Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/898117
16 / the tasting panel / november 2017 INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT H EINEKEN has announced the release of H41, a limited-edition lager brewed using a rare "mother" yeast discovered in Patagonia. The discovery inspired the brand's Master Brewers to create a new lager, playing with the newly-discov- ered yeast to unlock a spectrum of new flavors. H41 represents a new beer style: Wild Lager, a lager made with a yeast found in nature and character- ized by a fuller taste, with spicy notes balanced by subtle fruity hints. This limited-edition release is a new beer that will play a unique role in the market, as there are no other lagers with this distinctive taste. Future Wild Lager Explorations will stretch the lager boundaries even further. The name H41 is derived from the latitude coordinate—41 degrees south—of the beech forest in Patagonia where this yeast was discovered (the "H" stands for HEINEKEN). The yeast is an enhancer of the brewing process and is essential in defining the final taste of the beer. "Central to the famous HEINEKEN taste is our unique A-yeast," says HEINEKEN Master Brewer Willem van Waesberghe. "It was first used 130 years ago by Dr. Elion, a HEINEKEN brewer trained by Louis Pasteur, and the exact makeup of our A-yeast is still a closely-guarded secret. However, when the 'mother' of our A-yeast was discovered in Patagonia, it presented us with a unique opportu- nity. Using our unrivalled expertise, HEINEKEN's Master Brewers began to work with the mother yeast, and our 'Lager Explorations' series was born. The taste of every beer in the series will be surpris- ing and intense, but still balanced and refreshing." H41 targets Millennial premium beer drinkers who are looking for quality over quantity and are seeking new and interesting beers to add to their must-have lists. All new additions to the series will be limited-edition releases playing with the soul of beer: the yeast. H41 Limited Edition lager will be available at select bars in New York City on draught at 5.3% ABV, slightly higher than HEINEKEN's 5.0% ABV. PHOTO COURTESY OF HEINEKEN HEINEKEN Launches Limited Edition "H41," The First in Wild Lager Exploration Series