post boil, the wort is transferred into the coolship, typically around 3-4 pm. Upon entering the coolship, the wort is still at near-boiling temperature. The next day the wort is removed from the coolship around 12 pm (after ~20 hours), though overnight ambient temperatures can impact the cooling rate and exact removal time <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~24 min in). Every de Garde beer runs through the coolship <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~23 min in) <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~3 min in). The ~14 bbl coolship was built by Practical Fusion in Hillsboro, Oregon <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 22 post #421). Prior to having the coolship installed, de Garde used their 7 bbl Hot Liquor Tank and Boil Kettle (which featured removable tops) for spontaneous inoculation. They equalized the volume between the two vessels to give a higher [[Coolship#Surface_Area_to_Volume_Ratio | surface area to volume ratio]] <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 6 post #111).
  
Post boil, wort is transferred to the coolship, typically around 3 or 4 pm. Upon entering the coolship, the wort is still at near-boiling temperatures. The next day the wort is removed from the coolship around 12 pm, though overnight ambient temperatures can impact the cooling rate <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref>.
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For the Berliner Weisse/gose-inspired beers, the coolship inoculated wort is transferred back into the kettle and held between 100-120°F (with 110°F as a target) for approximately 48-72 hours to encourage [[Wort_Souring | acidification from ambient lactic acid bacteria]]. This contributes to a relatively clean, yet still slightly funky character in the beer. After the warm temperature hold is complete, the wort is transferred to oak [[Barrel | barrels]] and allowed to cool naturally <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~22 min in) <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 12 post #227).
 
 
For the Berliner Weisse/Gose-inspired beers, the coolship inoculated wort is transferred back into the kettle and held between 100-120°F (110°F target) for approximately 48 to 72 hours to encourage acidification from ambient lactic acid bacteria. This contributes to a relatively clean, yet still slightly funky character in the beer. After the warm temperature hold is complete, the wort is transferred to oak and allowed to cool naturally <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref><ref>[https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/de-garde-brewing.5908/page-12#post-194702]</ref>.
 
 
 
Every De Garde beer runs through the coolship <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref>. The ~14 bbl coolship was built by Practical Fusion out of Hillsboro, Oregon <ref>[https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/de-garde-brewing.5908/page-22#post-737875]</ref>. Prior to having the coolship installed, de Garde used their 7 bbl hot liquor tank and boil kettle (which featured removable tops) for spontaneous inoculation. They equalized the volume between the two to give a higher surface area to volume ratio <ref>[https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/de-garde-brewing.5908/page-6#post-169003]</ref>.
 
 
 
Rogers can brew year-round due to the steady, cool, wet climate in Tillamook <ref name="oregonbeer"></ref>.
 
  
 
==Fermentation Methods==
 
==Fermentation Methods==
(In progress)
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Rogers believes that most of the ambient microflora comes from the brewhouse itself. He looks for a re-supply of enteric bacteria via coolship for added complexity of character <ref name="beervana"></ref>.
 
 
Consistency between recipes aged in barrels and foeders is very high <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref>.
 
 
 
De Garde often fills empty foeders with multiple batches over as long as a week. Often by the third batch, vigorous fermentation is already occuring inside the foeder <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref>.
 
 
 
The inoculated wort is transferred directly into oak barrels - either standard wine/spirits barrels, puncheons, or foeders (1500 - 1800 gal) <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref><ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref><ref>[https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/de-garde-brewing.5908/page-5#post-164564]></ref>. The brewery nearly exclusively uses Northwest-sourced oak barrels <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref>. Some non-neutral barrel types used include cognac <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref>, gin <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref>, rum <ref>[https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/de-garde-brewing.5908/page-3#post-161740]</ref>, and bourbon <ref name="beerandbrewing"></ref>.
 
 
 
The foeders contain Bu Weisse and Petit Desay to take advantage of economies of scale to offer better pricing to customers <ref>[https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/de-garde-brewing.5908/page-15#post-361517]</ref>.
 
 
 
De Garde enjoys the synergy between gin barrels and hops which is why they age most of their hop-forward beers in gin barrels <ref>[https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/de-garde-brewing.5908/page-4#post-164378]</ref>.
 
