For eight weeks earlier this spring at Riot Brewing long after last call was when you could hear the eerily faint sound of classical music coming from the back as a Pilsner fermented in a tank.
“The goal was to try and make the yeast happy and the liquid resonate more to us,” said head brewer Fabian Specht.
Specht vibrated 432 hertz of classical music during the two month fermentation process and the result was the Good Vibrations Classical Pilsner - a silver winner in the Kellerbier/Zwickelbier category at the Canadian Brewing Awards in Ottawa on May 27.
The German-style beer was bottled in March only a few months after the Chemainus brewery officially open its doors.
“It was brighter and really did taste different,” said Specht.
Riot has five core beers and the Pilsner was a special seasonal brew and no longer available - although there is talk of bringing it back next year.
“We just want to make sure we have different beers and something everyone will like,” said Ralf Rosenke, one of three co-owners.
Riot also received a special shout out at the awards during a keynote address by Beau’s owner Steve Beauchesne.
Riot co-owner Aly Tomlin said they have a lot of local pride and are happy to share this award with the community.
“It’s our first award competition and first award so it’s kind of special,” she said. “I think Chemainus will be stoked because now they can say they have an award-winning brewery.”