VayCay Brew Co Florida Foeder-Aged Passion Peach Berliner Weisse
Reviewed on August 25, 2023
VayCay Brew Co. is a fairly new addition to the Calgary craft beer map.They have been contract brewing since 2021, but it wasn’t until March 10th of this year, that they opened up a brewery and collaborative taproom in the Currie Barracks.
Under one roof you have VayCay Brewing Company at one end, Burwood Distillery at the other and Veranda restaurant in the middle tying the two together. VayCay Brew Company and Burwood Distillery are owned by different people. VayCay Brew Co is owned by 3 partners - Brad Fehr, Mark Zabot and Andrew Gass. Andrew and Mark graduated from the Brew master program at Olds College in May 2021.
With my wine background, the Florida Foeder-Aged Passion Peach Berliner Weisse grabbed my attention. It is aged in a French oak barrel called a Foeder ( an oversized barrel, in this case 20 hectoliters). This beer was aged for 3 weeks in an open top fooder and was canned 2 weeks ago. This beer is a Sour which is a style that is hot right now. It’s a wheat beer which adds more depth to the palate
Photo lower left - VayCay Brew Co. 3 partners - Brad Fehr, Mark Zabot and Andrew Gass
Tasting Note - VayCay Brew Co Florida Foeder-Aged Passion Peach Berliner Weisse
The passion fruit gives the tartness and the peaches smooths out the flavours. There is also a slight mustiness/earthiness from the foeder. There is a bit of an edge that reminds me of a cider or white wine. This is a complex beer.