German craft brewery Von Freude has teamed up with a Hamburg-based roaster to develop a new “coffee ale”.
The company worked with Balzac Coffee to source a direct-trade coffee from Brazilian producer Fazendas Dutra, slow-roasted to accentuate its fruity aromas.
Coarsely ground coffee was added to the brew during primary fermentation, essentially allowing Von Freude to prepare a kind of cold-brew from the coffee and ale. The base ale used in the new recipe is a fruity and light-bodied ale, not too bitter, that produces an amber-coloured ale called Café Dinho that, Von Freude said, delivers intense aromas of freshly ground coffee beans. Light malts leave room for the coffee to develop a prominent scent, it continued, while hints of caramel and orange peel provide “perfect harmony” with the crisp carbonation and low hop bitterness.
Café Dinho joins Von Freude’s existing portfolio of permanent, seasonal and limited-time beers.
The 4.9% ABV brew is available as part of a limited production run. It joins Von Freude’s existing portfolio of permanent, seasonal and limited-time beers.
The brewery’s founders said: “From our creative trial kitchen to the brewery right into the glass, Von Freude is aiming to bring fine beers to connoisseurs. Each beer is created with the aim to compose unique aromas and an experience of indulgence and pleasure – as the brewery’s name conveys, Von Freude meaning “of joy”.
“Our first beer we brewed on our own kitchen’s stove. The number of our beers brewed has increased ever since. There are some varieties we make available year round. Other ones we brew as seasonal batches depending on the time of the year. And then we do limited editions. Of course we brew without adding any additives. Instead of that we employ a dry hopping technique to derive everything possible out of the ingredients.”
The brewery is the brainchild of Martin Schupeta (left) and Natalie Warneke.
The company was started in 2013 to produce “creative beers” and drive further innovation in Germany’s craft beer movement.
Its other beers include Just Pils pilsener, Ale Primeur pale ale, Boulevard session IPA, and the Sonnenøl series of Saison beers.
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