  
Beers are fermented and aged on the lees and the ambient microflora is never repitched into subsequent beers <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref>.
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The inoculated wort is transferred directly into various sized oak vessels including standard wine (~60 gal) and spirit barrels (~53 gal), puncheons (~120 gal), or foeders (~1,800 gal) <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~25 min in) <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~3 min in) <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 5 post #92). Consistency between beers aged in barrels and foeders is very high <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~28 min in). The brewery nearly exclusively uses Northwest-sourced barrels <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~33 min in). Some non-neutral barrel types used include cognac <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~45 min in), gin <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~28 min in), rum <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 3 post #59), and bourbon <ref name="beerandbrewing"></ref>. De Garde especially enjoys the synergy between gin and hops which is why they age most of their hop-forward beers in gin barrels <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 4 post #78). All oak vessels go through a full sanitization regimen before first use and between subsequent uses. A high pressure wash of 180°F is applied to inverted barrels for 20-30 minutes. Despite this process, Rogers has noticed ''[[Brettanomyces]]'' character expresses itself earlier in subsequent barrel uses <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~15 min in). Barrels are stacked to a maximum of three levels high to help maintain consistent temperature throughout <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~30 min in). Most of de Garde's beers go through a ropy period in the barrel, indicating the presence of ''[[Pediococcus]]'' <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 2 post #29).
  
Approximately 15% of production is set-aside to encourage off-flavor rectification or dumped. Brewers see intense butyric acid and isovaleric acid character early in fermentation but expect flavor resolution around the one-year mark. Sometimes, howevever, these off-flavors are persistent and the beer is dumped. Any beers demonstrating acetic acid are immediately discarded <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref>, including the barrel <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref>.
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De Garde often fills empty foeders with multiple batches over as long as a week. Often by the third batch, vigorous fermentation is already occurring inside the foeder <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~26 min in). The foeders typically contain Bu Weisse and Petit Desay to take advantage of economies of scale to offer better pricing to customers <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 15 post #287), <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~6 min in).
  
Barrels go through a full sanitization regimen before first use and between subsequent uses. A high pressure wash of 180 F got 20-30 minutes is applied to inverted barrels. Rogers has noticed Brettanomyces character expresses itself earlier in subsequent batches <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref>.
+
Brewers prefers cool fermentation and aging temperatures to discourage [[Acetic_Acid | acetic acid]] production, but peak fermentation temperature can creep up to 84°F in the foeders <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~29 min in). Ambient warehouse temperature is consistently 55-60°F, allowing de Grade to skip climate control <ref name="beervana"></ref>. Beers are fermented and aged on the lees <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~25 min in) and the ambient microflora is never repitched into subsequent beers <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~28 min in). The Berliner Weisse/gose-inspired beers complete fermentation in as little as three months <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~23 min in).
  
The Berliner Weisse/Gose-inspired beers complete fermentation in approximately three months <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref>.
+
Approximately 15% of production is set-aside for off-flavor rectification <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~14 min in), and a bare minimum of 5% of production will be dumped <ref name="beerandbrewing"></ref>. Brewers see intense [[Butyric_Acid | butyric acid]] and [[Isovaleric_Acid | isovaleric acid]] character early in fermentation but expect flavor resolution around the one-year mark. However sometimes these off-flavors are persistent and the beer is dumped. Any beers demonstrating acetic acid are immediately discarded <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~14 min in), including the barrel <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~15 min in).
  
Peak fermentation temperature can hit 84°F in the foeders <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref>.
+
Overall, spontaneous fermentation character is consistent year round but intra-batch variation (from barrel to barrel) varies widely. It is rare to dump an entire batch, often just individual barrels from a batch <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~14 min in). Rogers has intentionally left barrels exceed the four-year mark to see how they will evolve. His willingness to gamble at times is a direct desire to make the best beer possible <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~16 min in).
  
