More than 8,000 entries from 66 countries competed at the event, held every two years. 295 judges were on hand at Nashville, Tennessee, to recognise Siren’s excellence; the Berkshire brewery joined the category podium alongside California’s Bruery Terreux and Colorado’s Dry Dock Brewing Company.
Siren wanted Odyssey 008 to be a blend inspired by dark Belgian wood-aged sour beers, and based on the character of a few unique and long-term aged beers in Siren’s barrel store.
Odyssey 008 consists of red wine barrel aged Liquid Mistress; white wine barrel fermented Funky Feet; white wine barrel aged Ratchet; red wine barrel aged Maiden; red wine barrel aged Broken Dream; red wine barrel aged smokey Jack Tarr; red wine barrel aged Acid Jam and fresh from the tank Calypso.
After blending the beer Siren returned 008 to red wine and bourbon barrels for another three months before a small addition of cherries and blackcurrant. The resulting beer has a gorgeous oak character with prominent red wine tannin influence, bramble & berries and a fruity acidity on the palate. Tasting also picked up floral notes, almonds, umami and a delicate funkiness.
Siren’s Andy Nowlan enthused ‘We’re proud and humbled to have picked up our first ever World Beer Cup medal. Of the multitude of beer awards you can enter – this is the one! Our love of barrel ageing began on day one with Maiden and still epitomises what we’re about as a brewery today. This is amazing recognition for the dedicated team here at Siren, and especially so for our Barrel Manager, Steve Hoile.‘
