The Original 40 Brewing gets funky
North Park brewpub goes beyond the kettle, releasing its first barrel-aged sour, a wine-tinged creation called Tropical Funky Fusion
The Original 40 Brewing has released its first-ever barrel-aged sour ale, Tropical Funky Fusion. Four barrels of the beer were yielded and it is exclusively available on draft at the North Park brewpub.
Tropical Funky Fusion was brewed with wild yeast and aged for two years in white-wine barrels from Paso Robles’ Niner Wine Estates. The 5.5% alcohol-by-volume beer has tasting notes of mango and pineapple, along with funky earthy notes from the wild yeast. Hints of oak and light vinous qualities also come through.
“It’s not our first time being funky, but it’s our first time taking a crack at this style of beer,” said The Original 40 Head Brewer Steven Terán. “We are particularly proud of our process and the end result, and we encourage guests to come in and try it for it’s on a pretty limited supply.”
The Original 40 had only brewed barrel-aged stouts prior to this inaugural barrel-aged sour. Tropical Funky Fusion is now one of two sours on the draft menu, joining a prickly pear kettle sour called Mojave Sunset.
“Tropical Funky Fusion is a unique beer for us,” said The Original 40 founder Steve Billings. “Steven and his team did a tremendous job, and it provides yet another great option to enjoy in the beer Mecca of North Park.”