Bureiko Jikan Golden Ale
Baird Brewing Company / Fishmarket Taproom

Brewer's Notes: The new beginning for Baird Bureiko Jikan Golden Ale in 2006 comes in its ingredient makeup. The malt base is exclusively German this year. Pilsner, Vienna and Carared malts from Weyermann in Bamberg have rendered a lighter body and crisper flavor than in years past. This malt base, together with the large additions of Japanese candy sugar, lend a spritzy and refreshing character to this otherwise strong Golden Ale (ABV approximately 6.2-7.6%) that is almost criminal. It is like a velvet blitzkrieg! A wonderfully clean and crisp hop bitterness is provided by additions of American Magnum and Horizon hops. An earthy, mineral like character is present in both the nose and the flavor and likely stems from the dry hopping with American Mount Hood hops as well as from the additions of calcium chloride and gypsum minerals to the otherwise very soft Numazu water. With time in the glass, this mineral nose gives way to a floral-sweet aroma.