Sauce beer columnist Cory King makes his living as the brewmaster at Perennial Artisan Ales. Sauce photographer Greg Rannells has turned his beekeeping hobby into a burgeoning business called Woodside Urban Honey. While we at Sauce are delighted with King’s and Rannells’ contributions to this publication, the St. Louis craft beer-sect can get excited for what the duo has recently accomplished together.
Perennial has collaborated with Rannells for its newest beer, a Belgian-style Tripel called Woodside. “A traditional Tripel is brewed with sugar to increase the alcohol content, but to also keep the body low and dry. We used traditional candy sugar as well as the honey,” explained King, adding that the honey adds “a depth of complexity.” While this blonde beer clocks in at 9.1 ABV, King noted that Woodside doesn’t drink like a heavy hitter, nor is it sweet; rather, it’s very dry.
The release party for Woodside was held last night at Perennial’s tasting room, located at 8125 Michigan Ave., in the South Carondelet neighborhood of St. Louis city. You can taste the beer there now, where you’ll find it on draft, in 750-ml bottles and in growlers, perfect for Father’s Day giving and receiving.
Beginning next week and continuing through July, Woodside will make its way into well-stocked area wine and liquor shops, as well as local restaurants and bars that regularly carry Perennial brews. Got vacay plans that will take you to other regions of the Show-Me State or to cities like Chicago, New York or Philadelphia? This seasonal beer is headed there too.
This article appears in June 2013.