Cyclic

Catalonia
Spain
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Cyclic

Catalonia
Spain
Spain
PRODUCER
Josh Wheeler and Alberto Coro
ESTABLISHED
2016
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
REGION
Catalonia
Spain
CITY / VILLAGE
CLIMATE
Mediterranean
ELEVATION
SIZE

About

We’ve been trying to visit duo Josh Wheeler and Alberto Coro in their quiet part of Barcelona at their tiny brewery and bar whenever we have an opportunity, as we just can’t get enough of their beers. Falling under the general, wider farmhouse tradition, inspired by Belgian brewing but with none of the weight of older saisons and none of the freakiness of the wild ales, Cyclic’s work focuses on lean, precise, refreshing beers, and best of all: as producers, they’re well-studied at the practices of house cultures, mixed fermentations, and infusions with whole fruits, vegetables, flowers, and others of nature’s beauties.

Cyclic had its start in 2016 after a friendship begun in Barcelona: Alberto, the owner of indie beer bar Ale & Hop, a key figure in introducing craft brewing to Catalunya; and Josh, an American SoCal brewer who’d been working in London for some time, then found his way to Catalonia. The two had great beer and surfing in common, and a conversation began between them about wanting beers one could drink before surfing (or while surfing – or after surfing). This led the duo to a start a project together; some of it also was spurred on by Alberto having access to his mother’s family fruit farm in the Alt Empordà, which gave the team some cool ideas…

Cyclic’s wide-ranging, experimental range of beers is based on a few individual house cultures, developed over the last seven years at the brewery among the grain and other organic farm products with which they work; these cultures are always under the farmhouse and sour categories. Then there’s the real stars of the show, which are the fruit-infused beers. These are nothing like the cloying, industrial versions of fruit beers often we have in the States. Instead, the fruit beers are built onto the frame of the house beers of Grisette and Saison, gently infused with whole fruits and other natural additions: but nothing preserved or processed, no concentrates, and importantly, no additives (other than a quick wash of organic sugar inside the bottles to help ensure secondary fermentation goes smoothly). We’ve never had anything quite like these: when the fruits are added in, the finished products are so much like some of our favorite wines, it’s really hard to tell where beer stops and wine begins.

Products

Grisette

TYPE
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

Grisette is the little cousin to Cyclic's Saison. It is brewed to drink fresh, but will also age nicely, with their mixed house yeast/brett culture. Low alcohol, dry, refreshing, light-bodied beer with notes of citrus and tropical fruit balanced with a light note of earthy continental hop character and moderate bitterness. A refreshing session beer.

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Saison

TYPE
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

The aroma and flavor of Cyclic's saison is driven by their house mixed yeast/brett culture that give notes of citrus fruit and light spice. A generous use of continental hops and 100% Belgian Pilsen malt balance out the yeast character to create a dry, refreshing and easy-to-drink beer. It's much lighter and leaner than any number of saisons on the market, no sticky-sweet beer here.

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Xinoxano

TYPE
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

'Xinoxano' is perhaps Cyclic's most representative beer. They use a traditional no-boil Berliner Weisse brewing method, 50% organic Belgian malted barley, 25% Belgian malted wheat, 25% Spanish flaked wheat, co-fermentation with their house yeast and lactic acid bacteria, then finish the brew with a big dry hop addition (hop variety varies). Tart, tropical and refreshing, but lean in body and bearing no relation to huge sticky beers out on the market. Best drunk after a long cycle or at the beach overlooking the sea!

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Jamaica

TYPE
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

Jamaica' is one of Cyclic's staple fruit-beer co-ferments, this being the 2022. It's a very light-bodied sour beer (no mouse! no funk!) infused with whole organic hibiscus flowers ('jamaica'), as well as zest and juice from organic oranges from the family farm. In '22 it has a more citrus flavor and higher acidity, floral notes and a linear shape. Rooibos tea, saltwater, acidity!

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Pomelo del Huerto

TYPE
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
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Volta

TYPE
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

'Volta' is from Cyclic's citrus series (they have a whole *suite* of citrus-infused beers!). This is the second version of Volta in '22, an homage to the classic cycling race, Volta Catalunya. Brewed with organic Pilsner malt, then infused with organic lemon juice and zest, as well as organic Ceylon black tea from Caj Chai Teahouse.

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Matinada

TYPE
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

'Matinada' is a dark sour beer, brewed with Colombian Chambaku coffee from Nømad Coffee in Barcelona, zest and juice from organic oranges from the family farm in Alt Empordà, organic vanilla from Madagascar, and sea salt, with a small Palisade dry-hopping. 2022's Matinada is dry, sour, light-bodied, but with intense coffee flavor. Mineral, earthy, but focused, with a touch of cacao and florality.

