Up first we couldn’t resist opening what I think is a really unique style combination. The beer is called Prost Secco and as the name implies, this beer was inspired by German sour ales as well as sparkling wines. Now you may be asking yourself how that’s possible (or more likely, “who thought of that?”)…but I’m here to tell you that it works. Turns out their Director of Brewing, Andrew Sheffield, has a background in winemaking as well as sour beer production, so it was a perfect fit.
Prost Secco is a kettle soured ale brewed with pear juice, peach juice and chardonnay grapes and the fruit and wine character definitely lead the way in the aromas. We also found a bit of floral in the late aromas. The flavors have a wonderful combination of fresh apple, deep apricot and peach with some earthy and wheat-malty notes in the end. We really liked the tart apple flavors in the mix and the bright crisp finish of the beer. This beer is one of the best examples I’ve sampled of a beer-wine hybrid and I’d even suggest it also leans into an almost beer-wine-cider hybrid as well. Prost Secco has a lot going on, but in the end it was a unique and well balanced beer, and one I can’t wait to try again.
Up next we sampled Baxter Brewing Hop Tryst. As you may have guessed by the name, Hop Tryst is an IPA that has just become Baxter’s first new year-round beer in a long time. It’s also Baxter’s first year round brew to hit 16oz cans….so having one in front of my is VERY good news.
Hop Tryst uses eight varieties of hops and many are added late in the brew process as evidenced by the wonderful hoppy nose on this beer. We found a bit of everything that is good about hops in the nose with citrus and tropical fruit leading the way. The beer is light bodied and it just feels really drinkable, especially as the great hop aromas continue through each sip. We loved the citrus punch and the crisp drinkable finish, especially with the touch of peach we found just at the end. All-in-all we really liked Hop Tryst and we think you’ll find that even at 6.4%-AbV (and 16oz) this is a really drinkable beer.
Prost Secco is a really unique beer you need to try and Hop Tryst is a really pleasant IPA in what I consider the perfect packaging for it. Be sure to set your sights on Baxter Brewing Prost Secco and Hop Tryst, and when you do try them, be sure to le us know what YOU think.
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