Odell Brewing Introduces Friek
Fort Collins, Colo. – On February 19, 2011 Odell Brewing will release Friek, the newest offering in its Single Serve series of beers. Friek is a creative amalgamation invented by the brewers, blending a Kriek style ale with a Framboise.
Multiple Kriek Lambic ales were brewed over the past three years and fermented with a combination of yeasts (some wild), lactobacillus, and pediococcus. Then, 3500 pounds of sweet and tart cherries were added, and the beer was transferred into oak barrels where it aged taking on the cherry flavors. As the beer matured, Framboises (raspberries) from Schroyer Family Farms in Fort Collins were hand-picked by Odell Brewing co-workers and readied for the beer. The fresh raspberries were added just before the final blending.
Light and effervescent in the nose, Friek marries a tart cherry pucker with a bright raspberry finish. The two flavors comingle on the tongue, and the lactobacillus creates a sour complexity that accentuates the fruit. The beer is 100% bottle conditioned in Champagne style cork and cage finish bottles.
“Friek demonstrates our respect for the traditional Lambic style ale,” said head brewer Joe Mohrfeld, “We brewed the beer in a way that both embraces this tradition but also incorporates American craft beer innovation.”
Odell Brewing will celebrate the release of Friek, with a Tap Room “Friek Out” on February 19, 2011 from 4-6pm. The Cupcake Cruiser will be at the brewery serving red velvet cupcakes with orange raspberry cream cheese icing. Guests can enjoy samples of Friek paried with the cupcakes as well as live music by The Commoners.
Friek will be available in limited quantities throughout the brewery’s nine state distributor region at a suggested retail price of $17.99 per bottle.
Founded in 1989, Odell Brewing was started by Doug Odell, his wife Wynne, and his sister Corkie. Twenty-one years later, the culture of family and collaboration still thrives fostering a brewery full of beer-centric people. It is this passion for beer that inspires Odell Brewing to create quality, hand-crafted, innovative brews. In 2010 the brewery completed its fourth expansion, adding a wood-aging cellar, a 750 ml bottling line, and a 76 kilowatt photovoltaic system capable of providing 39% of the brewery’s peak energy demand. As a regional craft brewery, Odell Brewing is committed to serving the communities in which it distributes by sourcing local raw materials, and through its charitable giving program known as Odell Outreach. Odell Brewing was recently named a “Top Company of 2010” by ColoradoBiz Magazine and is an award winning brewery, nationally and internationally: 2010 North American Beer Awards – gold medal for Woodcut No. 3. 2009 BrewNZ Awards – gold for 5 Barrel Pale Ale. 2008 World Beer Cup® – gold for IPA. 2007 Great American Beer Festival® – gold medal for IPA.
