Schlafly IBEX Cellar: The Eleventh Labor

The Eleventh Labor is our ode to Hercules, whose pursuit of apricots proved just as successful as our own in using the sought-after fruit to brew a Berliner Weisse – a sour German wheat beer traditionally served with fruit-flavored syrup to balance the tartness. But we moved beyond the formulaic base to make it our own, fermenting it with house-made yeast cultures and fresh apricot puree for a subtle sweetness and mellow stone fruit aromas. The style is low in hop bitterness, slightly tart, and refreshing, with a cloudy, light golden appearance. The low bitterness and approachable alcohol content won’t overwhelm the palate or deny you from having more than one.

As a continuation of our Ibex Series, the Eleventh Labor is the first to be sold outside our breweries. We’ve brewed a select amount, so the release is limited – with distribution of small quantities in kegs as well as 750 ml bottles, which are filled, wax-sealed, and stamped by hand.

Our name for the Ibex Series grew out of Schlafly Beer’s original logo (featuring the wild goat), which was inspired by the crest of Steinhof, Switzerland, where founder Tom Schlafly’s great grandfather was born. But while our logo has evolved, we still hold this iconic animal in high regard, using it to brand our most coveted and innovative releases.