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Trepat 'Tamri'

TYPE
Still / Red
VARIETAL
Trepat
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

Organic. 100% Trepat from Conca de Barberà, young five year-old vines on clay-calcareous soils, planted at 400m (this is a high-elevation area!). Harvested by hand in September 2020. Seven days of whole bunch maceration. The juice is free-run off the skins, without pressing, into stainless steel fermenting tanks, where fermentation continued for 9 months. Unfined, unfiltered, zero SO2. Impressive stuff: another argument that Trepat is Catalunya’s Nebbiolo or Cabernet Franc: rosy, delicate but earthen, layered.

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Garnatxa Blanca / Xarel-lo 'Call Me Casi'

TYPE
Still / White
VARIETAL
Garnatxa Blanca, Xarel-lo
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

Organic. 50% Garnatxa Blanca, 50% Xarel.lo, from two organic vineyards in Cal Garrigó in the Baix Penedès. The vines are on very calcareous soils, with a touch of clay, at 350m of elevation. Wild ferment. Harvested by hand in September 2020. 7 days of whole bunch maceration. The juice is then free-run off the skins, without pressing, into stainless steel tanks, where fermentation continued for 9 months. Unfined, unfiltered, zero SO2.

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Parellada 'Swallows'

TYPE
Still / White
VARIETAL
Parellada
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

Organic. 100% Parellada from Cal Garrigó in the Baix Penedès, taken from an old vineyard of 30-40 year-old vines on clay-calcareous soils at 430m elevation. The fruit was hand-harvested in Sept of 2020, then the whole clusters of Parellada received one day of skin maceration before pressing with manual press. Fermented and aged nine months in stainless steel. Unfined, unfiltered, zero SO2.

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Xarel-lo/Macabeu/Parellada 'Fulcrum'

TYPE
Still / White
VARIETAL
Xarel-lo, Macabeu, Parellada
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

Organic. 40% Xarel.lo, 30% Garnatxa Blanca, and 30% Parellada. A blend of various young parcels in and around Masllorenç in the Baix Penedès: vines of five or so years of age, on clay-calcareous soils, at around 400m of elevation. Harvested by hand in September 2020. Seven days of whole bunch maceration. The juice is then free-run off the skins, without pressing, into stainless steel tanks, where fermentation continued for nine months. Unfined, unfiltered, zero SO2.

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Witty Fool

TYPE
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

'Witty Fool' is Cyclic's witbier, but it's more sour and fruity than a more traditional beer of this style. Refreshing and very appetizing; nowhere near the Allagash White or Bell's Oberon you may know. Added to the brew is orange zest and juice from the Cyclic family farm in Alt Empordà, as well as Indian coriander seeds.

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Skin Contact

TYPE
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

'Skin Contact' is a blend of different beers fermented with Cyclic's house yeast and the yeast from their wine grapes (spontaneous fermentation from their wines), as well as some of the 'acid blend' or sour/Grisette beer base. Different grape skins are used from the 2021 Cyclic wines, including Sumoll, Parellada, Ull de Llebre and Cabernet Sauvignon.

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Moscow Mule

TYPE
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

Due to its success last year, we've brewed a larger batch this time! It has a good amount of limes and a hint of ginger. It is tart and reminds us of the cocktail it is named after. Lighter than the previous batch, evolving recipe.

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Ruby, My Dear

TYPE
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

Sour with pink grapefruit zest and juice, our new addition to the citrus series. Tart, very refreshing and less dry.

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Melocoton

TYPE
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

Cuvée Saison with organic peaches from Ordal, also macerated for 4 months in our acid base. For its elaboration we have followed the same process as with Cerezas '22, adding 225 l. of barrel-aged beer, which adds depth and will gain with its maturation. Good acidity with creaminess and good complexity.

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Cerezas

TYPE
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

Cuvée Saison with organic cherries from Torrelles de Llobregat, macerated in our acid base for 4 months. This year we have added a barrel in the blend, before bottling, to provide complexity and a better evolution in the bottle. Notes of dark fruit, almonds, spices and funky goodness.

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Sindria

TYPE
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

Sour with organic watermelon and sea salt. Sharp and refreshing acidity, little else..

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Xarel.lo d'en Joan

TYPE
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

One of our multiple collabs with a natural winemaker, this time with Joan Rubio (Cal tiques). With each “Wine Ale” we follow a process adapted to the different characteristics of the grapes received and to some request of the wine producer, in the profile of the resulting beer."Xarel·lo d'en Joan" from his wine Cal Tiques. Evolution of "Flora", which we already made with his skins in 2021.

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Malvasia d'en Toni

TYPE
VARIETAL
FARMING PRACTICE
Organic
DETAILS

One of our multiple collabs with a natural winemaker, this time with Toni Crab (La Salada). With each “Wine Ale” we follow a process adapted to the different characteristics of the grapes received and to some request of the wine producer, in the profile of the resulting beer. "Malvasia d'en Toni" from his wine Sota els Ametllers.

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