New School Beer + Cider

View Original

Crux releases Flashcards White IPA and Crux Wine

Crux Fermentation Project is fulfilling a few unspoken promises with their latest release of Flashcards White IPA and Crux Wine by the bottle. The Bend, Oregon-based brewery was co-founded by ex-Deschutes brewmaster Larry Sidor, who created the "White IPA" back in 2010 with Steven Pauwels of Boulevard Brewing. Sidor is bringing back the sub-style that he made periodically cool during the time of the Cascadian Dark Ales/Black IPA.

Crux Flashcards White IPA

Flashcards White IPA

White IPA's are basically a hybrid of Belgian-style Witbier's or White Ales and IPA's. Wheat is used to create a softer, creamier and bready mouthfeel while spices like coriander brighten things up with a peppery citrus bite and sweet orange peel adds a rounded sweet and fruity candy-like note. Deschutes collab with Boulevard was called Conflux No. 2, but it was later refined into Chainbreaker White IPA and was a hit. This lost sub-style seems compatible to the currently popular hazy and juicy IPA's that combine citrus and tropical notes of hops with wheat and oats for a hazy, creamy body.

https://youtu.be/HHGnEk3uixQ
2011 interview with Larry Sidor and Steven Pauwel's on White IPA

Flashcards White IPA is characterized by bright, Belgian-inspired spice notes from orange peel and coriander, along with a healthy heaping of Mosaic and Citra hops. (6.2% ABV, 50 IBU)

Six-packs available at the tasting room and now at your neighborhood grocery store/bottle shop - but only for a season. Click here to hear Larry talk more about the history of the White IPA.

Crux Fermentation Project Wine

Crux Wine

With a name like Crux Fermentation Project, you had to assume other kinds of fermentation were coming at some point (they have been making cider for awhile too). We've always had wild ambitions to create more than just ales and lagers says Crux in the description for the new Crux Red Wine and White Wine.

Larry Sidor explains his obsession with fermentation as beginning with sauerkraut as a kid, and later studying fermentation science and making wine at Oregon State University 40 years ago. Sidor's first wine was a homemade Dandelion Wine and he even had a vineyard in Yakima for a time.

Crux Wine project has crafted their own red and white blends with select, Northwest-grown varietals.

RED BLEND No. 1
2018 Columbia Valley,14.5% ABV
(60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon,10% Syrah)

WHITE BLEND No. 1 
2018 Columbia Valley, 12.6% ABV
(47% White Riesling, 25% Sauvignon Blanc, 23% Pinot Gris, 4% Semillon, 1% Muscat Canelli)

Order one 750ml bottle of each blend (B), or order two 750ml bottles of red (R), or two 750ml bottles of white (W). Now available in bottles at the tasting room and for mail order via the online store.