Hops and Barley Weekend, a highlight of Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa’s culinary schedule, begins Dec. 16 with the debut of Saison Siete Leguas beer at the six-course Brewmaster’s Dinner. Created by Copperpoint Brewing of Boynton Beach, FL., Saison Siete Leguas is the result of a collaboration between Copperpoint Brewing owner/head brewer Matt Cox and Bryan Long, food and beverage director of the Manalapan luxury beachfront resort.
“A little more than 18 months ago, we bought a barrel of Patron Rapoesado,’’ Long told me. “I gave that to Copperpoint. Matt put Saison in the barrel, aged it about 11 months and then bottled it. It’s been bottle-conditioned for about nine months.’’
In case the “Siete Leguas’’ name sounds familiar, that’s because it was the distillery that originally produced Patron tequila. Billionaire businessman John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of Paul Mitchell hair care products, in 1989, acquired the Patron brand and turned it into one of the world’s top-selling tequilas.
Family-owned Siete Leguas still produces what is considered some of the world’s better tequila in the Jalisco region of western Mexico.
Siete Leguas, by the way, means “Seven Leagues.’’ For you history buffs, Siete Leguas also was the name of Pancho Villa’s horse.
Back the the present. Hops and Barley Weekend continues Dec. 17 at Eau Palm Beach’s Burgers and Beer bash that pits chefs from each of the resort’s five restaurants against each other in a burger cook-off. Each burger will be paired with a different Copperpoint beer.
At the risk of tipping the scales early, Long described Saison Siete Leguas as “unlike any beer anyone has ever tasted.’’
“The flavor, the body and the aroma of it are unique. It’s a little bit on the drier said – very effervescent because of the saison. I even think you get slight notes of oak because of the Patron barrel.’’
Photo Courtesy of Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa