EPISODE 5: The Bees' Knees

EPISODE 5

The Bees' Knees

On December 5^th the folks from Elevation Brewing, out of Poncha Springs, Colorado, arrived at Seattle’s Pine Box bar bearing gifts. These tasty brews included their “Fan Boy” oak-aged double IPA, and a cask version of their “First Ascent” IPA. But for me the highlight of the presentation was “Apis IV,” a big bad beer made with caramelized honey.

APIS IV

Our friend Apis mellifera is known

To laymen as the common honeybee

This bug’s essential character is shown

By ceaseless honey-making industry

The folks at Elevation worked their jive

With brewers’ tricks both marvelous and supple

To blend the golden treasure of the hive

Into a beer – A Belgian-style Quadruppel!

It pours dark brown and tastes of malted grain

The sugars from the honey take their toll

But hops bring all that sweetness under rein

The booze (and there’s a lot) will warm your soul

The buzz on this beer is that it will please

(And “buzz” is just what one expects from bees!)