Farmer's Reserve #2
Almanac Beer Co.

Farmer's Reserve #2Farmer's Reserve #2
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From:
Almanac Beer Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
ABV:
7.8%
Score:
93
Avg:
4.2 | pDev: 7.38%
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
190
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 18, 2017
Added:
Feb 19, 2013
Wants:
  107
Gots:
  30
This barrel-aged ale is a celebration of the California autumn harvest. Brewed with heirloom pumpkins from La Tercera Farms in Bodega Bay, crisp Fuyu persimmons from Hamada Farms in the San Joaquin Valley and fresh ginger from the Santa Clara Valley, then aged for over a year in white wine barrels to create a deliciously complex wild ale.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of macrosmatic
Reviewed by macrosmatic from Florida

4.24/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Thanks to eyebereej for sending this one years ago! I'm not sure why I'm just now getting around to drinking it. 2012 vintage bottle, opened and reviewed 10/30/16. Reviewed from notes. Poured from a 375 mL bottle into an El Catador Barrel-Aged glass.

A: Mildly hazy light gold – lighter in color than most pumpkin beers for sure. Fairly low visible carbonation, and a thin white head that fades quickly.

S: Lactic tart up front, though not over the top. White wine and oaken barrel. Moderately funky - feet and barnyard. Lurking underneath all that is some pumpkin pie and (I think) a touch of cinnamon and ginger. I don't have any idea what a persimmon smells like...that might be here too.

T: White wine vinous, lactic tartness and funk. Clean cracker malts and mild fruitiness. I guess maybe a touch of pumpkin here, but it's quite mild if at all. Some lemony citric acid. A mild savory cinnamon-like spice near the end. It all finishes with mostly dry lactic tartness, barrel tannins, and citric acid.

M: A light body, with good carbonation sensation and low alcohol presence.

O: I dunno...best pumpkin beer ever?? For someone who doesn't usually care for pumpkin beers, this was really good. But if you're looking for a fall beer with big pumpkin and spices, look elsewhere. Minimal pumpkin here, and no ginger flavors at all. Really quite tasty, but nothing that the label makes it sound like. I'm going to rate while ignoring the label description.
Feb 18, 2017
 
Rated: 4.4 by hopkrid from Florida

Oct 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by cp45 from New Jersey

Sep 18, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by mportnoy from Pennsylvania

Oct 18, 2015
Photo of Delz
Rated by Delz from Wisconsin

3.99/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Really nice beer. Well rounded. I did not get a lot of funk or sour. I thought it was well balanced. Nice pumpkin flavor.
Sep 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4.27 by cj8311 from Maryland

Jul 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4.1 by Cynic-ale from Texas

Jul 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by BDeibs from Colorado

Jun 21, 2015
 
Rated: 4.13 by kodt from Illinois

Apr 21, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by JRod1969 from New York

Mar 12, 2015
Photo of Treyliff
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.09/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12oz bottle poured into a tegu glass

A- pours a hazy pale golden yellow color with a small fizzy white head that retains decently, eventually leaving a thin film behind, some lacing left behind

S- tart lacto aroma up front with the ginger being noticed the most, some fruity notes of peach skin, pear and red apple. Toasted oak with some white wine tart aromas close it out, with some lingering earthy yeast

T- pear and lactic sourness up front with the ginger adding a fresh aspect, along with a hint of mint. Some earthy yeast mixes with apple and a hint of lemon. Oaky white wine notes close it out with a fruity linger. I couldn't pick out any pumpkin flavor

M- medium body with low slightly biting carbonation leads to a low foamy mouthfeel and a crisp dry finish

O- this certainly isn't extreme, compared to some of their other sours, but it's incredibly drinkable. The ginger adds a nice light and fruity touch
Feb 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by nathanmiller from New York

Jan 08, 2015
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

3.84/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
375ml into a snifter. The brew appears a clear golden yellow color with white cap thats quick to fade. It smells of ginger and spice with slight earth to grassiness across the back. The flavor is mostly comprised of the taste of ginger, slight herbs, lemony tartness and a wheat grainy backbone. It is light bodied, fizzy and unique. Worth a try but not something I feel I need to have again.
Dec 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by dachp from Colorado

Nov 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by IrishColonial from Texas

Nov 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by jeremiahoden from Indiana

Oct 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by mrn1ceguy from Illinois

Oct 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by sourpower from California

Oct 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by blabaer from California

Sep 28, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Robloc303 from Colorado

Sep 16, 2014
Farmer's Reserve #2 from Almanac Beer Co.
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 190 ratings