Ana
a saison with kiwi fruit
Ana is a tropical saison, kin to Cheri, and refermented on Ananasnaya Kiwi fruit from Burnt Ridge Nursery & Orchards in Onalaska, WA.
Kiwi fruit, aka kiwi berries or kiwi grapes, are perhaps the Pacific Northwest’s best kept secret. The fruit is reminiscent of a Kiwi, but is the size of a large grape and has a smooth skin that is edible and packed with tropical flavors, even sweeter than a traditional Fuzzy Kiwi. The fruit is grown on Kiwi vines and thrives in the Pacific Northwest climate, yet it’s not widely available.
We hand crushed the ultra-ripe fruit, added it to the empty fermenter and allowed natural fermentation for 48 hours prior to adding the base beer on the fruit. This allowed for native microbes on the skin of the fruit to get a head start before our yeast culture took over – creating another layer of fermentation complexity. Ana then refermented for eight weeks on the fruit prior to being packaged.
The subtle mineral aroma of Ana is closely followed by notes of Pippin green apples, white grape skins, melon rind and bursts with tropical notes and bright acidity. Dry like our other saisons, but with a perceived sweetness coming from the kiwi, Ana stands apart.