Low Key Nordic Pale Ale – Georgetown Brewing x Kveik Yeastery
- Øystein Bakken Vold
- Nov 11
- 3 min read
In September, we had the pleasure of visiting Georgetown Brewing Company in Seattle, Washington — one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic and well-loved breweries. Known for their balance between approachability and technical precision, Georgetown has built a strong reputation for flavorful, consistent beers that appeal to both casual drinkers and dedicated beer lovers alike. During our visit, we shared some of our yeasts with the Georgetown brewers, including the K.14 Eitrheim strain from our collection at Kveik Yeastery. It didn’t take long before brewer Stormy Chournos and the team put Eitrheim to the test in their brewhouse — and the result became their newest taproom release: Low Key Nordic Pale Ale.
Brewing with Eitrheim Kveik
As Stormy shared with us during fermentation, the team set out to capture the expressive, fruity side of Eitrheim while keeping the beer balanced and refreshing:
“We are using the Eitrheim strain, starting at 80°F then ramping it up to 86°F for the D-rest. Wanted some of the fun esters to pop out… We’re going to use some Simcoe and Nectaron for hops, keeping the hopping rate light to try and showcase some of those esters.”
The approach worked beautifully. After primary fermentation, the beer showed 75% attenuation, and even after dry hopping, the yeast kept going — finishing at a remarkable 87% attenuation and a final gravity of 1.0072 (1.85°P). The result was a crisp, clean finish that still carried plenty of juicy yeast character.
“Esters really came through — tons of ripe apricot and peach just as advertised. If I were to use it again, I’d ferment a bit cooler as the esters dominated the profile. Really tasty though, and with a very clean finish.”
In the brewhouse, the yeast flocculated well, producing bright beer even before centrifugation. Post-centrifuge, it was as clear as their lagers — which is no small compliment coming from Georgetown.
A Nordic Pale for the Pacific Northwest
The final beer, now on tap in Georgetown’s Seattle Taproom, has been named Low Key Nordic Pale Ale — a nod both to its clean drinkability and the understated complexity that Eitrheim brings to the glass.
“Clear, crisp, and deceivingly strong, this sessionable ale is made with a new yeast from our friends at Kveik Yeastery in Norway. The Eitrheim yeast strain brings bold esters of ripe apricot and peach that transition easily into a refreshing pine finish. So raise a glass and skål (cheers) — it’s time to party.”
For the beer geeks: • Malts: 2 Row • Hops: Simcoe, Nectaron • Yeast: Kveik Yeastery – Eitrheim (K.14) • Other: Oat • ABV: 6.1%
A Collaboration Rooted in Curiosity
We love seeing how brewers around the world explore and interpret kveik. What started centuries ago as farmhouse yeast from the village of Eitrheim in Hardanger, Norway, now finds new expression across the Atlantic — in Seattle’s creative beer scene.
We’re grateful to Stormy and the Georgetown Brewing team for their curiosity and craft. Low Key Nordic Pale Ale captures exactly what we love about collaborations like this: a shared spirit of experimentation, respect for tradition, and a taste of something truly unique.
If you’re in Seattle, stop by Georgetown’s taproom and try it while it lasts — it’s a bright, crisp, and flavorful showcase of how Norwegian farmhouse yeast can shine in modern American brewing.
Skål from all of us at Kveik Yeastery!
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