Wild Winds Brewery is a small-town craft facility knocking out craft beer and tasty soda, in that place where the strong Chinook winds blow down off the mountains and toss your garbage cans across the street. But there’s something else on that wind, aside from a malevolent force of can destroying, that speaks of the old days of the Alberta prairies. This is a part of the world where the feet of the hunter walked long before tall ships sailed the seas. Where buffalo would ford the Oldman river and millennia of prairie growth came and went. So too do the beers and ways of Wild Winds follow that tradition - that place of ancient thought and purpose. So open up a beer from that place and see if you can find the time and feeling that has been there since before anyone spoke. The Föhn is a Helles, a laidback German-style lager with a tasty balance of sweetness and spicy hop profile. Serves well at 8°C and can cellar for up to six months.
It should look like a drab, apricot colour with a hazy body, but be careful how you pour it or you might end up with a milkshake.
Despite the look you’ll mostly be getting the grainy malt from this Helles - lean and sharp toasted grain character with a touch of earthy aroma in the background.
There’s a schism in this beer - the classic flavours of the Helles lager are battling with the unfiltered nature of the beer, so what should be lean, malty grain with a touch of floral hops and laid back character can get a bit of snappiness to it, and sudden bursts of bitterness. Let it settle in the fridge, serve it cold, and don’t get too rowdy on the pour. Nice, slightly dry finish and mouthfeel.
Try this one out solo - you’ll find it a bit weird but interesting.