Barrels are stacked three levels high to help maintain consistent temperature throughout. De Garde prefers cool fermentation and aging temperature to discourage acetic acid production <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref>.
+
De Garde commonly adds [[Soured_Fruit_Beer | fruit]] to their spontaneous beers, using ratios inspired from Belgian lambic producers. Their default [[Soured_Fruit_Beer#Usage_Suggestions | fruit-to-beer ratio]] is 2.0 lb/gal with exceptions for aggressive fruits (cranberry and currant) at 1.0 lb/gal and delicate fruits (peach) as high as 4.0 lb/gal. Brewers use a variety of fruit formats but prefer fresh or frozen. Purees are occasionally used for beers due to seasonal limitations <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~30 min in). Rogers prefers frozen fruit for its enhanced color and flavor <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 22 post #421). He is particularly fond of wine grapes (due to his love of wine), especially grapes that express a strong sense of terroir <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 2 post #22). Beer is conditioned on fruit until the desired character is obtained, ranging from one week to three months <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 12 post #227).
  
Overall, ambient microflora character is consistent year round but intra-batch variation (from barrel to barrel) varies widely. It is rare to dump and entire batch, often just individual barrels from a batch <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref>.
+
Rogers' greatest goal is to produce drinkable beer with character <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~50 min in). He craves depth of flavor, funk, and nuance - not just aggressive acidity or fruit <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~24 min in). [[Blending]] is a collaborative process at de Garde <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~44 min). Rogers tries to utilize everyone in the brewery for input and admits to being occasionally "outvoted" on blend compositions. He has a deep respect for the nuanced palate of his wife, Linsey <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~45 min in). Beers are blended just before [[Packaging | packaging]] and are neither filtered nor pasteurized. For beers spending less than one year in oak, wine yeast is added to the blending tank just before bottling. This helps supplement the ambient yeast to out compete the high ambient bacteria population <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~28, 34 min in) <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 21 post #412).
  
Most of de Garde's beers go through a ropy period in the barrel <ref>[https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/de-garde-brewing.5908/page-2#post-160189]</ref>.
+
Rogers believes that the bottle conditioning process is one of the most fragile states of spontaneous beer production <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~15 min in). De Garde originally packaged beers in 750 ml Belgian-style amber bottles with a crown but have since moved to amber champagne bottles with a cork and crown. The brewery would eventually like to package beers in cans to allow for greater portability and lower cost, further emphasizing Rogers' goal to produce the least expensive beer he can <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~1, 4 min in). Ideally, Rogers would like to target a $10 4-pack of 16 oz cans <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 15 post #287). He aims to price de Garde beers so that it does not require a special occasion to enjoy but rather creates one <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 11 post #208). Bottles are gravity filled, capped individually using a pneumatic capper, hand-labeled and stamped <ref name="wweek"></ref>.
  
Rogers has intentionally left barrels exceed the four-year mark to see how they will evolve. He willingness to gamble at times is a direct desire to make the best beer possible <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref>.
+
Brewers target a carbonation level of 3.0 volumes but given the variability of spontaneous fermentation they realize that beers could end up between 2.0-4.0 volumes <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~35 min in). They experienced some early issues with over-carbonation for this reason <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 9 post #168). A large percentage of bottles undergo a second ropy phase, once again hinting at the presence of  ''Pediococcus'' in de Garde beers <ref name="talkbeer"></ref> (page 2 post #29). The Berliner Weisse/gose-inspired beers spend between 2-8 weeks in bottles before being released <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~23 min in). Rogers recognizes there is going to be a natural blend-to-blend and bottle-to-bottle variation with spontaneous beers and that it's not a flaw rather just part of the process. He believes you lose the greatness of spontaneous beer if you try to produce the same thing every time <ref name="bierversuche"></ref>.
 
 
Rogers believes that most of the ambient microflora comes from the brewhouse itself. He looks for a re-supply of enteric bacteria via coolship for added complexity of character <ref name="beervana"></ref>.
 
  
 
==Recipes==
 
==Recipes==
(In progress)<br>
+
(In progress)
  
De Garde brews about one dozen different base recipes with slight variations <ref name="bierversuche"></ref>.
+
De Garde regularly brews about one dozen different base recipes with slight variations <ref name="bierversuche"></ref>, though in 2014 they brewed over 100 unique recipes, a testiment to their willingess to try new processes and techniques <ref name="craftbeertemple"></ref> (~20 min in).
  
