In the "among the best double-entendre beer name" releases this week comes Fjord Explorer, a double IPA that is the second IPA from Third Space this year to use the all-the-rage Kveik yeast.
The Norwegian roots of the ancient and resilient Kveik yeasts – which can thrive in higher temperature and alcohol settings than many yeasts – have led to lots of creative beer names. (Kveik, pronounced "kuh-wike," actually means "yeast" in a Nordic dialect.)
Nordic Sunrise – which used Citra, Lotus and Experimental #09326 hops – was released this past spring and, says co-founder Andy Gehl, "it was a huge hit."
While that one clocked in at 7.5 percent ABV and 30 IBUs, the new Fjord Explorer (geddit, an explorer or fjords and a reference to the Ford Explorer SUV?) is a double IPA that amps up the ABV to 8.3 percent while staying steady at 30 IBU.
Building on the citrusy notes of Nordic Sunrise, Fjord Explorer adds stone fruit on the nose and passion fruit and pineapple on the palate.
Fjord is hopped with Bravo, Sabro, Citra, Experimental #10416 and Motueka.
Since I got a little sneak preview, this one wil be my #wibeerwednesaday selection for today.
The new brew is released Friday at 2 p.m. on draught in the taproom as well as in 16-ounce four-packs. It’ll head out to retail and bar/restaurant taplines around the start next week.
Nordic Sunrise is still on tap at Third Space, too, so you can get one of each and do your own comparison tasting, ja?
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
