superspak (10160) reviewed Golden Partager from Barrel + Beam 6 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
375 ml bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours slightly hazy/cloudy medium golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice dense spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big lightly tart lemon, lime, orange, citrus zest, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, oak, peppercorn, clove, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, lighter leathery/musty funk, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/spicy yeast; moderate oak barrels, earthy hops, and pale/wheat malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big lightly tart lemon, lime, orange, citrus zest, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, oak, peppercorn, clove, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, lighter leathery/musty funk, and yeast/oak earthiness. Light-moderate peppery yeast spiciness; herbal, floral, grassy bitterness; and light Brett tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart lemon, lime, orange, citrus zest, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, oak, peppercorn, clove, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, leathery/musty funk, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/spicy yeast; moderate oak barrels, earthy hops, and pale/wheat malt flavors; with an awesome malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and no astringent flavors after the finish. Fairly crisp/clean finishing. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy/sticky, and fairly tannic balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol for 7.5%. Overall this is an excellent Brett saison. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/spicy yeast; moderate oak barrels, earthy hops, and pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth and fairly crisp/clean/refreshing to drink with the mellowly bitter/spicy/drying finish. Awesomely well rounded Brett/Saison yeast complexity; with great oak, earthy hop presence, and pale/wheat malt backbone. Mild residual sweetness with crisp dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example as expected.
gave a cheers!
blackflag321 (2817) ticked Terre Magique from Barrel + Beam 6 years ago
superspak (10160) reviewed Terre Magique from Barrel + Beam 6 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
375 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled in 1/2019. Pours very hazy deep ruby red/orange/pink/purple color with a 2 finger dense and rocky light pink head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Thick foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big sour/tart/tangy blackberry, blackcurrant, fruit skin/seed, lemon, lime, orange, peach, plum, pear, melon, apricot, red/green apple, red grape/wine, peppercorn, toasted oak, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light leathery/musty/lacto funk, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of blackberry, blackcurrant, fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, oak barrels, and pale/wheat malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big sour/tart/tangy blackberry, blackcurrant, fruit skin/seed, lemon, lime, orange, peach, plum, pear, melon, apricot, red/green apple, red grape/wine, peppercorn, toasted oak, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light leathery/musty/lacto funk, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate peppery yeast spiciness; herbal, floral, grassy bitterness; fruity/lactic tartness, and fruit tang on the finish. Lingering notes of tart/tangy blackberry, blackcurrant, fruit skin/seed, lemon, lime, orange, peach, plum, pear, melon, apricot, red/green apple, red grape/wine, peppercorn, toasted oak, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light leathery/musty/lacto funk, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of blackberry, blackcurrant, fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, oak barrels, and pale/wheat malt flavors; with an awesome malt, bitter, spicy, tart, tangy fruit balance; with no puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Fairly crisp/clean finishing. Moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness, tart/tangy fruit, and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy, and acidic/sticky/tangy/tannic balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 7.7%. Overall this is a fantastic fruited sour/wild saison. All around fantastic blackberry, blackcurrant, fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, oak barrels, and pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth and fairly crisp/clean/refreshing to drink for the ABV, with the modestly bitter/spicy/tart/tangy/drying finish; not overly lactic. Amazing balance of juicy/jammy fruit and Brett/Bacteria/Saison yeast complexity; with great barrel presence, and pale/wheat malts against acidity. Minimal residual sweetness with crisp dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazing style example as expected.
superspak (10160) reviewed Pivot Point from Barrel + Beam 6 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
375 ml bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours slightly hazy/cloudy deep golden/amber/light orange color with a 2-3 finger fairly dense and fluffy off white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice dense foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big lemon, orange, peach, plum, pear, apricot, red apple, white grape/wine, peppercorn, clove, oak, light banana/bubblegum, honey, cracker, white bread dough/crust, toasted biscuit, light caramel/nuttiness, herbal, floral, wood, grass, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast, dark/bready malts, earthy hops, and light-moderate wine barrel notes; with great strength. Taste of big lemon, orange, peach, plum, pear, apricot, red apple, white grape/wine, peppercorn, clove, oak, light banana/bubblegum, honey, cracker, white bread dough/crust, toasted biscuit, light caramel/nuttiness, herbal, floral, wood, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate peppery yeast spiciness; and herbal, floral, woody, grassy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of lemon, orange, peach, plum, pear, apricot, red apple, white grape/wine, peppercorn, clove, oak, banana, bubblegum, honey, cracker, white bread dough/crust, toasted biscuit, light caramel/nuttiness, herbal, floral, wood, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Outstanding complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, dark/bready malts, earthy hops, and light-moderate wine barrel flavors; with a fantastic malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and no astringent flavors after the finish. Moderately crisp/clean finishing. Moderate increasing dryness from bitter/spiciness and carbonation. High carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, fairly sticky, and lightly tannic mouthfeel that is fantastic. Zero warming alcohol for 7%. Overall this is an outstanding Biere de Garde. All around outstanding complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, dark/bready malts, earthy hops, and light-moderate wine barrel flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink with the moderately bitter/spicy drying finish. Fantastic balance between well rounded Belgian yeast complexity, rich Munich malts, and earthy hops; with solid wine barrel presence. Zero residual sweetness with crisp dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazingly spot on style example as expected.
superspak (10160) reviewed Grisette from Barrel + Beam 6 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
375 ml bottle into tulip glass; no bottle dating, but is a recent release. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy pale golden yellow color with a 2 finger foamy and fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Thick foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a large amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of lightly tart lemon, lime, orange, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, melon, apricot, red apple, peppercorn, light banana/bubblegum/clove, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, herbal, wood, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast, citrus/earthy hops, and moderate pale/wheat malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big lightly tart lemon, lime, orange, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, melon, apricot, red apple, peppercorn, light banana/bubblegum/clove, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, herbal, wood, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate peppery yeast spiciness; herbal, floral, woody, grassy, zesty bitterness; and light yeast/wheat tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart lemon, lime, orange, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, melon, apricot, red apple, peppercorn, light banana/bubblegum/clove, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, herbal, wood, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, citrus/earthy hops, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; with an awesome malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and no astringent flavors after the finish. Moderately crisp/clean finishing. Moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness and carbonation. High carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth and moderately creamy/grainy/sticky balanced mouthfeel that is fantastic. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.4%. Overall this is an outstanding grisette style. All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, citrus/earthy hops, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink with the modestely bitter/spicy/drying finish. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV. Outstanding balance between classic Saison yeast, and citrus/earthy hop complexity; with a great pale/wheat malt backbone for the ABV. Minimal residual sweetness with crisp dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazing style example.