Rhubarb and Thyme IPA

Rhubarb and thyme are an unusual flavor pairing, but anyone who has ever tried a rhubarb pie with a thyme glaze knows that the combination is unbeatable We could also imagine the odd couple as a creamy ice cream with a delicate herbal kick or as a sweet compote with a tart note The team at Sakiškių alus has even gone one step further and brewed a delicious beer from the duo

The basis is an India Pale Ale with an alcohol content of 5.1%, brewed in collaboration with the Icelandic brewery Smiðjan Brugghús The malty backbone was put together from an exquisite selection of different grains It gives the beer its stature and offers the hops a grandiose stage The green gold brings grassy hints, The character-shaping components, however, are the freshly harvested rhubarb and the hand-picked Arctic thyme Whole stalks of rhubarb were added in the second fermentation, while the thyme went into the kettle at the same time as the cones in the dry hopping process

The result of the process is a subtly balanced brew that combines fruity acidity, malty sweetness, resinous hops and tart herbal notes to create an irresistible treat for the palate Although the individual ingredients are easy to taste, they form a successful whole