Here at Regional we are very pleased to be able to offer for
sale Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale the only American beer to be fermented
in traditional Union fermentors.
The union system of fermentation was developed in the UK during the 19th
century as a way of collecting yeast from a fermenting batch of ale so that it
could be reused in the next batch. The system consisted of a series of very
large wooden barrels which were linked by copper ‘swan neck’ pipes and troughs
which ingeniously collected the yeast and froth of the fermenting beer and used
gravity to feed it back to the barrel. The system had the side affect of
breeding a strain of yeast that produced a very complex, fruity dry character
that was perfect for the production of pale ale. In the UK the Marston’s Brewery is the only brewery
still producing beer in Burton Unions with their Pedigree Pale Ale being the
last surviving English example of a Union
brewed ale.
In the sun drenched Wine country of California an American brewery has taken the
Victorian technology and replicated it on a smaller scale. Founded by Adam
Firestone, a member of the Firestone Tire dynasty, Firestone Walker constructed
a Union that involves a series of 60 gallon
American Oak barrels which are linked by sealed stainless steel pipes. The
breweries flagship product is Double Barrel Ale brewed with a blend of American
two row pale malt, English Maris Otter Pale Malt, Munich, Crystal and Chocolate
going into the mash tun and Magnum, Styrian Goldings and East Kent Golding Hops
going into the kettle with a further addition of East Kent Goldings to the
conditioning tank. A portion of each batch is brewed in the Union
and is then blended with beer fermented in conventional stainless steel
fermentors. The result is a lightly fruity amber ale with a zesty heathery
aroma and wonderfully rich creamy mouth feel.