Splinter Gold
Tröegs Brewing Company

Splinter GoldSplinter Gold
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From:
Tröegs Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
ABV:
12%
Score:
94
Avg:
4.25 | pDev: 13.18%
Reviews:
72
Ratings:
168
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 10, 2021
Added:
Dec 17, 2009
Wants:
  658
Gots:
  29
The transformation of Scratch #3-2007 to Splinter Gold has been a slow rest in oak wine barrels dosed with brettanomyces. During a two-year aging period the horsey flavors of the brett combined with the Westmalle yeast used during primary fermentation to create a complex blend of flavors. Bone-dry and 12% abv, Splinter Gold is highly carbonated.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SpeedwayJim:
Photo of SpeedwayJim
Reviewed by SpeedwayJim from New York

3.43/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
750ml corked and caged bottle. 4oz. sample poured into a Founders snifter. Reviewed from notes. Shared by hoppymcgee at a tasting on 10/16/10.

A: Pours a 1 finger fine, white, fluffy head with moderate retention. Beer is a slightly cloudy yellowish-orange. Lacing is frothy and thick with appreciable cling.

S: Nose is a pleasantly surprising pineapple and citrus. Tropical fruits. Funk and cane sugar. Very sweet with little to no hint of tartness. Bretty. Complex but not the most aromatic.

T: Brett funkiness upfront with hints of cobweb and booze. Not sour in the least with MAYBE a slight tartness in the background that's barely detectable. Am I missing something? I didn't know this was going to be a Brett bomb. Hoppy and yeasty bitterness in the finish with a slight fruit sweetness before it dries out. Finishes funky with an aftertaste of barnyard and bark.

M: Medium bodied, good amount of carbonation. A bit harsh on the palate and abrasive and grainy going down. Finish is messy with an aftertaste that lingers. I'd rate this lower but given the high ABV, its very well executed.

D: Reading the other reviews of this beer, I can't help but wonder... is everyone else having the same thing I'm having? Splinter Gold is just... plain... its Bretty... its slightly sour... good balance... and somewhat unique...but its plain. Nothing that stands out and nothing that warrants praise. If you're looking for this one and haven't had the chance yet... don't bother. Totally not worth the trouble.
Oct 17, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.14 by edthehead from Maryland

Oct 10, 2021
 
Rated: 4.28 by SadMachine from New Jersey

Oct 09, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by Kurmaraja from California

Feb 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4.66 by HipHopsHooray from California

Oct 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.32 by mendvicdog from Maryland

Oct 06, 2015
Photo of 4DAloveofSTOUT
Reviewed by 4DAloveofSTOUT from Illinois

4.04/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
batch 1! Nice carbonation and fairly dry. Lots of oak in smell and taste. This is probably 6 years old or so by now. It is slightly one dimensional and not very complex, but it is still good beer.
Jul 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by ScottP from New Hampshire

May 24, 2015
Photo of wethorseblanket
Rated by wethorseblanket from California

4.28/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Reviewed from notes. Shared by Richard on 1-14-12.
May 21, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Axnjxn from North Carolina

Mar 16, 2015
Photo of Devman171
Reviewed by Devman171 from Maryland

1.3/5  rDev -69.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
Bottle batch 2, aroma is heavy acetone and oak. Taste is thick and funky with a dry heavy oak finish. Tried a second day, heavy wood and nail polish still there
Dec 27, 2014
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
i didnt love this one as much as others. its heavy on the wine barrel characteristics, which is almost a fruity double jeopardy with the belgian yeast, and the wild yeast, which is mostly brett from what i gather, doesnt make nearly as much of an impact as i was hoping for. still, the beer is good, almost like a tripel in its yeast and body, and in that its sweet all the way through it an unapologetic for that. carbonation is awesome, its very alive, and the wood on it is enormous. im not sure the wine barrel was the best choice though, neutral oak may have been more appealing, but the fruitiness is pleasant too. slightly tart and tannic, but never sharp. it also doesnt need to be so strong. i might have like this better around 8% abv, the extra booze does little for the beer and is distracting in some contexts. it improves as it warms though, and the funk comes out a bit more. this is fun beer, but i expected a lot more from it honestly.
Dec 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by oglmcdgl from Pennsylvania

Nov 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by barflybastard from Pennsylvania

Oct 24, 2014
 
Rated: 1 by UncleNeighborChris from Pennsylvania

Oct 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by DLSheidy from Pennsylvania

Jul 31, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Kuoinetown from Pennsylvania

Jul 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by zestar from California

Jun 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by tdimaria from Pennsylvania

Jun 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Tucquan from Pennsylvania

May 14, 2014
Splinter Gold from Tröegs Brewing Company
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 168 ratings