Menage a deux

Twelve String and Badass Backyard are bringing a taste of France to the Spokane Valley.

The Millwood-area breweries have collaborated on a French-style saison that makes its debut Friday in events at both taprooms.

“We used all French malt, French hops, French yeast, and we’re aging most of it in French oak chardonnay barrels,” says Twelve String’s Terry Hackler.

It started toward the end of last year as an idea for this year’s Spokane Craft Beer Week in May, which typically features collaborations by pairs of area breweries.

Since they had plenty of lead time, they decided to do something barrel-aged, a Twelve String specialty. Hackler had access to chardonnay barrels, so they settled on a saison with its more delicate flavors.

The hops in the recipe, Strisselspalt and Aramis, carry descriptors ranging from earthy and herbal to floral and grassy to citrusy and spicy.

“They smelled amazing,” Badass Backyard’s Charlene Honcik says of the more aromatic Strisselspalt. “They were similar to Citra, but different enough that you thought, what is this?”

The resulting beer registers at about 5 percent alcohol by volume. “It’s delicious so far,” says Hackler. “It’s light and crisp and unbelievably flavorful. We totally nailed it.”