In general, de Garde produces three recipe types; Berliner weisse/gose-inspired, saison-inspired, and lambic-inspired. As the brewery grows and matures, Rogers plans to phase-down or phase-out the Berliner weisse/gose-inspired beers, giving more focus and attention to saison-inspired and lambic-inspired beers. The former were produced out of necessity for quick turnaround production but it is not where de Garde's heart is. The brewery recognizes the Berliner weisse/gose-inspired beer popularity with customers, therefore still plan to produce several batches per year. The end goal is to have the lambic-inspired beers represent a significant majority of the production <ref name="thesourhour"></ref>.
+
Recipes are categorized into three general styles; Berliner Weisse/gose-inspired, saison-inspired, and lambic-inspired. The Berliner Weisse/gose-inspired beers are designed to be highly fermentation to encourage lactic acid production. The lambic-inspired beers are the opposite; less fermentables encourage a greater depth of ''Brettanomyces'' character <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~48 min in). As the brewery grows and matures, Rogers plans to phase-down or phase-out the Berliner Weisse/gose-inspired beers, giving more focus and attention to saison- and lambic-inspired beers. The former were produced out of necessity for quick turnaround production but it is not where de Garde's heart is <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~24 min in). The brewery recognizes the Berliner Weisse/gose-inspired beer popularity with customers, therefore still plan to produce several batches per year <ref name="thesourhour2"></ref> (~26 min in). The end goal is to have the lambic-inspired beers represent a significant majority of the production <ref name="thesourhour1"></ref> (~46 min in).
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
===Additional Articles on MTF Wiki===
 
===Additional Articles on MTF Wiki===
 
*[[Spontaneous Fermentation]]
 
*[[Spontaneous Fermentation]]
 +
*[[Turbid Mash]]
 +
*[[Coolship]]
 +
*[[Lambic]]
 +
*[[Gueuze]]
 +
*[[Saison]]
 +
*[[Berliner Weissbier]]
 +
*[[Gose]]
 +
*''[[Brettanomyces]]''
 +
*''[[Pediococcus]]''
 +
*''[[Lactobacillus]]''
 +
*[[Barrel]]
 +
*[[Foeder]]
 +
 
===External Resources===
 
===External Resources===
 
*[http://craftbeertemple.com/videoblog/2015/05/on-location-at-de-garde-brewing/ The Beer Temple Episode #264: On Location at De Garde Brewing]
 
*[http://craftbeertemple.com/videoblog/2015/05/on-location-at-de-garde-brewing/ The Beer Temple Episode #264: On Location at De Garde Brewing]
 
*[http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/the-sour-hour-de-garde-brewing The Sour Hour Episode 20 - De Garde Brewing]
 
*[http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/the-sour-hour-de-garde-brewing The Sour Hour Episode 20 - De Garde Brewing]
 
*[http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/the-sour-hour-episode-21/ The Sour Hour Episode 21 - De Garde Brewing]
 
*[http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/the-sour-hour-episode-21/ The Sour Hour Episode 21 - De Garde Brewing]
*[http://www.bierversuche.ch/blog/2016/05/interview-with-trevor-rogers-of-de-garde-brewing/ Interview with Trevor Rogers of De Garde Brewing]
+
*[https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/de-garde-brewing.5908/ Talk Beer- AMA De Garde Brewing]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Latest revision as of 22:37, 28 August 2018

De Garde Brewing's logo

Website: http://www.degardebrewing.com/
Phone: 503-815-1635
Address: 114 Ivy Ave, Tillamook, OR 97141
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/De-Garde-Brewing/454141454626661
Twitter: https://twitter.com/degardebrewing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/degardebrewing/

Overview

In 2012, Linsey and Trevor Rogers founded de Garde Brewing in Tillamook, Oregon. De Garde is often considered the first exclusive spontaneously fermented beer producer in the United States, despite initial intentions to also produce conventional beers [1]. Due to the positive progression of their first spontaneous beer batch, the Rogers decided to solely focus on spontaneous fermentation because it is a "representation of [their] heart and soul" [2] (~11 min in).

The first de Garde beers were released to the public in 2013 [3]. Notable releases include Bu Weisse, a Berliner Weisse-inspired low-alcohol beer (often fruited), Saison Premiere, a saison-inspired blend (often fruited), and The Broken Truck, a gueuze-inspired blend of one-, two-, and three-year-old beers. Roughly 90-95% of de Garde's beers are sold directly out of the tasting room [1][2] (~9 min in).

