Beer - #394 - 8 Wired - Chardonnay Barrel Aged Saeson

Is the season for Saison it seems, and I've enjoyed the ones I've had recently, and might just try this one 8 Wired Chardonnay Barrel Aged Saeson.

For 8 Wired Brewing Brewed at Renaissance Brewing and no points for guessing that this is in the style that is  Saison and they're based in Blenheim, New Zealand.

In a funky bottle that is of 500 ml (1pt 9fl oz), containing a  7% ABV beer , working out to 210 calories a serve, and that would be 2.76 standard drink units (the label says 2.9). This one pops in at 25 IBU on the scale of things - low Pilsner, Porter or Pale ale kind of bitter.

[caption id="attachment_8488" align="alignleft" width="300"] Selfie from a distance[/caption]

Ale aged in chardonnay barrels with Brettanomyces

A saison brewed to what I would expect old world ales to have tasted like, with a new world hop twist. Aged in chardonnay barrels with added brettanomyces for a year, then dry hopped with NZ hops.

Of course at this point I realise that I'm not a big fan of Chardonnay style wine, but I've never let that get in the way of trying something out.

I'm not famous I can make any statement I want

Two words yesterday on twitter "Free Polanski".

Not from a world recognised name, but a name known in New Zealand. Someone who commands an audience and imparts information, love, humor, and adds that bit in your day that makes a difference. I know, still only a voice on the radio and anyone "could" do it. They can't he does.

But carelessly or otherwise he's committed to a statement, a "cause celeb", and joined a bunch of others calling for something based on what I can only assume is "better than you" -ness

Does that make him a bad person? Not really. But is does highlight that whilst I never met him, never spoken to him, and am not that likely to bump into him in the streets (although that is the most probable), I've formed an opinion about what he should and should not be able to comment on.

Except that this is different. We might disagree on political things, he might be left I might be center, we might disagree on Chardonnay over Sauvignon, or free-range over farm eggs. But we can't disagree on child abuse surely?

Confusing assumed greatness, or significance, and ignoring illegality and moral bankruptcy just seems, in my opinion, to be wrong.

Then just to put the record straight I think Nelson Mandela is a Terrorist. But I'm allowed to say that, I'm not a celebrity.