Who is “Brett”?

 

by Matt DeMarco

“Brett” is a nickname for Brettanomyces (bret an ō mī sēz) which is wild yeast. Typically beer is made with brewers’ yeast which is a cousin to Brettanomyces. In the wild it grows on the skins of fruit and in wine making, its presence is a bad thing. In the craft beer world, “brett” beers are some of the most highly sought after brews. Some brewers fear it and some brewers embrace it. If not properly executed in a brewery setting, wild yeast can contaminate traditional beers and ruin them. 

“Brett” is used mainly to produce Lambics and sour ales. Traditionally wild yeast was used for Belgian style ales but brewers have been experimenting with many different styles. The increased usage of ‘’brett” has led to many ales that are not that sour but adds a dimension to the beer that you cannot get without the wild yeast.

“Brett” is very temperamental and can be very unpredictable. The flavors produced by the yeast changes over time often intensifying depending on the amount of sugars it has to feed on. Many wine drinkers flock to “brett” beers because of their earthiness, fruitiness, and acidity. Because everyone has a different palate, some of the reasons that people like the wild ales are the same reasons that people dislike them.

If you want to get your feet wet with “brett” beers, we have a couple we can point you to. Just remember that every wild yeast beer is different and even the same beer from different batches can taste different. That’s what makes “brett” beers so fun.

More breweries are starting to employ “brett” so expect to see more and more wild ales on shelves. They are definitely out of the comfort zone for most beer drinkers but that should not stop anyone from trying them. The only way to find out if you like sours is to try one, a six pack, or maybe a case. Sours can be aged and only get better over time. The newer beers that have been coming out are a lot more subdued than the traditional “brett” beers making them perfect for your first wild ale beer. Wild ales should be on you beer bucket list and maybe even a trip to Russian River Brewery in Santa Rosa, CA for some world class “brett” beers.