In 2016, de Garde was named fifth best brewery in the world [4] and top brewery in Oregon by RateBeer [5].

History

Trevor Rogers is a former assistant manager of Pelican Brewery [6] but boasts an original affection for wine - even working several wine industry jobs and at one point planning a career in wine [7] (page 2 post #22). He credits Brouwerij Rodenbach for opening his eyes to mixed fermentation beers [8], 3 Fonteinen, Cantillon, and Tilquin as the catalysts to encourage his exploration of spontaneously fermented beer [7] (page 1 post #4) [3][8], and Upright Brewery and Block 15 Brewing for introducing wild beers to consumers in Oregon [9].

Before selecting a physical home for the brewery, Rogers wanted to qualify potential locations for spontaneous fermentation character. He exposed sterile wort to ambient microflora along more than 100 miles of the Oregon Coast (from Newport to Astoria) [2] (~5 min in) [1], originally targeted for its consistent year-round temperature and climate [3]. Using a grist of pilsner and wheat, Rogers brewed 15-gallon trial batches on a MoreBeer! Tippy-Dump BrewSculpture. The wort was chilled and split into food grade buckets, standardized to 1-gallon volumes for consistency. The buckets were brought to prospective locations and left uncovered overnight, emulating the function of a coolship. Once retrieved, the beer was allowed to ferment for approximately 12 months before undergoing sensory assessment to understand the unique representation of ambient microflora from that area [2] (~5 min in). Rogers noticed a distinct sensory difference in spontaneously fermented trial beers in as few as 10 miles apart [2] (~4 min in). This trial batch method allowed Rogers to refine his list of prospective locations and repeat batches to qualify consistency [3]. Ultimately, Tillamook was selected for its desirable microflora character and shorter fermentation timeline [10].

De Garde initiated brewing operations in 2012 in downtown Tillamook using a 7 bbl brewing system. Their initial focus was to brew a wide variety of clean beers and spontaneously fermented beers [6], however the early success of initial spontaneous batches encouraged the shift to a singular focus. Rogers specifically credits the first batch of Bu Weisse, brewed on a whim to determine brewhouse efficiency and specifications, for reinforcing his desire to pursue spontaneous fermentation exclusively [1][2] (~2 min in). By 2015, the Bu Weisse beers represented 15-20% of total production, quickly becoming de Garde's flagship beer [2] (~2 min in). In 2014, they closed the 2nd St. location and moved to a new 3,000 sq ft facility four miles south, next to the Tillamook Air Museum [11]. They expanded to a new 10 bbl system, which can squeeze out up to 15 bbl of wort due to the modest gravity and alcohol content of many of the beers [2] (~26 min in). The expansion also included a 14 bbl coolship fabricated by Practical Fusion of Hillsboro, Oregon [7] (page 22 post #421). In 2017, after more than two years of renovations, de Garde returned to downtown Tillamook with the opening of their new tasting room and brewery. Their existing 10 bbl brewhouse was moved to this new location which promises to hold more than 2,000 oak vessels, including dozens of [Foeder | foeders] [12]. With the expansion, they intend to shift from using small format oak vessels (~60 gal) in favor of large format ones (~130-550 gal) in an effort to increase efficiency and limit oxidation [13].

Today, de Garde is motivated to be as close to an authentic lambic brewery outside of Belgium. They rely strictly on ambient microflora to create a local manifestation of spontaneously fermented beer [14] (~23 min in). As the brewery matures, production and sales should converge to approximately 1,300-1,400 bbls per year [15] (~7 min in).

The name de Garde is inspired from the concept of beers destined for keeping, holding, and cellaring – a reference to the breweries who have inspired Rogers in both process and product. De Garde purposefully brews beers that will evolve over time, giving credence to both inspiration and reality [2] (~19 min in).

Brewing Methods

De Garde brews spontaneously fermented beers year-round due to the steady, cool, wet climate in Tillamook [9].

90-95% of of the grist used in de Garde's beer is Northwest grown and/or malted [15] (~33 min in) and only some recipes use raw grain, such as unmalted wheat in Saison Premiere [2] (~22 min in). Oats are sometimes used to reduce dryness [3].

