7.6

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Draught at EBF, 2/5/16.
Lightly to moderately hazy deep blonde beer is topped by a fleeting white head.
Big woodiness in the nose shows strong toasted oak notes, strong citrus character and light biscuit and vanilla-like character from the malts. A varied amount of bacterial and wild yeast influences, with lactic character being quite prominent and just a touch of acetic acid. No alcohol or flaws. Not much, if any, blood orange from the nose.
In the mouth it has a very soft, dainty citrus character carried on by a well-attenuated but lightly malty texture. Barrel tannin certainly adds texture and body and there is a lot of oakiness to be had. I will say, for someone that usually hates toasted oak/new oak character, this one seemed to somehow integrate it pretty well. Light blood orange adds earthiness, light juice and mineral, as well as the expected citrus. Quite sour and toasty on the end, but the texture and tight carbonation maintain the relative levity. Still could use less toasted character, but the base beer is quite delicious and shows a lot of promise.