Tillamook, Ore., is a sleepy, remote, and often damp coastal town 74 miles west of Portland. It smells of sea air and dairy farms. It’s also home to founder and head brewer Trevor Rogers’ de Garde Brewing, whose singular focus is spontaneously fermented, barrel-aged beers. The brewery, found near the Tillamook Air Museum’s massive blimp hangar, barely distributes, meaning fans must either track down bottles on the Internet or visit in person. Once you’re there, the handful of wild ales and guest rarities on tap and limited-release bottles available to go don’t disappoint. Berliner weisses, Belgian ales, porters and more are left to naturally ferment in an open-air cool ship, letting wild yeast descend from the Oregon Coast air. Local fruit and a variety of cherry, oak and gin barrels add bold notes and tart overtones. Peaks & Pints grabbed four de Garde beauties for today’s in-house beer flight — a flight we call we call Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: de Garde.
Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: de Garde
de Garde Jin Jr.
3.5% ABV
A spontaneous wild ale brewed with fresh ginger and aged in oak barrels for 2 years for a light, fluffy mouthfeel full of fresh ginger with a funky finish.
de Garde Hank
5.5% ABV
A spontaneous wild ale aged in 3- and 5-year-old barrels, then blended with Monkish Brewing for a farmyard funkathon paired with lemony acidity.
de Garde Tableau Lily
7.8% ABV, draft
A Spontaneous red ale brewed with Tempranillo grapes aged in oak barrels for 4 years for notes of balsamic, oak, pepper, cherry, strawberry, and funk.
de Garde The Rocksanne Reserve
8% ABV
A spontaneous wild ale brewed with Mourvèdre grapes and then aged in oak barrels for 4 years for farmhouse funk with peppery notes.
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
