Witch Meadow Black Nocino Stout (2023)
Fox Farm Brewery

Witch Meadow Black 2023 is inspired by one of our favorite digestifs, Nocino. Nocino is a dark, bittersweet liqueur made from aromatic green walnuts (unripe black walnuts) and a producer-specific combination of spices. Its history is rich and complex with roots spreading across Europe and through millennia but its traditions endure most notably in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. The idea struck us in the spring while looking up at our own local black walnut trees - we quickly set about developing a unique blend of spices/other ingredients to pair with green walnuts. We approached this project with a great deal of faith and excitement and we’re thrilled that it has met every bit of our expectations. With Witch Meadow Black we endeavor to explore how unique yet compatible ingredients and sources of inspiration can elegantly meld with this special beer. This year’s version seems to achieve that goal as well as any before.


As WMB ’23 got underway, we found ourselves reading more about the history and folklore of Nocino - it was a learning process filled with surprising discoveries. Being an ancient creation, its history is a complex tapestry of legends, rituals and traditions with roots in paganism, Christianity and a variety of European cultures. A common refrain however, is the collection of the nuts on or around June 24th - a date with ancient significance for Midsummer celebrations and in a more modern context, St. John’s Day. The harvest is said to have been undertaken by expert women but perhaps through passing time and transitioning beliefs, Nocino production and the revered walnut tree in general became associated with witches. Traditional practice is to allow the mixture to steep and mellow until, at minimum, All Saint’s Day Eve…October 31st.