Drunk Beard
A short Crochet in Gros-de-Vaud.
There are days when life is more delightful than others. In fact, this Tuesday 8 February, everything is in place to make it a lovely day. The night was long and peaceful; the sun sings us awake and keeps the day bright and lively. It’s been a while since we’ve seen it looking so happy. To top it all off, today we’re visiting DrunkBeard! A team of five – slightly reduced by the hustle and bustle of everyday life – which has now become a team of three (Dylan, Daniel and me) is setting off for Gros-de-Vaud and the famous hoppy beer brewery.
This event didn’t happen by chance. Ruben (brewer and founder of DrunkBeard) popped round to the bar to bring us a few brews to quench the growing thirst of thirsty folk. Whilst he was there, we had a bit of a chat.
- It’s really fresh – we’d better get it tapped straight away to make the most of it!
- Definitely! Say, I’ve been wanting to write some articles about the breweries in the area – can we come and see you?
- Absolutely, and I’m hatching some brilliant schemes for the upcoming TTO!
- Tip-top!
That was all it took for us to meet up.
Well, here we are. Box No. 15 is open and we’re given a warm welcome. First of all, Ruben introduces us to the brewery. These are conducted in a friendly manner, and the very first person we meet is the bottler. Craft beer with a high hop content is no longer drunk from bottles, and as that’s the norm here, we had to make the transition.
We step through the doorway and find ourselves in a brewery that gleams with a chrome sheen. Seven fermentation tanks to our left – six 500-litre ones and one 1,000-litre one – are currently in operation. To our right are stairs leading high up and various machines used in the brewing process. We can hear the soft sounds of bubbles escaping here and there, but of course we’re listening to Ruben as he tells us how he ended up here.
It all began with an unopened present. One of those home-brewing kits, a gift from his wife, which had been left in a corner for ages but which, once opened, turned into a Pandora’s box of endless possibilities. The passion took root; it was time to sow the seeds. First in a utility room in Morrens, where the small vats found their place, along with the first failures and the first successes.
One thing led to another: the utility room became too small, new premises were unearthed in a former butcher’s shop, and the project expanded. Until, eventually, DrunkBeard began to feel cramped there. He searched, in vain, for premises in Morrens, and ultimately it was here in Echallens that the brewery found fertile ground for its ambitions. The right equipment was ordered, the tanks were branded with the bear logo, and everything was made to measure. Everything was ready to add a touch of hoppy flavour to life in French-speaking Switzerland – and bang – along came Coco...
Well, it’s not all bad news. Like a Shaolin master hidden from view, the brewer is using this time to hone his craft. His tools have changed, but his mindset remains the same: to brew great beers that make even him salivate.
Soleil, the centre of our Galaxy
We’ve finished the tour inside, and here we all are in front of the Box finishing our drinks (I’ve had another Troubled Hops straight from the tank – I’m not driving!). DrunkBeard has produced some incredible collaborations this year, each one crazier than the last, and apparently it’s not over yet. As I write this article, the next one is already in the works with a group of friends. That’s brilliant! There’s not much worse than getting stuck in a rut; collaborations, one-offs and various experiments help to keep you from getting bogged down in the daily grind. In fact, DrunkBeard has turned his hand to sours. The first in his collection to see the light of day, at the end of November 2021 – the Mango Sour – was born out of a shortage of specific yeasts. Sometimes we curse scarcity; this time, we’re celebrating it. And speaking of which, after sampling the DDH IPA, NEIPA and White IPA that were waiting for us in the vats, we’re taking a sip of this famous Mango Sour under a glorious sun. Seeing as it’s so good, I ask Ruben to reassure me: there’ll be more to come!
One last quick tour of the premises and the stockroom, and we all go our separate ways.
Thank you for the tour, thank you for the tasting!
TTO à la Mise and its Folklor
Ah, yes! Perhaps I should tell you about these plans that are in the pipeline and the upcoming TTO. Three new One Shot beers are on their way, all featuring Strata hops and in different styles: a DDH IPA, a DDH DIPA and a NEIPA. These will be ready for DrunkBeard’s TTO on 10 March 2022 at the Mise En Bière bar. So that was the Stratagem. We’ll be delighted to raise a glass – no doubt standing up – to yours, to hers and to ours!
AN