Matt Van Wyk and brothers Brian and Doug Coombs are wild about making wild and natural barrel-aged beers. Their Alesong Brewing & Blending in Eugene is a testament to their patient, intentional and complex beers, which are fermented and matured in retired French oak wine barrels or retired spirits barrels. Then they’re mixed with cultures, often even with fresh fruits and herbs, to add more depth of flavor.
“Alesong Brewing & Blending exists to elevate the way beer is perceived and experienced,” says Matt, who was a former colleague of Brian’s at Oakshire Brewing when they joined Doug, a wine industry veteran, to found Alesong in 2015. “Our goal is to provide a great beer for any occasion, but especially for a celebration or holiday dinner.”
Some of the many beers Alesong produces include Market Paloma, a collaboration with Market of Choice that is inspired by the tart, citrusy flavors of the paloma cocktail. It is aged in freshly emptied añejo tequila barrels. Another blend, Stonefruit Symphony, marries Oregon peaches and nectarines that are then steeped in Alesong’s tart barrel-aged ale. It’s the perfect taste of summer.
Alesong’s first spirits-barrel-aged release is Rhino Suite, an imperial stout matured in emptied bourbon barrels. It has layers of vanilla and coconut within a rich, complex flavor.
The beers are “extremely food friendly,” Matt says, and “so can and should be shared with great meals and holiday celebrations.”
The list of Alesong’s innovative brews is long and well worth experiencing. Alesong Brewing & Blending has two tasting rooms, one in the Lorane Valley and one at the 5th Street Public Market, where they also support a variety of local nonprofits through monthly tastings programs. Their beers are also readily available at Market of Choice.
“Market of Choice has been a fantastic partner for Alesong Brewing & Blending,” Matt says. “Having a market that is so invested in local companies is not only great for us as a vendor but for the customers of the store as well.”
Ask our wine and beer stewards about Alesong Brewing & Blending’s truly unique artisan brews.
