8.6

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

Got in a BIF from KMitch. 750 ml bottle into signature tulip glass, 2018 vintage bottling. Pours slightly hazy ruby red, light orange/pink color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and rocky light pink head with awesome retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of huge sour/tart/tangy raspberries, black currants, fruit skin/seeds, lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, plum, pear, apricot, melon, red/green apple, red grape/wine, oak, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, and bread; with lighter notes of peppercorn, leathery/musty/lacto funk, red wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Incredible aromas with fantastic complexity and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, fruits, oak barrels, and moderate pale/wheat malts; with big strength. Taste of huge raspberries, black currants, fruit skin/seeds, lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, plum, pear, apricot, melon, red/green apple, red grape/wine, oak, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, and bread; with lighter notes of peppercorn, leathery/musty/lacto funk, red wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Bit of lingering oaken vanilla. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tart/sourness, fruit tang; and light yeast/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart/sour raspberries, black currants, fruit skin/seeds, lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, plum, pear, apricot, melon, red/green apple, red grape/wine, oak, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, bread, pepper, light vanilla/funk/vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Amazing complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, fruits, oak barrels, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; with a great malt/tart/sourness and tangy fruit balance; with no puckering flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering tart/sourness, tangy fruit, and carbonation. Medium-plus carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy/acidic/tangy, fairly crisp, and lightly tannic balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 6.7%. Overall this is an amazing fruited sour/wild ale! All around incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, fruits, oak barrels, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and easy to drink with the modestly acidic/tangy/tannic/drying finish, not overly lactic. Very balanced with amazingly jammy fruits and Brett/Bacteria complexity; great oak presence, and pale/wheat malts against acidity. A highly enjoyable offering and amazing style example. Very top tier quality for an American made style.