Steel and Oak Brewing x Twin Sails Brewing – Natural Charm Lager
This bourbon barrel lager from Steel & Oak and Twin Sails Brewing is seriously charming
Happy Valentine’s Day folks! There’s no better way to celebrate this romantic day than snuggling up close to your significant other with a couple of your favourite craft beers and reading our latest Pour of the Week post. Trust me, your s/o is on board.
We’ve been witnessing a ‘crispy boi’ renaissance in the craft beer scene as of late. Local breweries have been producing some amazing, easy-drinking lagers and pilsners to showcase that it’s not always about adding an insane amount of hops and crazy adjuncts—although both of those things are great in moderation. The truth is, sometimes the simpler flavours are the most enjoyable. And putting a well thought out twist on a classic? Well, that will get the beer nerds hyped.
Steel & Oak Brewing and Twin Sails Brewing recently collaborated on a lager that is definitely worth getting excited about. Their new beer dubbed Natural Charm is a bourbon-barrel aged lager that will have you rethinking what’s possible with the lager style.
You’ve likely tried bourbon barrel-aged porters or stouts, or maybe even a rye barrel-aged cider, but imparting these flavours on a lager makes for a completely different drinking experience. The clean and straightforward flavour profile of the lager allows the bourbon and barrel characteristics to shine a little brighter than they would in a heavier beer.
Natural Charm bourbon barrel lager pours a dark, burnt orange colour. It drinks silky smooth on the body with a light malt flavour, then transitions into a mildly bitter and dry finish. Subtle orange/grapefruit notes from the hops shine through. There’s some nice oak/woody characteristics from the barrel-aging, and the bourbon bite comes through too. It’s not overpowering, but does add a warming touch.
Artwork
Design-wise, Sami Christianson from Best Studio, came up with a really cool label design that is somewhat abstract, yet still screams Steel & Oak. During a recent takeover of S&O’s Instagram page, Sami shared some insight into the Natural Charm design process, including some initial creative options. Pretty interesting to get a glimpse into the making of an awesome beer label, especially from a brewery/agency combo well known for their excellent branding.
Natural Charm is a limited release beer, so make sure to visit Steel & Oak’s tasting room or select specialty beer and liquor stores to grab a four pack for yourself!
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