One of the things I regret not being able to share with the Nashville meetup crew was the wonderment that is Blackberry Farms Brewery. A nano that was started as a private brewery for the ultra posh 9200 acre
Blackberry Farms Luxury Hotel and Resort in the foothills of the Smokies in Walland, TN, and then became an ultra-rare exclusive #whalez beer that everyone around here tried to snag by hook or crook, the Blackberry Farms Brewery pumps out beautiful and delicate small batch saisons and Belgians. Unfortunately, when we met up, their beers were only available at the Farm and at a couple expensive restaurants in Nashville who had cut a deal with them. In the last few months, however, they have started a small distro to Whole Foods and a few beer/wine stores here in the area, so I've been able to snag a bottle here and there.
This is the second bottle they've released to this distro (with the first being their Classic Saison). This is the Summer Saison seasonal:
Malts: 100% floor malted Pilsner and character malts
Hops: Australian Summer, Citra
Yeast: Classic Saison
Citra shines in this one. You get the yeasty saison bit, and some pepper, but it really comes off as a Belgian IPA without the bitter... it just drops off on the back end. Super balanced and super good. Very bright, and dry yet not bitter.
For the record, the other regrets (you all need to come for a week next time):
- Corsair Distillery and Brewery (taproom, brewery/distillery, and grain micro-maltster... very cool to visit)
- Calfkiller brewery
- Black Abbey brewery
- TN Brew Works
- Arrington Vineyards