Beer Review - Jolly Pumpkin Rosie Del Barrio Wild Ale

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales - Rosie Del Barrio Wild Ale

Beer Type: American Wild Ale - 8.20% ABV

Appearance: Bomber with some art of a cat jumping off a building in an alley. Beer poured a hazy golden orange color with a thin but frothy beige head.

Smell: Mostly just sour and wild yeast aromas. Wild ales always reminds me a bit of sweet tarts candy.

First Drink: Sour (of course) but pretty diverse hits of flavor - berries, lemons, something a bit woodsy and vanilla.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with good carbonation.

Last Drink: A lot of stuff going on here. More ripe fruit flavors (stone fruit?) and something a bit floral as well. Complex.

Drinkability: This is a sipper if ever there were one!

Notes: I believe this was a one off special beer (says it was made for the rare beer club). It was given to me as a gift.

Verdict: 4.5 out of 5. A nice wild sour with quite a bit going on. 

Beer Review - Brewery Vicant Escoffier.

It's New Brew Thursday!!This time around we work through the archives back to just a few months ago when I first tried some tasty beer from Brewery Vivant by way of this collaboration...

Lost my photo of this beer! It looked quite similar though...

Brewery Vivant - Escoffier Bretta Ale

Beer Type: American Wild Ale

Appearance: A blue and silver Brewery Vivant 16 oz can contains a beer that is very clear and looks like apple juice! Beer poured very still with no real head to speak of. 

Smell: Maybe it is a trick of the eyes and nose but I swear I smell sweet apples like apple juice. Some nice yeast funk in there too with just a hint of malt.  

First Drink: Again with the apples, tart green ones in the flavor, but tart with a nice crispness that reminds me of a cider. A little of the yeast and fermented flavors coming through too.    

Mouthfeel: Very smooth, crisp bite, with a dry finish. Not that much in the way of carbonation.   

Last Drink: Well you can't taste the alcohol so take that for what you will! No bitterness either, but there is a good deal more wild funk as the beer warms.   

Drinkability: Refreshing with powerful drunk making flavors. What more can you ask for out of a beer?!

Notes: This beer was a very limited Michigan only release in collaboration with New Belgium Brewing. The main yeast is from Michigan (a Belgium) while the wild yeast comes from New Belgium in Colorado. Crazy! I love the idea of  collaborators brewing!     

Verdict: 4.75 out of 5. A fantastic and interesting wild yeast beer... in a can!? I will try to buy more of this before it goes away to save for a rainy day!     

Links: Beer Advocate and Brewery Vivant.

Beer Review - Unity Vibration Triple Goddess Ale.

New Brew Thursday! This time we have a local "brew" from the archives - a cross between kombucha and beer. Woah.

 
Unity Vibration - Triple Goddess Ginger

Beer Type: American Wild Ale

Appearance: 22oz brown bottle with a "Unity Vibration" logo on a die cut label. "Beer" poured a hazy pale yellow color with no head but plenty of carbonation.

Smell: Spicy ginger and some mild lemon aromas, plus the sweet and sour smell of kombucha. 

First Drink: Very tart and a little sour like kombucha. Not getting as much of the spice from the ginger as was present in the aroma.  

Mouthfeel: Very sticky with lots of carbonation. Not something you will be able to slam. Reminds me a bit of sparkling wine or champagne.  

Last Drink: A lot more kombucha flavor coming though now with the ginger bringing up the back.  

Drinkability: Not really sure? If you are in the mood for a kombucha and you also want to get a bit drunk then this is the drink for you!

Notes: This is brewed here in Ypsilanti, MI. Unity Vibration makes some higher alcohol level kombucha as well. I like their "beer" better I think.   

Verdict: 3.5 out of 5. Something different, and something local. Can't really complain. I think the beer elements of this brew could be amplified a bit.  

Links: Beer Advocate and Unity Vibration.