Spandrel
Is/Was Brewing
- From:
- Is/Was Brewing
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Saison
- ABV:
- 4.9%
- Score:
- +6 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 3.94 | pDev: 2.79%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 3
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 24, 2026
- Added:
- Oct 20, 2020
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
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-
Saison Brewed with Aged Hops, Raw Spelt, and Brettanomyces
Spandrel is a saison brewed with aged hops, raw spelt, and bottle conditioned with brettanomyces.
A spandrel is a concept in evolutionary biology that describes a phenotypic characteristic that is a byproduct of the evolution of some other characteristic. Aged hops and unmalted grains are integral elements of lambic and are primarily used to coax the complexities of natural fermentation out of the native microflora but these ingredients have flavors all their own. We in no way are implying that this beer is like lambic, in fact it is the opposite. A beer that celebrates the footy funk of aged hops and starchiness of unmalted spelt in a fresh, unaged context and is fermented with only our house saison yeast and bottle conditioned with a carefully chosen strain of brettanomyces.
The resulting beer is light and effervescent with notes of overripe peach, honeydew, orchids, freshly mixed bread dough, guava, and hints of ripe funkiness that lead to a dry finish that is just barely tart.
Spandrel is a saison brewed with aged hops, raw spelt, and bottle conditioned with brettanomyces.
A spandrel is a concept in evolutionary biology that describes a phenotypic characteristic that is a byproduct of the evolution of some other characteristic. Aged hops and unmalted grains are integral elements of lambic and are primarily used to coax the complexities of natural fermentation out of the native microflora but these ingredients have flavors all their own. We in no way are implying that this beer is like lambic, in fact it is the opposite. A beer that celebrates the footy funk of aged hops and starchiness of unmalted spelt in a fresh, unaged context and is fermented with only our house saison yeast and bottle conditioned with a carefully chosen strain of brettanomyces.
The resulting beer is light and effervescent with notes of overripe peach, honeydew, orchids, freshly mixed bread dough, guava, and hints of ripe funkiness that lead to a dry finish that is just barely tart.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.87/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.87/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Copenhagen 24/1 2026. 50 cl heavy glass bottle from Kihoskh, Sønder Boulevard, Kbh. V. White label with a hand holding a dark green leaf.
Pours opaque unclear golden yellow with a big white head. A bit bubbly. Settles as thin patches of foam floating about. No lacing to speak of.
Aroma is medium intense with a sweet fruity odor with a sharp scent of citrus and tart berries. Sweet peach and a whiff of musty cellar. Citrus and gooseberries. Black pepper.
Light carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, soft, lightly tingling texture.
Flavor is fairly intense with a medium strong sweetness followed by a strong tart sourness. Aftertast is tart. Lingers for a while Finish is dry.
Fine, tart and a little sour Saison.
Jan 24, 2026Pours opaque unclear golden yellow with a big white head. A bit bubbly. Settles as thin patches of foam floating about. No lacing to speak of.
Aroma is medium intense with a sweet fruity odor with a sharp scent of citrus and tart berries. Sweet peach and a whiff of musty cellar. Citrus and gooseberries. Black pepper.
Light carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, soft, lightly tingling texture.
Flavor is fairly intense with a medium strong sweetness followed by a strong tart sourness. Aftertast is tart. Lingers for a while Finish is dry.
Fine, tart and a little sour Saison.
Reviewed by TMoney2591 from Illinois
3.8/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.8/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Served from the bottle in a Lagunitas mason jar.
Pours a hazy auburn topped by over a finger of cream foam. The nose comprises hay, Brett funk, grapefruit pith, melon rind, and dry biscuit. The taste holds notes of cara cara, funky wheat, sourdough, orange pith, sweet flowers, and a touch of mixed greens salad. The body is a light medium, with a somewhat moderate carbonation and a drying finish. An interesting and complex bit of farmhouse goodness.
Mar 15, 2022Pours a hazy auburn topped by over a finger of cream foam. The nose comprises hay, Brett funk, grapefruit pith, melon rind, and dry biscuit. The taste holds notes of cara cara, funky wheat, sourdough, orange pith, sweet flowers, and a touch of mixed greens salad. The body is a light medium, with a somewhat moderate carbonation and a drying finish. An interesting and complex bit of farmhouse goodness.
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
4.09/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Cloudy golden body with a huge white head, open with caution friends. Strong spelt anchors fresh aromas of herbs and leaves with very ripe peach, melon, papaya, and lemon zest with plenty of bretty funk. Taste is much the same but bready starting about two thirds of the way through the sip, fruits become zesty after starting juicier. Funk is strong here, molding the body to be fresh, yeasty, big, and yes very wild and unique. Have when feeling like trying something out there, because this does not conform to usual standards, bravo for the creativity!
Dec 04, 2020
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