Cape May Harvest Ale

Harvest Ale is something of a beer/wine hybrid. Beginning its journey with a simple Saison grain bill, Harvest Ale is brewed with a generous helping of Hallertau Blanc. These hops have a gentle, earthy bitterness with loads of white wine and grape-like flavors to them, and, when paired with a Saison, the beer takes on a winelike profile. Towards the tail end of fermentation, a large addition of Merlot must yields a juicy yet dry finish to the beer. The grape juice has a beautifully rich flavor to it, with the more delicate aromatics being preserved thanks to a late-addition secondary fermentation. Is it a wine? No. Harvest Ale is distinctly a beer — but at first sip, you’ll be asking yourself why you haven’t had anything like this before.