Valiant First Flight

This American Strong Ale has been brewing (ha!) in Brian’s mind for a very long time, but on Feb. 19 that recipe became reality. At 13.7% ABV, it’s Valiant’s first really big beer—a beer that says what we’re all about.

But it’s not only awesome symbolically.

First Flight is the result of a different approach: it’s an ale designed to be aged in oak. The first batch—which we’ll be tapping at our Release Party May 18, during Celebrate Craft Beer Week—benefited from the addition of medium roast American oak chips to the brite tank. That oak gives First Flight a hint of coconut and vanilla, a perfect complement to the complex caramel flavors that resulted from the five-hour boil of the 2-row and pilsner malts.

Mild carbonation gives it a low mouth feel, allowing drinkers to get the full impact of the flavor profile.

Though it’s highly hopped (78 IBU), First Flight isn’t over-bitter. The Goldings and Hallertau noble hops simply balance out the sweetness of the pale malts, creating a well-balanced beer that allows the complexity of the caramel flavor to come through—without overwhelming the palate.