CUCUMI - Craft Beer - Costa Rica Meadery

6°C and 8°C (43°F - 46°F).

We recommend serving CUCUMI, a wild ale with such unique and nuanced characteristics, at a temperature that allows you to fully appreciate its complex aromas and flavors. For this type of beer, with its refreshing profile, fruity notes, and hints of acidity, the ideal serving temperature would be between 6°C and 8°C (43°F - 46°F).

At this temperature, the CUCUMI will reveal its smooth, fruity, and funky aroma, allowing the subtle notes of cucumber, citrus, starfruit, mango, and banana, as well as the CUCUMI's freshness and the floral sweetness of rosemary honey, to fully express themselves without being masked by the cold. Serving the beer too cold could inhibit the perception of these delicate nuances and the complexity of its flavor profile.

Furthermore, a slightly cool, but not too cold, temperature enhances the tasting experience, making the beer refreshing while allowing the palate to appreciate the richness of its ingredients and the artistry of its wild fermentation. This promises a unique experience for the taster, inviting them to explore and savor every sip of CUCUMI.

The best option would be a tulip glass or a medium-sized wine glass. These types of glassware have a shape that helps concentrate the aromas towards the nose as you drink, enhancing the appreciation of the beer's complex aromatic profiles. Furthermore, the slightly narrow opening of these glasses helps retain carbonation and foam, which is essential for fully enjoying KIWANO's sensory qualities. The elegance of these glasses also complements the experience of tasting a unique and meticulously crafted beer like KIWANO.

We recommend storing CUCUMI in the following way to maintain its quality and unique characteristics:

1. Storage Temperature: Store CUCUMI bottles in a cool, dark place, ideally at a constant temperature of around 12-14 degrees Celsius (53-57 degrees Fahrenheit). This temperature is optimal for preserving the qualities of a wild ale, avoiding sudden changes that can affect its flavor and aroma.

2. Bottle Position: Store CUCUMI bottles upright. Unlike wine, upright storage is preferable for beers, especially those with significant carbonation. This minimizes the beer's contact with oxygen trapped at the top of the bottle and reduces the risk of oxidation. It also helps any sediment settle to the bottom of the bottle, which is particularly important for bottle-conditioned beers.

3. Avoid Direct Light: Light, especially direct sunlight and fluorescent lights, can cause beer to degrade through a process known as "skunking," which negatively alters the beer's flavors. Therefore, it is crucial to keep the CUCUMI away from direct light to protect its delicate flavors and aromas.

4. Time Considerations: While some wild ales can benefit from additional aging, it's important to consider the brewer's intentions and the specific characteristics of the cucumber. If you're looking to enjoy its fruity notes and freshness, it's recommended to consume it within the timeframe suggested by the brewery, as these characteristics may evolve or diminish over time.

By following these storage guidelines, you will ensure that your CUCUMI beer is preserved in the best possible condition, allowing you to fully enjoy its unique and complex flavor profile when you decide to open it.

Evaluating the shelf life of CUCUMI involves considering several factors, including its style as a wild ale, the specific ingredients used in its brewing, and the fermentation techniques. Wild ales, known for their spontaneous fermentation or the use of wild yeasts, often exhibit complex flavor profiles and can evolve in interesting ways over time.

Given that CUCUMI incorporates unique ingredients like cucumi, roasted tomatillo, and rosemary honey, along with a fermentation process that promises complex flavors and a subtle acidity, its aging potential could be remarkable. However, it's important to note that the fruity notes and freshness that characterize this beer at launch may diminish or transform over time.

In general, for a beer like CUCUMI, the optimal shelf life for consumption can be estimated at 1 to 2 years from its bottling date, if stored correctly under ideal conditions. This will allow you to enjoy its unique characteristics at their best, especially the fruity notes and freshness that the brewer has sought to highlight.

However, it's important to note that some wild ales can continue to evolve and develop new flavor profiles even beyond this period, which might be desirable for some beer enthusiasts who enjoy exploring how flavor complexities change over time. Therefore, if you decide to store a few bottles beyond this recommended period, it could result in a different, but equally intriguing, tasting experience.

In short, to enjoy CUCUMI at its freshest and most vibrant, we recommend consuming it within the first 1 or 2 years. However, there's nothing wrong with experimenting with aging a few bottles to see how its flavors evolve over time, as long as proper storage conditions are maintained.