The Seed: A Living Beer Project

Microbrewery in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States 🇺🇸
Associated Venue: The Seed: A Living Beer Project

Established in 2020

Contact
807 Baltic Ave, Atlantic City, NJ, 08401, United States
Description
What is the seed all about...

​ It is a strong belief of ours that incredible complexities can be derived from relatively simple ingredients and processes. The concept of fermentation is as poetic and beautiful as it is mysterious; a world of interactions, decomposition, production, and alterations occurring microscopically out of view yet right in front of our eyes. By combining seemingly inert grain, water, and hops with an orchestra of microscopic fungus and bacteria, we can, for a moment, set the stage for the inception of the entire pathway and story of that particular biological moment in time.

The Seed: A Living Beer Project is exactly that; a living, dynamic, ever changing exploration into the convergence of indigenous ingredients, local agriculture, and fermentation. While we try to honor both art and science in our beer, the most important governing force, from our standpoint, is nature's variability. From the subtlest of differences in wheat harvests, and the sugar content changes in post-frost feral grapes, to the unending range of flavor and aroma compounds that various living microbes can produce. The set of naturally occurring variables is infinite. This limitless opportunity for experimentation is what fuels our obsessive passion and inspiration for telling a story through natures ingredients.

We take great pride in incorporating the local environment into our beer. Whether by means of locally grown grains, meticulously cared for stone fruit orchards, or forage-able berries, flowers, and foliage we feel very strongly that an intimate understanding of our ingredients and where they come from helps instruct how they are best put to use. Our use of ingredients is diligent, mindful, and complimentary. When we are given the gift of such wonderful samples of the natural world, we do everything we can to let them shine.

We go to great lengths to push our own limits and boundaries by using wild and naturally occurring yeast and bacteria, heritage or minimally processed local grain, and unique but thoughtfully selected foraged ingredients. We subscribe to the notion that, to a degree, a gain in control on the process comes with a loss in complexity of flavor that you get when relying on seasonally-variable ingredients and wild microbes. These little steps help us get one step closer to nature, closer to the earth, and more appreciative of the living world around us. Through the beer we make we hope to tell a story of a living earth, a story of the people and communities so heavily linked to an ecosystem, and a story of interconnectedness by transforming the gifts of nature into a form that we can present to you to share and enjoy.

-Amanda and Sean

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8.8/10 Appearance 10 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 10 Overall 9
Draught at the brewery, 8/20/21.
Lightly hazy, soft-blonde-golden with a medium-sized, fairly dense, white head showing good retention.
Really interesting Brett notes of light tropical fruit and hints of citrus matched against a more earthy character that must be coming from the lager yeast? Maybe earthy isn't the right word as it's not as strong/rich as that sounds. It definitely dulls the Brett somewhat, but also transforms it, while in turn transforming the lager character in to a slightly more fruity version of itself. Big minerality and almost a mustiness of sorts. Clean and free of alcohol with nothing overdone/dominating.
In the mouth it's soft, pillowy almost with layers of honey, rustic grain, gentle lemon-like acidity and hints of tropical fruits alongside musty, cellar-like character. Engaging carbonation and a comforting texture with excellent attenuation and a light, pleasing bitterness on the end. Eminently drinkable and balanced, and the Brett doesn't distract heavily from the force of a refreshing lager (and indeed contributes).
Tried on 25 Aug 2021 at 23:16

8.8/10 Appearance 10 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 10 Overall 9
Draught at the brewery, 8/20/21.
Darker maize-to-rich-honey. Big, off-white head with excellent retention.
Touch of strawberry and maybe a bit of light acidity are the first things I notice. So gentle I'm not even sure what acid, initially. Strong minerality and rustic, hay-like grains come through, completing the picture. Fruity, but just to complement the other aspects - this isn't beating you over the head with strawberry, nor is it doing so with lactic/acetic acid. No alcohol or flaw noted.
Soft, malty, well-attenuated and complex with gentle acidity from the fruit and very light lactic acidity. Tight, engaging carbonation, light spiciness on the end almost, with excellent, rustic, grain-like notes and tons of lingering flavor without a surplus of acid building up on the palate. Really, really difficult to do a barrel-aged, fruited saison without it just turning in to a heavily sour/wild ale that obscures the Sacch. But they've done as good a job here as I've ever seen.
Tried on 25 Aug 2021 at 22:47

9.4/10 Appearance 10 Aroma 9 Flavor 9 Texture 10 Overall 9.5
Draught at the brewery, 8/20/21. Very lightly hazy, rich blonde-golden with a large white head showing strong retention. Pure, lovely, unadulterated (but elegant, not forceful) Brett is the first thing I notice and I'm instantly in love. A touch of sugar cookie to go with it, or perhaps light honey. Brett adds gentle citrus, lavender, perhaps, and there's a strong minerality to the beer with a good sense of the Sacch. yeasts not outdone by the Brett. And yet there's not a pinch of the undesirable stuff (in my mind) - the clove, intense white pepper and bubble gum. Just complex grains, elegant Brett, honey-like malts and gentle fruitiness with moderate black pepper. No alcohol or flaw noted. I wish I could find the more extensive commercial description that was printed on their menu, but no dice. This rendition of the beer was a stainless fermented saison that is transferred to their blending tank which is lightly inoculated with their mixed culture, thus producing the ever so gentle, elegant Brett. The texture is oh so soft and pillowy with a perfect attenuation (dry) of the honey-rich malts leading to lightly spicy hops and the incredible Brett charge. This is the best beer I've had in a long, long time. So delicate, so flavorful, so balanced, so dry, so elegant. No clove, no bubble gum, no heavy white pepper, no fatiguing excess of citrus. Holy shit. I would go back to Atlantic City just to go to this brewery (and may very well do so). The beer itself was pretty close to a 5.0 for me, but in the spirit of consistency, I will reserve giving it quite that high of a rating until I see more of their beers. That said, this is no fluke; these guys are passionate and highly knowledgeable.
Tried on 25 Aug 2021 at 22:24

7/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 8
Can from my brother: pours golden with white head. Aroma is citrus and bread. Taste is bready, citrusy hops. Not too bitter. Pleasant.
Tried from Can on 22 Aug 2021 at 02:24

8/10
Straight honey
Tried from Bottle on 20 Aug 2021 at 20:40

7/10
Tried from Can on 22 Jul 2021 at 15:12

7.5/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7
16 ounce can from brewery. Number one with a bullet. Hazy pale gold color. Large frothy white head leaves distinctive lacing. Fragrant earthy malt aroma. Crisp, dry maltiness upfront. Soft, creamy mouthfeel from the oats and wheat. Notes of spice, citrus and melon rind. A bit dryer in middle. Hints of white pepper and berries in finish. Tasty.
Tried from Can on 29 Mar 2021 at 03:27

7.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
16 ounce can from brewery. Number one with a bullet. Bright pale gold color. Frothy white head. Nice clinging lace. Biscuity malt nose hints at grassy, herbal hops. Description is spot on. Crackery malt with notes of lemongrass and sweet honeysuckle. A touch of dryness in the peppery finish. Very refreshing and drinkable.
Tried from Can on 28 Mar 2021 at 03:12