De Garde prefers three or four-year-old aged Cascade or Willamette hops for most of its recipes. Rogers is not particularly fond of the cheesy character of aged hops, instead preferring a wild, earthy, and herbal character [14] (~31 min in). In his experience, aged hops can also contribute noticeable tannins, particularly in more aggressively hopped beers [14] (~52 min in). Beers are hopped at 1.5-3.0 lb/bbl (0.8-1.5 oz/gal), with the latter representing the rate used in lambic-inspired beers [14] (~31 min in). Brewers have progressively increased the hopping rate over the years to prevent beers from becoming too acidic [14] (~30 min in). Bales of aged hops are lab-tested for de Garde to ensure they are not too aggressive or mild [3]. Occasionally, non-aged hops are used at the end of the boil, in the whirlpool, or dry hop for fresh hop character. This is common in some saison-inspired recipes [14] (~31 min in), such as Azacca in Saison Troisieme, designed to marry the fruity yeast esters with fruity hop flavors [2] (~22 min in). In Spears, de Garde used a total of 5.0 lb/bbl (2.6 oz/gal) of hops [7] (page 4 post #80).

Rogers is not averse to using imported ingredients, such as European malts and hops, when no suitable domestic substitute exists since it contributes to the overall quality of his beers [7] (page 7 post #138).

Tillamook water is mineral deficient much like distilled water. Rogers does not treat the water for the vast majority of recipes because he wants the beer to be an authentic representation of the environment. Exceptions include hop-forward and saison-inspired recipes where gypsum and calcium chloride is added in nominal amounts [15] (~32 min in).

Rogers experimented with traditional turbid mash regimens but switched to a modern approach instead [16]. He uses a typical mash procedure, featuring a higher-than-normal mash temperature [14] (~24 min in), bordering on the edge of denaturing conversion enzymes, for most beers [7] (page 4 post #71). In general, de Garde produces wort that "could be found at any brewery" with the exception of more adjuncts, such as wheat. Mash pH is adjusted on occasion, specifically for the Berliner Weisse/ gose-inspired recipes since brewers intentionally avoid the enteric bacteria phase of spontaneous fermentation to shorten fermentation duration and produce less funky character. It is important to note, however that no pH adjustments are made after the mash [14] (~26 min in). The Berliner Weisse/gose-inspired beers are mashed at 150°F for a longer duration for a more fermentable wort. The lambic-inspired beers are an entirely different recipe designed to be slightly less fermentable [15] (~25 min in). A hot sparge is used to rinse the grain [14] (~52 min in).

Brewers do not oxygenate the wort [2] (~27 min in). Post boil, the wort is transferred into the coolship, typically around 3-4 pm. Upon entering the coolship, the wort is still at near-boiling temperature. The next day the wort is removed from the coolship around 12 pm (after ~20 hours), though overnight ambient temperatures can impact the cooling rate and exact removal time [14] (~24 min in). Every de Garde beer runs through the coolship [14] (~23 min in) [2] (~3 min in). The ~14 bbl coolship was built by Practical Fusion in Hillsboro, Oregon [7] (page 22 post #421). Prior to having the coolship installed, de Garde used their 7 bbl Hot Liquor Tank and Boil Kettle (which featured removable tops) for spontaneous inoculation. They equalized the volume between the two vessels to give a higher surface area to volume ratio [7] (page 6 post #111).

For the Berliner Weisse/gose-inspired beers, the coolship inoculated wort is transferred back into the kettle and held between 100-120°F (with 110°F as a target) for approximately 48-72 hours to encourage acidification from ambient lactic acid bacteria. This contributes to a relatively clean, yet still slightly funky character in the beer. After the warm temperature hold is complete, the wort is transferred to oak barrels and allowed to cool naturally [15] (~22 min in) [7] (page 12 post #227).

Fermentation Methods

Rogers believes that most of the ambient microflora comes from the brewhouse itself. He looks for a re-supply of enteric bacteria via coolship for added complexity of character [16].

