Gotsa - 'Grape Ale' - Abbey Style Pale Ale - Kvemo Kartli, T'bilisi, GE - NV

Satellite's Hot Take

Hard to describe how great this beer is. It's the only one we've ever tried with time in Amphora and we think that's amazing - because it tastes amazing and defintiely something we'd like to see more of.

Notes from the Winery/Importer

GRAPE ALE A preindustrial beer made with raw ingredients from start to finish. GRAIN: From Beka Gotsadze’s biodynamically farmed fields adjacent to his vineyards HOPS: Wild hops growing along the river banks FERMENTATION: Wine-making yeast BOTTLE CONDITIONING: Grape juice PROFILE: A nourishing beer that drinks like a light Trappist ale - Black Lamb Imports

Notes on the Producer

OWNER AND WINEMAKER: Beka Gotsadze REGION: Kvemo Kartli, Asureti Valley TOTAL HECTARE: 4 ha within the Algeti Nature preserve ALTITUDE OF VINEYARD(S): 550 meters PREVAILING CLIMATE & LOCAL CLIMATIC: Continental climate - hot days, cold nights SOIL COMPOSITION: basalt, mixed volcanic, clay, alluvial VINES PLANTED: 2012 CULTIVATED: 14 native Georgian varieties FARMING: Demeter certified Biodynamic PRODUCED: white, amber, rose, and red wines, ancestrale sparkling white, amber and red wines, fortified wines, flor affected wines, cider and beer... Highly experimental producer. FIRST COMMERCIAL VINTAGE: 2015 TOTAL ANNUAL PRODUCTION: 20,000 bottles LABEL ART: Temo Gotsadze

“Our family vineyard, in the Asureti Valley of Kvemo Kartli, is fantastic! I planted it in 2012 with 14 different Georgian grape varieties. There are no other vineyards for kilometers. We are Demeter certified and have only farmed our vineyards according to biodynamic principles and our own “forest philosophy”. We take from the vineyards only juice, even skins and stems return to the vineyard to be composted. Our marani/cellar is in the Kiketi Mountains. The cool conditions are perfect for wine making! Wild fermentation happens in traditional Qvevri: large buried earthenware amphora. We let the microorganisms do their jobs and they give us REAL wine.”

• Winemaker and Architect, Beka Gotsadze