Chandler, Arizona — It’s beer, it’s wine, it’s fantastic! The idea of blending craft beer with wine is something that Anthony Canecchia, SanTan founder and brewmaster has wanted to create for years. So, last September, Canecchia collaborated with Dos Cabezas head vintner, Todd Bostock to develop a fresh beer flavor based on a traditional saison, called Saison Di Aleatico.
Now, using the base reserved from their original collaboration, SanTan Brewing will introduce two new oak aged specialty hybrid brews.
Oak Aged Saison Di Aleatico—barrel aged for 11 months, Saison Di Aleatico is made by blending Dos Cabezas Aleatico wine grapes and SanTan’s French Saison beer. Saison Di Aleatico is described as fruity and dry — retaining a smooth saison clove nose and light bitterness. It is highly carbonated using SanTan Brewing’s signature Southwestern Style to create a sparkling wine quality and crispness.
Cab Franc Barrel Aged Saison — barrel aged for 10 months in French Oak barrels that contained Cabernet Franc pommace resulting in a slight sourness that compliments both the beer and wine characteristics, creating something truly special and exciting.
Both of these delicious aged beers are set to be tapped on July 19, 2014 at the Arizona Craft Brewer’s Guild event, Real, Wild & Woody. (http://realwildandwoody.com/)
“We are extremely excited to showcase these two specialty beers. This is our first experiment with barrel aging. Tasting the blend from month to month has shown us the amazing flavor contributions of oak barrels. This is the start of a whole new series of ales for SanTan Brewing,” explained Canecchia.
Oak Aged Saison Di Aleatico Quick Facts
Style: French Saison with Aleatico wine grapes addedÔÇ¿Malt: 2-Row Brewers Malt, Malted Wheat, and Munich 20L Malt
Hops: Columbus
Yeast: French Saison
OG: 15.2
ABV: 7.7%
Color: Light Pinkish Hue
IBU: 35
Availability: SanTan’s downtown Chandler brewpub, on tap only, July 19, 2014. While supplies last.
Cab Franc Barrel Aged Saison Quick Facts
Style: French Saison barrel aged with Cabernet Franc pommace
Malt: 2-Row Brewers Malt, Malted Wheat, Munich 20L Malt
Hops: Columbus
Yeast: French Saison
OG: 15.2
ABV: 8%
Color: Light Red
IBU: 35
Availability: SanTan’s downtown Chandler brewpub, on tap only, July 19, 2014. While supplies last.
About SanTan Brewing Company
Open since 2007 under the leadership of founder and brewmaster, Anthony Canecchia, SanTan Brewing Company has established a strong reputation as one of Arizona’s favorite craft breweries. In addition to brewing, SanTan features a friendly neighborhood brewpub in Downtown Chandler, which has quickly become one of the top local food and beer destinations in the Phoenix metro area.
All SanTan Brewing Company craft beers are Southwestern Style Ales. SanTan’s brews are fermented to completion and carbonated higher than traditional American beers for a more effervescent, crisp and refreshing hand crafted beer — perfect for quenching your thirst in the hot Arizona sun and throughout the southwestern region of the US.
In 2009, SanTan Brewing began distributing their Southwestern Style Ales throughout the state of Arizona, operating with a mission to pair craft beer with craft food that would inspire great conversation and good times. 2014 marks the beginning of taking this journey throughout the Southwest and California.
SanTan beers have won numerous national and statewide awards including two medals at the US Open Beer Championship: bronze in 2013 and gold in 2011. SanTan Brewing also took home a silver medal at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival and won Best Brewery in Arizona, selected by the Phoenix New Times and the Arizona Republic, in 2013 and 2011.
Check out SanTan Brewing Company online at www.santanbrewing.com and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SanTanBrewingCo or follow them at www.twitter.com/SanTanBrewing.