Migration Brewing Releases Pinot Nouveau – Beer-Wine Hybrid

image of Pinot Nouveau – Barrel Aged Beer-Wine Hybrid courtesy of Migration Brewing
image of Pinot Nouveau – Barrel Aged Beer-Wine Hybrid courtesy of Migration Brewing

The subset of beer-wine hybrids is gaining a bit of traction as of late. Albeit not a large amount of traction, but a few more breweries have been releasing this beer style.

Migration Brewing is the latest brewery to join the fray as it recently released Pinot Nouveau, a Norwegian farmhouse beer that uses Pinot Noir grapes and is then aged in former Pinot Noir barrels. This 10% ABV beer-wine hybrid brings together a beverage that is a beer but is heavily influenced by the grapes.

In brewing Pinot Nouveau, Migration Brewing used a blonde ale as its base recipe. They then fermented the beer at elevated temperatures with a Norwegian farmhouse yeast strain, in the style of Kviek beer. Once fermented, the beer was placed into Pinot Noir barrels with whole Pinot Noir grapes from Ribbon Ridge Vineyard out of Newberg.

Whole clusters of fruit were used to achieve carbonic maceration of the grapes that created a fruity yet soft tannin flavor. Take note of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry flavors as they integrate with the soft tannins of the Pinot Noir barrels.

Pinot Nouveau is available in 500mL wax dipped bottles and on draft at all Migration Brewing locations in Portland.