Logsdon Farmhouse Ales - Far West Vlaming

We were thrilled to get our hands on this one. Logsdon Far West Vlaming is one of the best West Flanders-style examples we’ve found by a U.S. producer: complex and endearingly tart, with firm tannic structure, toasty oak, and a vibrantly fresh red fruit character that makes this feel quite a bit fresher than many Belgian examples. The slight caramel, leather, and (let’s call it) sweet-sour essence common in many examples are still there, but serve secondary roles.

This pours a deep burgundy in one’s glass, with an opaqueness that squares nicely with what follows. The color transitions to bronze and golden highlights at the edge, with a rather light tan head above: well formed, with tight-packed bubbles plus persistent retention. Logdson’s Far West Vlaming features a wide variety of grain additions—from crystal and darker barley malt to wheat and oats (the latter two helping that head stay aloft)—and their net result is a firm, toasty base that fits seamlessly to the tart contributions of the ferment. The yeasts and lactic bacteria do such great work bringing this beer into focus: offering a fresh black-cherry tartness, spritzy lemon acidity, and an overall dry feel that left us ready for the very next sip.

Logsdon Farmhouse Ales is headed up by Director and Brewmaster David Logsdon, and it’s on his bucolic 10 acre property that his farmhouse brewery resides (situated inside of an actual big red barn). David’s been a force in the brewing industry for quite some time, previously serving as a founding partner and brewer at fellow Hood-River-based brewery Full Sail. He’s also the founder of Wyeast Laboratories, Inc., one of the country’s main brewing yeast companies, where he worked for 25 years before setting out to start a brewery of his own.

To the idyllic setting and skilled brewing team, add a dedication to high-quality, thoughtfully sourced, organic ingredients. Hops are used in their whole-cone form (no pellets, no extract) and purchased either directly from the farmers themselves or grown on site. Fruit additions are locally sourced. Multiple yeast strains are typically used, allowing for greater complexity in the final product. Also: Every beer is certified organic.

We feel Logsdon’s offerings are some of the finest examples one can find of the power of superb yeast strains in the hands of brewers with a deft touch and great creativity. Logsdon’s beers are produced in small batches and distributed in similarly small quantities in just a handful of states and British Columbia. It’s our pleasure to have been able to work with Logsdon to secure limited quantites of six of these excellent beers for this month’s special offer. We know you’ll enjoy these world-class beers as much as we have. Cheers!