8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
750 ml bottle into tulip glass, 2016 vintage bottling. Pours slightly hazy golden orange color with a 1-2 finger dense white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass. Aromas of big tart/sour lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, apricot, pineapple, peach, passion fruit, guava, melon, citrus peel/rind, pepper, oak, pine, hay, straw, musty funk, floral, grass, light leather, light honey/bread, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/pine hops, fruity/funky/acidic yeast, oak, and light-moderate pale malt notes; with great strength. Taste of huge tart/sour lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, apricot, pineapple, peach, passion fruit, guava, melon, citrus peel/rind, pepper, oak, pine, hay, straw, musty funk, floral, grass, light leather, light honey/bread, and yeast/oak earthiness. Moderate pine/citrus rind/peppery bitterness and fruity/tannic tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of sour lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, apricot, pineapple, peach, passion fruit, guava, melon, citrus peel/rind, pepper, oak, pine, hay, straw, musty funk, leather, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a while. Damn nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/pine hops, fruity/funky/acidic yeast, oak, and light-moderate pale malt flavors; with a great malt/sour/bitter/spiciness balance, and zero astringent flavors after the finish. Moderate dryness from sour/bitter/spiciness, increasing through the glass. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately acidic/sticky/tannic, and lightly grainy/resinous balanced mouthfeel that is awesome. Minimal warming alcohol for 6.8%. Overall this is an awesome sour IPA! All around excellent complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/pine hops, fruity/funky/acidic yeast, oak, and light-moderate pale malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the moderate sourness/acidity and bitterness. Even for the young age of this vintage, the Brett is already extremely well developed. A highly enjoyable and very impressive offering all around.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Oct 2016
at 21:39