Nightmare on Brett
Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project in Denver, Colorado, United States 🇺🇸
Sour / Wild Beer Regular|
Score
7.62
|
|
Dark sour ale aged in Leopold Bros whiskey barrels
A demonic dark sour, Nightmare on Brett takes on many facets during its transformation to the sour side. Initially aged in large oak foeders with our mixed culture of wild yeast and bacteria, this beer is then transferred to bourbon and whiskey barrels. The various spirit barrels bring on a new life to this beer as it conditions for months, while obtaining additional bourbon and whiskey characteristics. Dominated by dark fruit aromas and flavors, the underlying cacao notes meld with an acidic tart berry finish. With each batch release being a unique blend of barrels, the multiple variations of Nightmare on Brett released throughout the year prove that with creativity and experimentation, anything is possible.
A demonic dark sour, Nightmare on Brett takes on many facets during its transformation to the sour side. Initially aged in large oak foeders with our mixed culture of wild yeast and bacteria, this beer is then transferred to bourbon and whiskey barrels. The various spirit barrels bring on a new life to this beer as it conditions for months, while obtaining additional bourbon and whiskey characteristics. Dominated by dark fruit aromas and flavors, the underlying cacao notes meld with an acidic tart berry finish. With each batch release being a unique blend of barrels, the multiple variations of Nightmare on Brett released throughout the year prove that with creativity and experimentation, anything is possible.
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7.6/10
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Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Draught @ First Draft, Chicago IL (Jan 2026). Opaque dark brown with a small frothy tan head, medium carbonation, tart and funky with dark roasted malt, light woodsy flavor, whiskey undertones, smooth body, long finish. Very complex flavor profile.
Tried
from Draft
at
First Draft - Chicago
on 22 Mar 2026
at 17:25
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle from the brewery - I am actually shocked I have never rated this - Dark ruby, nearly black - deeply oaky nose, with notes of black cherry, deep red wine tannins, chocolate, balsamic vinegar - lightly sweet cherry undercurrents in the flavor, but it is mostly dry, highly okay, and moderately to highly acidic - Malbec, acetic acid, bitter chocolate, tart cherry - deeply dry and oaky finish - I agree with a previous rater that this is giving Flemish red vibes, but amped up in the abv and malt presence - surprisingly, the higher malt bill gives less sweetness than expected, but a notable heft to the beer - it’s good.
Tried
from Bottle
on 15 Jun 2025
at 22:37
9/10
RB score 3.9
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Mar 2025
at 04:08
8.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
750ml corked and caged. Dark brown pour, basically black with the slightest of reddish hues coming through. Loads of dark fruit, some bitter cocoa, and a solid dose of funk! Barnyard aromas and some big lactic notes. Silky mouth feel, with a soft but still lively carb. Very tart finish, lambic funk notes lots of dark fruit, the barrel is subtle. Earthy, oaky notes, but the whisky is subtle. Light smoke, light roast. Incredibly complex, rounds out with some balsamic vinegar notes. This beer comes at you in waves. So much going on, alcohol is well hidden. A real sipping treat.
Tried
on 28 Feb 2025
at 06:08
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
The Buechel OGs raid the GABF 2023: Poured a black with a tan colored head. Aroma is funky, malty, woodsy, oak, fruity. Taste is funky, oak, woodsy, malty, berries.
Tried
on 06 Oct 2023
at 01:26
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
750 c&c from Tavour. Pours dark brn/blk with a moderate dark tan head. Aroma is sourish with dark malt and whiskey. Approaching full bodied. Flavor is sourish/tart with dark malt, whiskey and some Brett earthiness. Not so Bretty as I'd prefer, but good stuff. Sort of a variation on a Flemish sour.
Earlier Rating: 5/22/2014 Total Score: 4.1
Bottle from The Davis Beer Shoppe. Pours dark brown with a very slight tan head that left rapidly. Aroma of musty sour cherries. Or some sort of rotty fruit. Med body. Flavor is quite sour. And it does seem to involve a lot of sour/tart "nasty" cherries. I have add ale that’s more sour/tart, but this one is well balanced (whatever that might mean with this sort of ale). It is fabioso, delicious. Really well done.
Earlier Rating: 5/22/2014 Total Score: 4.1
Bottle from The Davis Beer Shoppe. Pours dark brown with a very slight tan head that left rapidly. Aroma of musty sour cherries. Or some sort of rotty fruit. Med body. Flavor is quite sour. And it does seem to involve a lot of sour/tart "nasty" cherries. I have add ale that’s more sour/tart, but this one is well balanced (whatever that might mean with this sort of ale). It is fabioso, delicious. Really well done.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Oct 2023
at 00:11
7/10
Tried
on 01 Jul 2023
at 16:12
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
On tap at The Jeffrey in NYC. Opaque dark brown pour. Creamy tan ring. Tart, dark dried fruit aroma. Flavor is sour fruit, soy sauce, prune, dark currants and lemon pith. Complex and challenging. Little hints of oak and whiskey. Outstanding.
Tried
from Draft
on 25 Feb 2023
at 02:16
7.5/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bottle. Pours unclear black, small beige head, decent lacing. Aroma is tannic, brandy, funk, wine skins. Flavor is medium tart, very tannic, hint of roast. Merlin body.
Earlier Rating: 3/28/2015 Total Score: 3.8
Bottle with thanks to Adnielsen! Pours dark opaque mahogany, small beige head, dissipates fairly quickly leaving some lacing. Aroma is roasty, Bretty, oak, fruity, cherries? Flavor is medium sour, roasty, oak, cherries. Some whiskey notes. Medium body. I like pretty much everything these guys put into Leopold barrels, and this is no exception.
Earlier Rating: 3/28/2015 Total Score: 3.8
Bottle with thanks to Adnielsen! Pours dark opaque mahogany, small beige head, dissipates fairly quickly leaving some lacing. Aroma is roasty, Bretty, oak, fruity, cherries? Flavor is medium sour, roasty, oak, cherries. Some whiskey notes. Medium body. I like pretty much everything these guys put into Leopold barrels, and this is no exception.
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Jan 2023
at 04:13
8.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 8.5
Bottle 0.75 cl. Dark brown, rich brown foam. Richest aroma, cask, berries, bourbon, blueberries, soft and noble Bretts, caramel, jam, old wine, sweets a bit. Moderately sour taste, cask, berries, bourbon, vanilla, very good!
Earlier Rating: 7/6/2015 Total Score: 4.1
Bottle. Dark brown with garnet color, tan and very thin foam. Aroma: brett, wet cherry, a little whiskey, wet hay, fruits, vinegar, caramel, homemade red wine, gooseberry. Taste: sour plums, cherries, gooseberries, redcurrants, homemade wine, tannins and something alcoholic. Great sour ale.
Earlier Rating: 7/6/2015 Total Score: 4.1
Bottle. Dark brown with garnet color, tan and very thin foam. Aroma: brett, wet cherry, a little whiskey, wet hay, fruits, vinegar, caramel, homemade red wine, gooseberry. Taste: sour plums, cherries, gooseberries, redcurrants, homemade wine, tannins and something alcoholic. Great sour ale.
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Jan 2023
at 16:37