Seasonal ales might be the guilty pleasure of the brewer’s trade. Although standard, staple beers are a must for the in-house tap list and for distribution purposes, the small-batch, timely infusions of seasonal ales are a pleasant departure from the norm, running the risk of becoming cult classics or just allowing the brewer to blow off some creative steam. It is possible that true success for a seasonal ale is portraying the time in which the beer is released and the feeling that comes with it.
I had the pleasure of trying one such beer a few weeks back at Yakima’s annual Fresh Hop Ale Festival. Outside of showing their fresh hop offering, Waitsburg, Wash.’s Laht Neppur (pronounced lot nep-orr and Gaelic for “drink to life”) also had their Spiced Peaches & Cream Ale up for grabs. A possible cross between an American hefeweizen and cream ale, the beer is hit with real peach juice and puree to bring a punch of fruit to the forefront. Cinnamon and nutmeg lace the peach aromas, while wide mouthfeel, sweet and creamy malt finish solidifies the fact that you might be drinking peach cobbler with family during the holidays.
Read more about Laht Neppur from our resident beer maestro, Kendall Jones. Raise your glass and laht neppur!
