New Belgium's speciality brand manager Andrew Emerton was recently in London to work with Partizan Brewing as part of the Rainbow Project, an ambitious collaboration featuring seven U.S. and seven UK brewers organized by Casita Cerveceria's Ryan Witter-Merithew and the UK's Siren Craft Brew, Witter’s former employer.
On paper, it read like just another one of Partizan's excellent Saisons. But Emerton had brought the party over from Colorado—freshly picked, vacuum-packed spruce tips. The air was filled with the heady aromas of mango and pine resin the moment Partizan's Andy Smith slashed open the packet. We each grabbed a handful and began chewing, unlocking some surprisingly intense tropical fruit flavors that will be complemented by the fruity EXP522 hops Emerton also brought.
The beer will be released in September at various Rainbow Project parties around the UK, including Beavertown's Extravaganza. GBH will be in residence at the latter, hosting seminars and standing in line to drink this beer.
