Named for the famous Kentucky Derby, this beer from Gallicus resurrects a style popularised in Louiseville, Kentucky in the mid-nineteenth century. Like the (perhaps more famous) California Common, this type of beer was conceived in response to the absence of affordable refrigeration at the time.
Some Kentucky History
It was therefore essentially a dark American Cream Ale, fermented with a lager yeast but at warmer temperatures and served very shortly after fermentation to avoid expensive cooling during its aging. The drink was hugely popular, and up to 80% of all beers produced in Louiseville in 1913 were Kentucky Commons. After Prohibition, however, the style almost died out, until now! 🇺🇸 📚 🍺
Beer review
Gallicus have brought this style to Quebec and given it a local twist, hopping with Quebec Saaz and Cascade while adding a bit of corn in the mash for that pre-Prohibition vibe. 🌽 🌱 🇨🇦
It pours a super rich ruby colour with a fluffy cream head. It’s got lots of chocolate and caramel up top, followed by some subtle fruity, citrus undertones. It’s velvety smooth on the palate, with complex the roasty malt flavours mixing together with a lightly floral bitterness that makes it surprisingly crisp in the finish. Overall it’s a super interesting brew and— as far as I can tell from my limited research— pretty on style! Definitely the best Kentucky Common I’ve ever had! 💯 😉 😋
Originally from England, Mike Davis came to Quebec ten years ago to study history. During this time he fell in love with the microbreweries of Quebec, which reminded him of English pubs. Now, he holds a Ph.D in History from McGill University, but works in the beer world as the Brand Ambassador for Microbrasserie 4 Origines.
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