Spontaneous fermentation is the process of fermenting wort into beer by adding microorganisms without direct intervention. We use our coolship immediately after brewing to both cool the wort overnight and inoculate the wort with microorganisms delivered into the vessel by the air of Edmonton.
Most of our production is now made using spontaneous fermentation. We have spontaneous brewing seasons in both spring and fall as we only brew spontaneous beer when the overnight temperature averages zero Celsius. After the wort is inoculated in the coolship and cooling is complete we transfer the beer into a sterilized holding tank prior to it being pumped into barrels. We don’t rely on any other intervention or processes to add microbes to the wort.
We recently had the huge honor of our Fruitful Pursuits: Cherry being awarded the World’s Best Kriek at the World Beer Awards. But why don’t we call this beer a Kriek? As with all things, it’s complicated, but the main reason we don’t call Fruitful Pursuits: Cherry a Kriek is out of respect for our peers in Belgium. It’s their traditional term, and not ours.
Greg Zeschuk
Author
Greg’s career has ranged from physician, to videogame developer as founder of BioWare, and now trainee brewer. Greg is the prime enthusiast behind the Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company.