Frambozen – pFriem Family Brewers – 99 Rating

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
This beer has been a team effort. The idea of making Lambic-inspired beers at pFriem was a dream of mine many years before we opened, but our Head Brewer Gavin Lord has put years of work into getting this program off the ground. This beer is much more process-oriented then recipe-driven, and Gavin has done a wonderful job of harnessing all the aspects of this beer and making them come together.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
Using neutral French Oak barrels from wineries around us, microflora that is found here in the Hood River Valley, raspberries from Willamette valley, and that we are a very modern brewery that makes high-quality lagers and hop-forward beers as well as funky and barrel-aged beers. All these things put together gives a large nod at tradition, but makes this a unique beer to pFriem.

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
With all our beers we just name them what they are. Frambozen is Dutch for Raspberry.

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”
Although this would be a dynamic desert island beer, I would prefer more of a day-to-day drinker then this beer.

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Perfumy fresh raspberries, jammy, rose petals, floral, prickly,and tantalizing.

BC: Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this beer?
The first raspberry Lambic I ever had was at Drie Fonteinen in Beersel, Belgium. This beer blew my mind with its tart, tangy, fresh and bright raspberries while finishing prickly and refreshing. That beer gave me a deep thirst and love for this style of beer.

BC: What's a good food pairing for this beer?
Cheese-mascarpone, teleme, stracchino, and sharp fresh goat cheese.