While hop-forward beers and oak-aged beers may seem to be in different veins, we’ve particularly enjoyed how these elements play off one another in our saisons.

Perhaps you remember Jean-Michel, a release that was blended from puncheons and dry-hopped with French Barbe Rouge. The red fruit elements of the hop varietal and the vanillin present in the wood merged together to create an astounding note reminiscent of strawberry pound cake.

This convinced us to continue exploring this path in our oak program, and what led to Gus! Starting with a farmhouse ale base featuring Salish Blue wheat from Skagit Valley Malting, Gus completed primary fermentation in oak puncheons and continued to age for 7 months. A hearty dry-hop of flavorful Idaho Gem from Yakima Chief adds distinct notes of red currant, grapefruit, and raspberry to the soft, rounded base beer. Simple, elegant, and extremely drinkable.