Beer of the Week: Electrostatic Ale

Back when I started freelance writing (more than 18 years ago…where does the time go?), there were… you might want to sit down for this…only around 20 brewing companies in San Diego County. Gasp, right? It sounds miniscule considering that number would go on to soar past 150. Those who weren’t of age or engaged in the beer community back then might think the scene was dull, but it was actually really cool. Everything was new and, because craft beer hadn’t yet become a widespread phenomenon, breweries weren’t crowded and bar-like. A surprising number of those businesses didn’t even have taprooms. Tasting experiences took place on the brewery floor amid grain sacks and hoses, care of rollaway kegerator bars and taps drilled into coldboxes. The latter was the setup at Lightning Brewery, the first and only brewery to operate in the inland North County city of Poway. That beer biz’s founder, Jim Crute, was the first brewer I ever spoke with. Such one-on-one conversations were part of the allure of that era, when more often than not it was the owner of the brewery – who was typically the individual doing the brewing – pouring customers their tasters. Were it not for Crute’s generosity of time and information early on, I don’t know if I’d have gone from someone who enjoyed drinking beer to someone interested in how it was produced, how the medium could be manipulated and all that went into running a brewery. To say that had an influence on my career would be an understatement. I think back fondly to those early days at Lightning and still remember my go-to brews, including this week’s featured beer, Electrostatic Ale. In the beginning it was a double-digit ABV (alcohol-by-volume) Belgian-style strong golden ale. Over the years, it’s morphed into what Crute describes as a French-style farmhouse ale. Amber-hued, slightly tart, and imparted with vibrant apple, cherry and spice character from Belgian yeast, it’s quite different from those days so long ago, but plenty enjoyable all the same. And thanks to the fact Lightning recently began canning its core lineup of beers, it’s now very easy to not only enjoy, but store and transport. Cheers to innovations and advancements…and the good old days.

Electrostatic Ale is Lightning Brewery’s first foray into the farmhouse ale class of beers. Crafted since 2006, this beer is a French farmhouse ale or bière de garde. More commonly, farmhouse ales are thought of as Belgian beers where spices and extra sugars are added to the wort before fermentation. On the French side of the border the beers tend to follow the rules of the German Purity Act, which states only malted grain, hops, water and yeast may be used. We use barley and wheat malts, German hops varietals, local water and our selected strain of farmhouse yeast for a high-gravity (10% ABV) beer that still maintains its spicy character.”

Jim Crute, Owner & Brewmaster, Lightning Brewery

Lightning Brewery is located at 13200 Kirkham Way in Poway