Regan Pallandi, one of our Brewers at Malt Shovel Brewery, talks us through the limited release of Mad Brewers, Orchard Ale.Now that warm summer days and nights are upon us, what better time to consider a host of refreshing, tasty brews…

The Mad Brewers at the Malt Shovel Brewery have come up with something totally out there for our summer release, which will have beer enthusiasts all over praying at the altar of all that is good and beery. To wit, we have made a Saison, but not just any old farmhouse-variety Saison, but one with a special addition to add to its mystery and complexity… so put on your beret and stripy shirt, and read on to find out more.

Firstly, what is a Saison anyway? Traditionally, this style of beer was brewed in the French-speaking region of Belgium - Wallonia - as a seasonal style of beer that would be brewed at the end of the cooler months. It was robust enough to last through the warmer months of the year, but not too strong, so it would give refreshment and be quenching during the height of summer.

The flavour characteristics of Saison are complex - there is a distinct tartness and acidity present, with earthy characteristics and citrus, spicy notes present from the hops. There is a firm bitterness, but not so much as to overpower the estery profile which the special yeast imparts. Slight phenolic characters can be found, along with peppery, clove-like flavours. In short, there’s a lot going on in your average Saison!

However, we couldn’t leave it at just that, oh no. What else is closely associated with the specific area of Belgium/France we are talking about? Farmhouse ciders, that’s what. So, in addition to this wonderfully complex beer we have, we added unfermented apple juice from a cidermaker in Orange (which begs the question - if we can get apple juice from Orange, why can’t we get orange juice from Apple?).

This juice was added along with wine yeast to the beer fermentation, and the final result is now out there for the tasting. The combination of the tartness of the cider apples with the spiciness of the Saison yeast makes for a very complex beer but one that is also refreshing and a great drink for summer.

When thinking about food and beer matches, the spicy, tart character of the Saison would be an excellent accompaniment to strong, rich flavours, such as those found in a sharp King Island blue cheese, or the richness of a liver pâté. If your tastes run to something more substantial, think pork chops with apple sauce, matched with Saison - and as they say, bon appétit!

Regan Pallandi graduated from UNSW with an Honours degree in physiology and pharmacology, and was this close to starting a career as a high school teacher when the opportunity to join Malt Shovel Brewery suddenly came up in 2000. Regan has now worked at Malt Shovel Brewery for almost ten years, and still going as strong as ever.