Stonefruit Symphony
In the summer, orchards around Oregon burst with ripe peaches and nectarines, and it’s this scene of sunshine, fresh air and voluptuous, juicy stone fruit that we sought to capture in a bottle. Stonefruit Symphony is rich and bold, like picking a fresh nectarine and having the juice run down your chin, with a balancing acidity and a floral finish.
We hand cut the pits from thousands of pounds of ripe, organic peaches and nectarines and saw for ourselves how they gushed with juice. We added the fruit to two foeders in our cellar and then blended in mature barrels of our golden sour ale to let the flavors meld. The beer we chose to blend in brought its own citrusy and floral qualities from fermentation, perfect aromas to harmonize with stone fruit.
After just a couple days, the flavor was so juicy and bright! You could taste the pulp and the sweet juice in a glass of that young beer! As the peaches and nectarines kept fermenting, a little more acidity presented itself in the beer and some floral, honey aromas came out.
We chose a mix of peaches and nectarines rather than just one or the other to create a full, multi-layered fruit experience. Instead of highlighting one, the quality is bold and floods your palate with unique notes like light, spritzy peach, heavier juicy pulp qualities, plus sweet and dark nectarine character.
The flavors in Stonefruit Symphony would pair well with a southern-inspired dish like pork chops floated on grits, or it would also be great with a light spice cake and vanilla bean ice cream!
Cheers to fresh fruit, local orchards and refreshing beers!