Lady Sovereign's Belgian - A Lesson in Patience. Or Laziness.

Lady Sovereign's Belgian - A Lesson in Patience.  Or Laziness.

The story of Lady Sovereign:

For those of you tuned into popular culture circa 2007, you will recognize Lady Sovereign as the upstart British Grime artist who made a splash Stateside with her EP Vertically Challenged.  I listened to her obsessively during drives from San Rafael to Santa Rosa for biking and my California bar study class.

I know Lady Sovereign as an attitude filled bunny, a small grey ball of fuzz, and a great companion.  She fell ill on July 27, 2011, with a condition called wry-neck. The little bunny never recovered and passed away with a belly fully of carrot in Falls Church, Virginia, on Halloween of 2011 at the age of 9. 

Here she is  (left) during her healthy years, with her buddy Comet:

Nearly a year later, on October 28, 2012, I brewed an experimental Belgian ale in her honor.  The experiment resulted from a low stock of ingredients, causing me to use grains and hops I have not traditionally used for brewing Belgian ales.  I substituted Willamette and Fuggles hops where I might use Saaz or Styrian hops.  I also used British Pale, American Two-row, and Special Roast in place of more the more traditional Belgian pilsner and aromatic malts.  My last deviation was leaving the brew in the primary fermentation vessel for three weeks, instead of my usual seven to ten days.

I also had the good fortune to have friends Bree and Christian Olivari visiting to help me taste it after racking it from primary to secondary.  All agreed:  a beer with character, just like its namesake bunny.  What surprised me was how well-developed and lively the beer was at this stage. Usually my Belgians have only a hint of the characteristic nose and flavor after primary and do not develop it until a couple months in secondary.  The beer was still a bit rough, but whether that is its youth or my experimental brewing is yet to be seen.  I will post a follow-up when it comes time for bottling and drinking.