Oranje is a bière de coupage with a touch of bitter oranges and rosemary. It’s a blend of a few of our older wild ales (aged 3 years in oak barrels) and a rustic saison to bring freshness and structure to the beer. We macerated a small amount of bitter orange peel and rosemary with the beer — just enough to add a gentle citrus aroma and subtle herbal notes, without overpowering the base.

Taste description
On the nose I get orange zest, lemon peel, dry oak, soft funk, and a hint of vanilla. There are also notes of white pepper, apple skin, nutmeg, and a slight Sea breeze character. In taste I find earthy citrus, a pleasant bitterness from the orange, and a soft, rounded acidity. The rosemary is delicate but present, and the funk from the older barrels is well-integrated. The saison helps tie everything together, bringing freshness and balance. Its gentle acidity, light bitterness, and herbal-citrus profile make it an ideal beer to start the evening with — perfect as an aperitif.

Ageing characteristics
Oranje is well suited for aging. One to three years of cellaring will allow the flavours to round out and deepen, while preserving the bright aromatics of the orange and rosemary. Longer aging is certainly possible, and will gradually bring more softness, complexity, and a fuller expression of the base beer itself.

Serving and storing
Store our beers upright or lying down in a cool, dark place. Our beers are best enjoyed between 12 and 14 degrees Celsius.

Ingredients
water, malted barley, wheat, hops, bitter orange, rosemary, wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria.