Microbrewed Adventures - Charles Papazian [74]
In the tiny village of Piozzo, Teo Musso embarked on an experiment no brewing scientist would dare risk his reputation on. “Yeast is a living animal. Why shouldn’t it be affected by music as other living organisms are?” Teo explains quite emphatically, nurturing the legitimacy of what at first appears to be an exercise in brewing insanity. But then, with contemplation…
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PIOZZO ITALIAN PALE ALE
While the secret life of beer will forever remain mysterious, there is nothing mysterious about the simplicity and greatness of this India pale ale. Might I suggest exposing this beer to Indian sitar music throughout fermentation and cellaring? At the very least, savor its flavor while listening to music. This recipe can be found in About the Recipes.
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There are significant implications to Teo’s ideas. Perhaps his experiments and measurements will be inconclusive. Perhaps they will be enlightening. Whatever the results of the Piozzo Experiment, I hope it inspires an ongoing appreciation of yeast. I hope it inspires a variety of perspectives. Yeast is a sensitive living organism that we know very little about. I appreciate the guidance brewing science has given to me as a brewer. It has helped improve my beer. But without appreciation of the mysteries of yeast and the life processes involving beer, all the science in the world is a bunch of hooey.
Islandic Vellosdricke
Gotland Island, Sweden
NEVER EVER EVER EVER trust a homebrewer who says, “This is the last beer we’re going to taste.” NEVER EVER in a million years EVER!
I LEARNED MANY YEARS AGO that homesick Swedes brought the dandelion to America. Now I could scarcely doubt this as we drove past expansive fields yellow with carpets of dandelions blazing against a startlingly blue springtime sky on the island of Gotland. Surrounded by the Baltic Sea, Gotland is a small island, about 25 miles wide and 50 miles long, situated off the southeast coast of Sweden. There, dense stands of birch and pine trees accent flowering trees and red, white, yellow and blue springtime tulips and daffodils. The sea is dark blue and cold; the winds are brisk.
Sixty-four-year-old Vello Noodapera greeted Swedish Homebrewing Society member Jesper Schmidt and me at the Gotland airport. We were both curious about the legendary beer of Gotland Island. Overwhelmed by the excitement of our arrival, Vello immediately set the record straight: “Do you know what day is today?” Was it something special? I didn’t know, and with a thirsty smile I asked him to explain. “It is Folknykterhetens Dag, which roughly translates to ‘a day of people’s soberness.’” My god, I had arrived on a national day of abstinence! I thought to myself, “Shit! Get a grip, Charlie! You might get off on smelling the dandelions.” But Vello quickly confided with a hearty laugh, “…but we’ll ignore it.”
We were on our way to Vello’s small farm and later to Sweden’s first brewpub (it had officially opened only two weeks before my arrival), the Virungs Bryggeri. My quest was to discover the mysteries of the island’s special beer, Gotlandsdricke. The 45-minute drive along scenic and winding roads was interrupted briefly as we stopped at a roadside parking area. It may have been 10 in the morning, but it was not too early for a homebrew. At this time of year the sun stubbornly sets late anyway. Up popped the trunk of Vello’s Saab and within seconds Jesper, Vello and I were toasting the occasion with a mugful of delicious ale, brewed with the local baker’s yeast. I knew I was about to have my horizons broadened.
I had no idea how wonderful this day was about to become. As we approached the farm, I noticed in the distance an American flag flying high on a pole. Vello