From the Beer Writer: The Lupus Foundation of Southern California (LFSC) has been blown away by the massive outpour of support provided by nearly 30 different San Diego County breweries via the Beer to the Rescue campaign. Thanks to these companies crafting beers for big release events benefitting the charity, its visibility has been propelled to new heights and a significant amount of money has been raised to help with the many victim assistance efforts and the research it helps support. So, it was an honor for executive director Hollaine Hopkins and numerous Beer to the Rescue volunteers, myself included, to get to assist in the making of this beer, an amped-up version of Council Brewing Company’s popular tart saison flavored with California-grown peaches and nectarines. Council owners Curtis and Liz Chism invited us to clean, break-down and puree the stone fruits one Friday afternoon, giving those directly touched by the charity a behind-the-scenes glance at all that’s gone into the production of the beers that have made 2015 such a great year for the LFSC. Click here to pre-order a bottle of this beer.
From the Brewer: “When we were approached by our good friend, Brandon, to be a part of the Beer to the Rescue charity campaign, we knew we wanted to do something big to help raise awareness and funds to support the LFSC. In an effort to create a truly unique and memorable beer, this special release is a higher alcohol version of our popular Tart Saison series of beers, which we are calling Imperial Beatitude. We partnered with a local beer aficionado to bring us hand-picked, organic peaches and nectarines from Masumoto Family Farms located in California’s Central Valley. These fruits are absolutely delicious and lend their juicy character and natural tartness to the beer. When combined with our house culture of Saccharomyces, Brettanomyces and Lactobacillus, they create an incredible beer that tastes like you’re biting into a peach or nectarine. The heavy use of flaked rye and the Brett funk create a creamy, cheesy flavor that pairs very well with this beer. We hope you’ll enjoy this beer as much as we do.”—Curtis & Liz Chism, Co-owners, Council Brewing Co.
From the Bottle: We’ve gone big with our Beatitude Tart Saison in the name of charity, brewing an imperial edition of our Brettanomyces and Lactobacillus-stoked flagship sour ale for Beer to the Rescue (@BeerToTheRescue), a charity benefiting the Lupus Foundation of Southern California. French oak and sumptuous, freshly harvested organic nectarines and peaches from Masumoto Family Farms bring nuances of creamy, tangy cheese and stone fruit preserves that marry beautifully with spiciness from Belgian yeast. Enjoy this complexly delicious beer knowing a portion of proceeds will improve quality of life for sufferers of lupus, a chronic auto-immune disease affecting one-in-forty-five people throughout Southern California.