LAZY MONK, EXCITING BREWS. Downtown Eau Claire brewery Lazy Monk recently released a rare brew dubbed "Fresh 12." 

“Go to the lower parking lot and knock HARD on the red door.” These were my instructions.

After a recent social media post from Lazy Monk Brewing about their brand new beer, “Fresh 12” – “We are pleased to say we are in a very very very small group of craft breweries in the US that are doing this type of beer,” the brewery's post reads – I had to get to the bottom of this barrel.

Upon arrival at the downtown Eau Claire brewery, I was greeted by Leos and brought into the humid, yeasty air that fills the belly of Lazy Monk’s brewing operation. As a fan of beer, generally (being from Wisconsin it’s hard not to get a taste for the stuff), I had a couple of questions: what makes this beer so special, and why is it so rare?

Using more traditional techniques picked up in Europe while traveling, and withholding their normal process of filtering, pasteurizing, and adding carbonation, the result is a smoother and brighter finish, Leos said. The smooth texture comes from natural carbonation.

Simply put, the beer is an unpasteurized, unfiltered, naturally carbonated Czech Pilsner.

What makes “Fresh 12” so rare? Most craft breweries in the U.S. are trying to catch trends, while Lazy Monk is more interested in tradition. “I don’t want to make beer with strawberries and whipped cream, I just want to make the best beer,” Leos said.

You can taste it yourself now in their tap room (97 W Madison St., Eau Claire) or pick up a pack wherever you usually purchase your Lazy Monk brews in the Chippewa Valley.

Keep up with Lazy Monk Brewing (97 W Madison St., Eau Claire) on Facebook.