Steel & Oak Brewing x Field House Brewing – Framework Launch at Bells and Whistles
Two of the more brand forward and experimental B.C. breweries, Steel & Oak Brewing and Field House Brewing, have teamed up on a new collaboration beer. “Framework” Farmhouse Saison launched this past Wednesday, and the two breweries celebrated the occasion by way of a tap takeover at Bells and Whistles.
When I caught wind of the launch event a couple of weeks ago, I knew I had to go. First off, I’d heard really good things about the up-scale sports bar located on the corner of 17th and Fraser. Bells and Whistles has subbed the industry standard pitchers of Bud and lackluster pub fare for a diverse lineup of craft beer (from BC and abroad) and a well-thought-out lineup of comfort food to enjoy while watching the game. After this visit I’m happy to report that Bells and Whistles is indeed the real deal.
Bells and Whistles was packed for the Framework launch event. The Steel & Oak and Field House crews were both on hand, as well as a solid group of craft beer bloggers and social media influencers. It’s always good to see some familiar faces at these events!
The two breweries created a custom beer menu for the tap takeover lineup. In addition to Framework, Steel & Oak also had their Zusammen Cardamom Fig Stout and Eleven Boroughs IPA on tap. Field House Brewing also their Dark Sour and Hazy White IPA pouring.
Steel & Oak x Field House “Framework” Farmhouse Saison
ABV: 7%
Brewed in New Westminster at Steel & Oak Brewing and utilizing Field House’s wild farmhouse yeast for fermentation, Framework is a collaboration in every sense of the word. I’ve had mixed experiences with farmhouse beers in the past, so I was a little unsure if I’d truly enjoy this beer. However, this is without-a-doubt a fantastic saison!
It seems that a fair number of breweries are using orange peel in their seasonal brews. We attended Stanley Park Brewing’s launch of their Mandarin IPA back in 2016, which was also delicious. I’m all for the oranges in beer, and definitely noticed the addition in this farmhouse saison. S&O and Field House have also kicked up the fruity flavour here with a lingonberry addition. I couldn’t really pick this specific flavour out, as the only time I’ve tried lingonberry is on an IKEA sundae…which probably isn’t the best reference point. The elderflower gives this beer some nice floral notes, and the wild yeast adds some solid funk. Overall, this is a well-rounded and fruit-forward beer that packs a solid alcohol percentage. What more could you want out of a saison?
I paired my glass of Framework with the All-Day Breakfast Burger and fries ($15.50). I’d seen this burger on Instagram and had been wanting to try it for weeks. It did not disappoint…they even include a crispy hash brown patty in the burger!! The bun is also the perfect texture. It’s a must-try. Due to devouring it immediately, I don’t have any photos…
I decided to grab one more pint before heading out. It’s stout season, so the Zusammen Cardamom Stout from Steel & Oak was the perfect choice. This beer is made with figs hand-crushed by the S&O team. It was pretty fig-ing good. I love that local breweries are using this fruit in beer. The Hearthstone Brewing x Burnside Brewing Historical Fig-ures Pre-Prohibition Porter is another recent example. After drinking a pint of Zusammen, I really wished I’d picked up a pack of that collab!
Overall, this was a very solid evening! Make sure to pick up a bottle of Framework, and let me know what you think about this Steel & Oak x Field House collab. Also, if you haven’t checked out Bells and Whistles, it’s worth a visit. It’s located at 3296 Fraser St, Vancouver, BC V5V 4B9. Hours are:
Sunday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 12 a.m. (midnight)
Friday-Saturday: 11:30 a.m. – 1 a.m.
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