Tell Us A Bit About Yourself?
My name’s Cameron and I’ve been at White Labs Brewing Co for 8 months as a brewer.
I joined White Labs Brewing Co. because it’s home to all the cutting-edge brewing techniques used and the exceptional analytical data we have access to! I want to keep learning more about beer, brewing trends, and the science behind it.
My favorite artist is Tool! Their live shows are incredible. Another fun fact is I’m a drummer in a band called Angler! Most fun I’ve ever had is playing on stage!
What Inspired This Brew?
Kowhai (Ko-Hi), the state flower of New Zealand for a NZ IPA. It was inspired by My late friend Charlie Quirmbach inspired this beer. His favorite hop was Nelson, which made me want to do a New Zealand West Coast hybrid IPA”
How's This Beer Taste?
The floral aspect of New Zealand hops meshes incredibly well with the citrusy flavors of Pacific Northwest hops. A nice balance of bitterness and fruity/floral flavors is achieved this way.
What Yeast Strains Did You Choose?
We went with WLP029 Kolsch Ale yeast and WLP1983 Charlies Fist Bump! The Kolsch Ale yeast does wonders for bringing out fruity esters, and the Charlie’s Fist Bump adds a nice hazy body to the beer.
Both these strains are great versatile strains where they can produce both lager-like and ale styles, with a clean crisp flavor profile.
WLP029 Kolsch Ale Yeast is a bit more finicky as it does not ferment well below 62°F (17°C) after peak fermentation. As well as it typically has low flocculation characteristics after the first generation, where added head pressure, zinc, and calcium additions might help.
ABV: 7.0%
Tasting Notes:
APRICOT | GRAPREFRUIT | FLORAL
WLP1983 Charlie’s Fist Bump Yeast deserves a fist bump as it can ferment ales: optimum cellaring temperature: 50 to 55°F (10-13°C); and lagers: optimum cellaring temperature: 32 to 37°F (0-3°C). While being famed Charlie Papazian’s go-to strain for the recipes in both Papazian’s books, The Complete Joy of Homebrewing and The Homebrewer’s Companion.
ABV: 6.7%
Tasting Notes:
NECTARINE | ORANGE BLOSSOM | TROPICAL
Charlie is my son. He’d appreciate the tribute. Thanks