Na Zdravi !: Spawn of Yaga

Friday, November 27, 2020

Spawn of Yaga

"Spawn of Yaga was inspired by the Russian folktale of Old Baba Yaga and her nefarious deeds. Deep, dark, and luscious layers of flavor were summoned through the play of light against dark caramel and roasted malts, nefarious use of blackstrap molasses, incantations of licorice root, and toiling over a boiling cauldron of invert syrup crafted in our brewery." Sweet, complex, and not for the faint of heart.

ABV 12%, 100+ IBU Hops: Super Galena Malt: Pale Barley, Cookie, Pale Chocolate, Light and Medium Crystal, Roasted Barley Yeast: Ale

Na Zdravi!

A 10-second take.
Not really reviews, just my way to keep track of the beers I've tried.

My mother's family is Czech. They emigrated from Bohemia and settled in Nebraska in the mid-1800s.
They were from the region that included the town Pilzen (Pilsen) where a brewery called Měšťanský pivovar Plzeň, now Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský Prazdroj in Czech), started brewing a uniquely Bohemian-style beer we now know as pilsner.
So, as I raise a glass in honor of my Bohemian roots ...

Na Zdravi! (to your health).

Hops?

A "hop" is the cone shaped resinous flower of the female hop plant. It is used in brewing to add bitterness, flavor, aroma, and stability depending on when it is added.

Hops are one of the 4 basic ingredients of beer although they are not esential in the brewing process. The are used simply to add flavor and complexity to the brew.
Double and even triple IPA's feature an extreme amount of hops, and an ABV to match.
Noble Hops - The traditional varieties of hops that were used to make early European beers. Medieval brewers used Hallertau, Saaz, Spalt, and/or Tettnang hops. All are from Germany except Saaz from the Czech Republic (Žatec in Czech). All are still used today.