Levain conditioned on Bergamot
Is/Was Brewing
- From:
- Is/Was Brewing
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Saison
- ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- +7 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.34 | pDev: 0.69%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 2
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Aug 15, 2025
- Added:
- May 18, 2021
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
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-
Levain is a long time coming. The culmination of our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about the microorganisms that allow us to make beer. Mashed with raw spelt from Janie’s Mill, hopped with aged whole cone hops then fermented and ripened in used oak wine barrels with a blend of our house saison yeast, our favorite strains of brettanomyces, dregs from bottles that inspire us, and microorganisms sourced from my 6 year old sourdough starter.
After blending we rested this expression of Levain on the zest and juice of fresh bergamot from Bhumi Growers in New Jersey. The addition of unique and vibrant citrus contributed notes of Fruity Pebbles, Earl Gray tea, white flowers, and cardamom, all of which integrate wonderfully with the funk, depth, and complexity of base beer.
Release: July 2023
Production Time: 42 months
Release: May 2021
Only 216 bottles were produced.
Production Time: 18 months
Fermentation: Used French and Hungarian Oak
After blending we rested this expression of Levain on the zest and juice of fresh bergamot from Bhumi Growers in New Jersey. The addition of unique and vibrant citrus contributed notes of Fruity Pebbles, Earl Gray tea, white flowers, and cardamom, all of which integrate wonderfully with the funk, depth, and complexity of base beer.
Release: July 2023
Production Time: 42 months
Release: May 2021
Only 216 bottles were produced.
Production Time: 18 months
Fermentation: Used French and Hungarian Oak
Recent ratings and reviews.
Rated by emerge077 from Illinois
4.33/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
July 2025 release
Aug 15, 2025
Reviewed by MacMalt from New Jersey
4.31/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Received from @fbarber in an NBS BIF. Bottle 133 of 216. Poured into a tulip glass. It pours a hazy, sunny-golden color with a half finger, creamy, snow white cap and thin sheen of lacing. Its nose is big and floral with lemon, lime, and sweet petals like being in a green house. The taste opens with a burst of tart citrus, including lots of lemon and lime zest. The Bergamot juice provides the slightest hint of sweetness to compliment the tartness. There is a touch of musty oak in the background but the flavor is very clean and refreshing. It finishes with just a kiss of Belgian spicing. The mouth feel is lite and crisp with moderate carbonation, and it's very easy to drink at 5.5% ABV. Overall, Levain (Bergamot) is a pleasure to drink - particularly on a hot, sunny, mid-summer afternoon. I feel fortunate to have had the chance to savor this ale.
Jul 23, 2023
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
4.39/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.39/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Somewhat cloudy yellow body with two fingers of white foam. The bergamot creates a layer of very aromatic tea, citrus zest, and flower petals atop the funky, musty, tropical and sneaky bready levain. Taste follows suit, just wish the bergamot, kind of like the paw paw variant, didn't dull the nuance as much, still a complex beauty. Feel is sour, funky, zesty, bright and light. My least favorite of the three but still excellent. Tea drinkers might find this to be their favorite
Feb 04, 2022
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