Beer of the Week: Wired Fences

When a brewery brings on a new fermentationist to head its beermaking operations, it’s a big deal. And for the individual stepping aboard, it can often be difficult to toe the line (especially in workboots) of respecting existing fan favorites while making one’s mark through their own creations. Naturally, most brewers want to get straight to the latter and generally have no shortage of ideas for how to take ownership of the beer board. But even in situations where an ale-and-lager program may be in need of reinvigorating or even an overhaul, a brewer has to be strategic. As in all other facets of life, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. So once it’s time for a new hire to introduce their inaugural addition to their employer’s portfolio, it’s wise to take a beat and put in some thought about how best to win over existing customers while staying true to one’s self. In the case of Kyle Fjalstad, the recently added head brewer at North Park brewpub, The Original 40 Brewing, he opted for a crowd-pleaser of a style, the omnipopular West Coast IPA. At first, that seems like a move so obvious you may have uttered the word duh upon reading the last sentence, but it’s a statement for Fjlastad, who is best known for heading the barrel-aging program at Modern Times Beer. There, his hands were regularly stained with black, viscous, imperial-strength stouts, so showing off what he can do with hops in a modern format is probably the best route he could have gone…especially since that IPA, Wired Fences, turned out so nice. Hopped with the varietal of the moment, Krush (formerly known as HBC 586), and New Zealand’s much-beloved Nelson Sauvin, the beer presents with a nose rich with tangerine and passionfruit notes. The latter sensation comes through on the taste buds along with flavors of pineapple, tomatillo, Sauvignon Blanc and kale stems, all against an easy-drinking (for an IPA) canvas. It’s a promising sign of things to come and confirmation The Original 40’s owners made a solid hire.

Wired Fences is a West Coast IPA, hopped at just over five pounds-per-barrel, featuring Krush and Nelson hops. It’s designed to have a softer body than typical West Coast IPAs with a grist containing primarily Pilsner malt to increase drinkability and allow the hops to run the show. The soft body and mouthfeel quickly build to a crescendo of lemon-lime, pineapple and guava that will satiate the most discerning of hop-hunting beer-drinkers. I’m beyond excited to get to create the beer for The Original 40 and I feel like this is a great opener to build on.”

Kyle Fjalstad, Head Brewer, The Original 40 Brewing

The Original 40 Brewing is located at 3117 University Avenue in North Park