We’ve got a bit of cracking news for beer lovers! Summit is pleased to announce the upcoming release of Cracking Wit, a beer brewed exclusively with and for Old Chicago Taproom & Pizza as part of the restaurant’s craft beer Explorer Series. Brewed with ingredients from around the world, head brewer Damian McConn describes Cracking Wit as an American take on a Belgian classic witbier. The malts are those you might find in a more traditional Belgian witbier (“white beer”): Pilsner (North Dakota) White Wheat (Rahr Malting, Shakopee, MN) Torrified White (UK) Acidulated Malt (Germany) Rolled Oats (Scotland) The twist to the tradition comes with the American hops – single-hopped with Equinox variety from the Pacific Northwest. The spices we used added some nice flair to the beer. Again the traditional use of coriander was complemented by the somewhat unorthodox addition of organic lemon peel (opposed to a more traditional recipe with orange peel). Cracking Wit was fermented with Wyeast Labs Forbidden Fruit yeast strain, lends a less phenolic profile than many Belgian strains. The name Cracking Wit reflects the beer style as well as the cracking of the coriander seeds. But it’s also a tongue-and-cheek reference to UK slang, which Irish head brewer (and damn fine hooligan) Damian McConn speaks fluently. On the streets of Dublin or London ‘cracking’ means ‘good,’ ‘excellent’ or ‘superb.’ As in: “This here is a cracking pint of witbier!” 4.7% ABV.