The inoculated wort is transferred directly into various sized oak vessels including standard wine (~60 gal) and spirit barrels (~53 gal), puncheons (~120 gal), or foeders (~1,800 gal) [14] (~25 min in) [2] (~3 min in) [7] (page 5 post #92). Consistency between beers aged in barrels and foeders is very high [2] (~28 min in). The brewery nearly exclusively uses Northwest-sourced barrels [15] (~33 min in). Some non-neutral barrel types used include cognac [14] (~45 min in), gin [15] (~28 min in), rum [7] (page 3 post #59), and bourbon [10]. De Garde especially enjoys the synergy between gin and hops which is why they age most of their hop-forward beers in gin barrels [7] (page 4 post #78). All oak vessels go through a full sanitization regimen before first use and between subsequent uses. A high pressure wash of 180°F is applied to inverted barrels for 20-30 minutes. Despite this process, Rogers has noticed Brettanomyces character expresses itself earlier in subsequent barrel uses [2] (~15 min in). Barrels are stacked to a maximum of three levels high to help maintain consistent temperature throughout [2] (~30 min in). Most of de Garde's beers go through a ropy period in the barrel, indicating the presence of Pediococcus [7] (page 2 post #29).

De Garde often fills empty foeders with multiple batches over as long as a week. Often by the third batch, vigorous fermentation is already occurring inside the foeder [2] (~26 min in). The foeders typically contain Bu Weisse and Petit Desay to take advantage of economies of scale to offer better pricing to customers [7] (page 15 post #287), [15] (~6 min in).

Brewers prefers cool fermentation and aging temperatures to discourage acetic acid production, but peak fermentation temperature can creep up to 84°F in the foeders [2] (~29 min in). Ambient warehouse temperature is consistently 55-60°F, allowing de Grade to skip climate control [16]. Beers are fermented and aged on the lees [14] (~25 min in) and the ambient microflora is never repitched into subsequent beers [14] (~28 min in). The Berliner Weisse/gose-inspired beers complete fermentation in as little as three months [15] (~23 min in).

Approximately 15% of production is set-aside for off-flavor rectification [15] (~14 min in), and a bare minimum of 5% of production will be dumped [10]. Brewers see intense butyric acid and isovaleric acid character early in fermentation but expect flavor resolution around the one-year mark. However sometimes these off-flavors are persistent and the beer is dumped. Any beers demonstrating acetic acid are immediately discarded [15] (~14 min in), including the barrel [2] (~15 min in).

Overall, spontaneous fermentation character is consistent year round but intra-batch variation (from barrel to barrel) varies widely. It is rare to dump an entire batch, often just individual barrels from a batch [2] (~14 min in). Rogers has intentionally left barrels exceed the four-year mark to see how they will evolve. His willingness to gamble at times is a direct desire to make the best beer possible [2] (~16 min in).

De Garde commonly adds fruit to their spontaneous beers, using ratios inspired from Belgian lambic producers. Their default fruit-to-beer ratio is 2.0 lb/gal with exceptions for aggressive fruits (cranberry and currant) at 1.0 lb/gal and delicate fruits (peach) as high as 4.0 lb/gal. Brewers use a variety of fruit formats but prefer fresh or frozen. Purees are occasionally used for beers due to seasonal limitations [15] (~30 min in). Rogers prefers frozen fruit for its enhanced color and flavor [7] (page 22 post #421). He is particularly fond of wine grapes (due to his love of wine), especially grapes that express a strong sense of terroir [7] (page 2 post #22). Beer is conditioned on fruit until the desired character is obtained, ranging from one week to three months [7] (page 12 post #227).

Rogers' greatest goal is to produce drinkable beer with character [14] (~50 min in). He craves depth of flavor, funk, and nuance - not just aggressive acidity or fruit [15] (~24 min in). Blending is a collaborative process at de Garde [14] (~44 min). Rogers tries to utilize everyone in the brewery for input and admits to being occasionally "outvoted" on blend compositions. He has a deep respect for the nuanced palate of his wife, Linsey [15] (~45 min in). Beers are blended just before packaging and are neither filtered nor pasteurized. For beers spending less than one year in oak, wine yeast is added to the blending tank just before bottling. This helps supplement the ambient yeast to out compete the high ambient bacteria population [14] (~28, 34 min in) [7] (page 21 post #412).

