Smash the Curve Kveik

 

          One thing I love about craft beer is when brewers get innovative and work together to collaborate on new, interesting beers. Recently, Tool Shed Brewing got together with Fitzsimmons Brewing to produce a beer called Smash the Curve. No doubt named in defiance of the pandemic, Smash the Curve uses a special Scandinavian yeast called Kveik. Kveik is a yeast that has been used by Scandinavian farmers to brew their farmhouse ales, something farmers across Europe would do so their workers would have something potable to drink while working on a hot summer day.

Both professional and amateur brewers love using this new, old strain of yeast. In short, Kveik is a more robust and forgiving yeast that can successfully ferment a beer at higher temperatures and in less time than more “traditional” strains of yeast. This means beer can be fermented in only a couple of days instead of the more typical weak. Also, the yeast can ferment at higher temperatures without producing unpleasant flavors, a dream for home brewers when ambient temperature can be hard to control.

The result is a yeast that is gaining popularity amongst brewers across north America. I wouldn’t be surprised to find more beer brewed with Kveik yeast in your favorite beer store. Smash the Curve pours into my glass crystal clear and pale amber in color, sort of like ripe hay. Thin but robust streams of CO2 rise through the glass, supporting a rocky, bone white head with good retention.

          Taking a sniff, Smash the Curve’s aroma is interestingly fruity up front. The fruit aromas remind me of stoned fruit like apricot, nectarine, and oddly enough, ripe pear. Then a hint of something berry-like comes along, providing a little structure to the overall aroma. Light breadiness and peppery spice come in at the center, leading the beer’s aroma into a dry, almost earthy finish. It’s interesting how these aromas come together to give the nose an overall sense of balance, rather than the conflict that could easily have happened.

          Smash the Curve’s flavor follows the nose very well, while slightly straying from the path in interesting ways. Up front, flavors remind me of ripe pear with stone fruit providing backup. Ripe fruit leads into a center where I get flavors of soda cracker and an almost peppery spiciness. This aspect of Smash the Curve’s flavor reminds me a little of the sort of funkiness you might find in certain styles of Belgian beer. Smash the Curve then moves into a finish that is both slightly dry, and slightly bitter with what tastes like peppery, European hops.

          I’ll give Smash the Curve a 7.5 out of 10. Smash the Curve is an interesting, balanced, and overall decent tasting beer. What’s more, by using the Kveik yeast, the beer has an interesting profile I’ve not had in many other beers. It’s delicate and  laid back enough to make a good introduction to the world of craft beer. It also has enough going on to give the beer an interesting enough character to please most craft beer lovers. Personally, I hope either Tool Shed or Fitzsimmons adds this beer to their regular lineup.