Schell’s Announces North Country Brünette

North Country Brünette is Schell’s interpretation of a traditional Märzen Weisse, a variety of Berliner Weisse that has been extinct since two world wars and decades of Communist rule destroyed most of Berlin’s breweries. Schell’s brings to life what a Märzen Weisse would have tasted like using traditional methods, including a decoction mash, un-boiled wort, and a slow, mixed culture fermentation.

Perhaps the most extraordinary part of this brewing was the aging process, which lasted nearly one year. Four generations after German immigrant August Schell broke ground for the brewery in 1860, current President Ted Marti and his son Jace—both German-trained brewers—revived original cypress fermentation tanks from 1936. These rare wooden tanks are home to the Noble Star Collection, including the latest, North Country Brünette.

“There’s no more authentic way to celebrate our German heritage than by awakening the last remaining wooden tanks deep within the old cellars,” said Ted Mari. “Beer and wine lovers alike can appreciate the distinct story and taste of North Country Brünette; we recommend pairing it with something sweet, such as a lemon meringue pie.”

The long secondary fermentation in the tanks allowed the authentic Brettanomyces yeast culture to work on the residual sugars that remained in the beer, transforming it into a complex flavor profile. North Country Brünette is very tart and dry, with a fine, rounded acidic profile and a malty, spiced fruity character. The beer is unfiltered, hand-bottled, and bottle conditioned in 750ml cork and caged champagne bottles, available in select bars and retailers for a limited time.
.