Rogers believes that the bottle conditioning process is one of the most fragile states of spontaneous beer production [15] (~15 min in). De Garde originally packaged beers in 750 ml Belgian-style amber bottles with a crown but have since moved to amber champagne bottles with a cork and crown. The brewery would eventually like to package beers in cans to allow for greater portability and lower cost, further emphasizing Rogers' goal to produce the least expensive beer he can [15] (~1, 4 min in). Ideally, Rogers would like to target a $10 4-pack of 16 oz cans [7] (page 15 post #287). He aims to price de Garde beers so that it does not require a special occasion to enjoy but rather creates one [7] (page 11 post #208). Bottles are gravity filled, capped individually using a pneumatic capper, hand-labeled and stamped [1].

Brewers target a carbonation level of 3.0 volumes but given the variability of spontaneous fermentation they realize that beers could end up between 2.0-4.0 volumes [14] (~35 min in). They experienced some early issues with over-carbonation for this reason [7] (page 9 post #168). A large percentage of bottles undergo a second ropy phase, once again hinting at the presence of Pediococcus in de Garde beers [7] (page 2 post #29). The Berliner Weisse/gose-inspired beers spend between 2-8 weeks in bottles before being released [15] (~23 min in). Rogers recognizes there is going to be a natural blend-to-blend and bottle-to-bottle variation with spontaneous beers and that it's not a flaw rather just part of the process. He believes you lose the greatness of spontaneous beer if you try to produce the same thing every time [3].

Recipes

(In progress)

De Garde regularly brews about one dozen different base recipes with slight variations [3], though in 2014 they brewed over 100 unique recipes, a testiment to their willingess to try new processes and techniques [2] (~20 min in).

Recipes are categorized into three general styles; Berliner Weisse/gose-inspired, saison-inspired, and lambic-inspired. The Berliner Weisse/gose-inspired beers are designed to be highly fermentation to encourage lactic acid production. The lambic-inspired beers are the opposite; less fermentables encourage a greater depth of Brettanomyces character [14] (~48 min in). As the brewery grows and matures, Rogers plans to phase-down or phase-out the Berliner Weisse/gose-inspired beers, giving more focus and attention to saison- and lambic-inspired beers. The former were produced out of necessity for quick turnaround production but it is not where de Garde's heart is [15] (~24 min in). The brewery recognizes the Berliner Weisse/gose-inspired beer popularity with customers, therefore still plan to produce several batches per year [15] (~26 min in). The end goal is to have the lambic-inspired beers represent a significant majority of the production [14] (~46 min in).

See Also

Additional Articles on MTF Wiki

External Resources

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Tillamook's De Garde Might Be the World's Quirkiest Brewery. Retrieved 3/5/2018
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 The Beer Temple Episode #264: On Location at De Garde Brewing
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Interview with Trevor Rogers of De Garde Brewing. Retrieved 2/25/2018.
  4. RateBeer Top Brewers In The World For the Year 2015>
  5. 2016 RateBeer Top Beers, Brewers, New Brewers By Subregion. Retrieved 3/5/2018.>
  6. 6.0 6.1 De Garde Brewing Opening Soon With a Wild/Barrel-Aged/Farmhouse Focus. Retrieved 2/25/2018.
  7. 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 Talk Beer- AMA De Garde Brewing. Retrieved 2/25/2018.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Trevor Rogers of de Garde Brewing. Retrieved 1/28/2017.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "de Garde Goes Wild in Tillamook". Gail Oberst. Beer Growler blog. 1/31/2014. Retrieved from Web Archive (03/28/2016 archive) on 08/28/2018.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Breakout Brewer: de Garde Brewing. Retrieved 2/25/2018.
  11. The Wild Wizards At De Garde. Retrieved 3/5/2018.
  12. An Inside Look at De Garde Brewing’s New Tasting Room & Brewery. Retrieved 3/4/2018.
  13. Inside de Garde Brewing’s Expansion. Retrieved 3/4/2018.
  14. 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 14.11 14.12 14.13 14.14 14.15 14.16 14.17 14.18 14.19 14.20 The Sour Hour Episode 20 - De Garde Brewing.
  15. 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 15.11 15.12 15.13 15.14 15.15 15.16 15.17 15.18 The Sour Hour Episode 21 - De Garde Brewing.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 The Spontaneous Files: De Garde Brewing. Retrieved 3/3/2018.