Truffle of a tipple

A new beer pairing provides a bold assault on the senses.

A new WA truffle beer is about to be released to world markets, and it’s sure to turn heads. Truffles in beer you say? Remarkably, yes.

The truffles are black, but the beer is a rich amber, the result of the emerging Stonebarn truffle company in Manjimup joining forces with the timber town’s new boutique brewery.

The West Australian was given a sneak preview of the intriguing new truffle beer as the first cans rolled off the production line at Tall Timbers Brewery in Manjimup’s main street.

It’s an India Pale Ale, moderately hopped so it doesn’t overpower the infusion of the delicious black Perigord truffles, which are now famous around the world.

At 5.9 per cent, the beer is full bodied and balanced, and will cost about $10 per 375ml can. That may sound expensive to some, but WA truffles sell for $2,400 a kilo because they’re so sought after.

Stonebarn Truffles owner Dion Range is excited about the new boutique beer, which has taken months of taste testing to get the balance right.

“My experience with truffle beer was that I didn’t want to overdo the truffle aroma or taste in the beer,” he said, adding that there’s room for more intensity of truffle flavour if required.

“It’s an exciting new taste experience which can be enjoyed over and over again.”

Range says an American truffle beer called Moody Tongue was produced years ago and sold for $120 a bottle because of the expensive truffle inside.

And while a WA truffle beer has been trialled previously by a Bridgetown cidery, it cost $35 a bottle and isn’t widely produced.

Stonebarn plans to send its new truffle beer to markets in the US, UK, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as rolling out kegs herein Australia for mainly Perth and Eastern State hotels and bars.

It’s fascinating that the makers are still determining whether the cans being pasteurised causes a more subtle truffle taste than in kegs, which may be a little stronger on the truffle.

So what does it taste like?

As the cans rolled off and the beer was poured, it was a feast for the senses.

Visually, the truffle pale ale is a rich golden brown, almost a deep gold because of the truffle’s influence.

The initial aroma of the truffle is like running into the Great Southern forest nearby and holding a freshly unearthed truffle to your nose. Simply wonderful.

But it’s the taste that holds a surprise. The ale is very pleasant: hoppy, a trifle earthy to match the truffle, but at first I thought the actual taste of the truffle was too subtle. However, leave it for 10 minutes and the truffle taste emerges, a little like waiting for a good wine to open up by decanting.