Tommie Sjef sprøng 2022 Wild Ale 750ml Bottle

Country: Netherlands

Brewery: Tommie Sjef

Style: Wild Ale

Format: 750ml Bottle

ABV: 7.1%

sprøng is a blend of mature wild ales, aged in oak puncheons (400 and 500L) for around 1,5 up to 3 years, and a barrel fermented and aged saison type of beer, which was dryhopped for a few months with Saaz hops. We’ve added Sicilian sage and also wormwood (artemisia absinthium and another secret variety) to the final blend to macerate a week before bottling. It’s a subtle addition we made compared to the original sprong, to add a slightly earthiness and spice to it.

In the aroma I detect lemony and earthy notes from the Saaz hops and herbal and floral qualities like marigold, sage, straw and chamomile with an underlying raw honey note. This earthiness of the Saaz hops is accentuated in the taste by the subtle addition of wormwood. This spicy earthiness of the wormwood, which reminds me of fresh tumeric, combines very well with the sage and citrus notes. The medium acidity and firm bitterness gives the beer a fresh and lighthearted character. Some notes from the barrel, like white grape skins and tannic rinse apples, complement this liveliness with some more structure in mouthfeel and a sort of robust complexity.

sprøng is perfect to be enjoyed right away, but might benefit from some months of ageing in the bottle, so it’s great to be enjoyed during the holidays. Ageing will balance out the flavours and will give space for more subtle nuances in aroma and taste. I might note that it will be interesting to observe the interplay of the herbs, hops, and yeast-profile throughout the ageing-process. Store our beers upright or lying down in a cool, dark place. Our beers are best enjoyed between 12 and 14 degrees Celsius.

Tommie Sjef is a beer blendery from Den Helder, the Netherlands. We make wild ales which are fermented and aged in wooden barrels. All our beers are fermented using our own wild yeast and bacteria culture. This gives the beer, after extensive ageing — 1,5 up to 4 years — in oak barrels, its typical slightly sour taste, and eccentric aromas. A bottle of Tommie Sjef often contains a blend of beers originating from a selection of barrels, differing in age. Every barrel develops differently, each showing its unique characteristics. It is the art of blending to add balance, depth and joy.