Name: Kortegast Sparkling Ale
Brewery: Wigram (Chch, NZ)
Style: Irish Ale
ABV: 5%
Source: Waiheke Wines
Wigram is another one of those breweries, like Pink Elephant, that have stayed completely off my beer radar (which is my other name for Twitter) in the past year. I’ve never heard a peep from or about them, and maybe that’s the reason I’ve overlooked that little pilot logo for so long.
Looking at their fairly vast beer list, though, it looks like they’re making some interesting stuff. I like the idea of historical beers a lot (me and Dad made Ye Olde Cock Ale in the weekend, is anyone game to try it?) so I’d be interested to try their Spruce Beer, which was based on the first beer Captain Cook ever brewed in New Zealand. I bet it tastes pretty foul, but it would be an educational sort of foul, which is one kind I can abide.
There’s a little bit of history in the Sparkling Ale, too. According tho the brewery the beer uses historical hops which were found growing on the banks of the Hokitika River, and were originally grown by pioneer brewer, Mr William C. J. Kortegast.
I think it was a great idea to use these hops, although in all honesty I’m not sure they imparted a lot of flavour. I didn’t get much aroma from the beer – pretty much just grainy malt, and in the mouth it tasted of caramel malt and grassy hops. It was kind of nice in a smooth and easy drinking way, just not terribly interesting.
It’s nice to have the finally have the Wigram veil of mystery lifted a little, at least. I must try to get that Spruce Beer in me before August 7th!
