Skull & Bones Cuvee Speciale'
Bristol Brewing Company

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From:
Bristol Brewing Company
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
ABV:
6%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.13 | pDev: 7.75%
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
20
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 27, 2015
Added:
Nov 25, 2005
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.08 by taospowder from New Mexico

Jan 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4.14 by wethorseblanket from California

Jan 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by spycow from Illinois

Oct 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by DaveHack from Pennsylvania

Dec 29, 2012
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

4.42/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Big thanks to rudzud for sharing this, 2005 vintage.

Light fizzy head covering disappears quickly, light lacing, very dark molasses brown with very little light.

Nose is awesome, some malts, light cocoa and caramel, light cough medicine but in a good way, tons of cherry, tart fruit and sour, light acidic, light wild, great kriek lambic like funk, some oak, light syrupy like malt, plenty fruity.

Taste starts little syrupy, malty, oud bruin malty, then big kriek, nice tart cherry, sour, fruit, etc. Lots of acidity, mouth watering acidity and tartness. Light cocoa and caramel syrupy flavors. Light sour malt Flanders red like, with lots of malt vinegar, blended with kriek and oud bruin. Finish is so acidic is burns the throat a bit, sticky and little syrupy, very tart sour cherry, little caramel like malt, mouth coating sticky.

Mouth is med bodied but syrupy and thicker, very acidic, lighter carb, quite tart.

Overall quite nice, like a blend of a nice aged kriek, oud bruin, and Flanders red, lots of great sour cherry and great acidity.
Nov 23, 2012
Photo of rudzud
Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts

4.52/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Received in a trade. Poured into a Kate the Great tulip. 2005 batch of course

A - Poured a nice very dark garnet almost molasses hue that clear is clear just too dark to see through. What had been a quarter inch head fades to leave a thin light mocha halo.

S - Aromas of knee buckling awesomeness. Taste is full of cherries, vinegar, oak barrels, and light chocolate. Super light alcohol.

T - Taste ...holy cow. A combination of a kriek, oud bruin, and Flanders red. Soooo much acidity crazy amount. Light chocolate notes with tons of cherries. Soon much dark cherries funky notes too. Tons of acidity little bit of barrel, and then acidity thirteen more times. Wow.

M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated with a tremendous amount of acidity. So acidic it makes this a sipper.

O - Overall I was immensely pleased with this beer. Nice vanilla and cherries with tons of acidity and vinegar. Surprising and delicious. So glad I have 2a more of this.
Nov 21, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by t0rin0 from California

Sep 02, 2012
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Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

4.36/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle I brought to share at Wowcoolman’s tasting.

2005 vintage.

Pours a murky brown with a foamy khaki head that fades to nothing. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is sour, tart, and funky with some fruity and acidic aromas. Taste is much the same with a very acidic finish. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer that is quite sour and tart and very drinkable.
Aug 28, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by drewone from California

Aug 26, 2012
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Javi for sharing.

A murky brownish color with a small off-white/khaki head. Red wine vinegar, cherries, and wood for the most part on the nose. There is a hint of chocolate, some sweet malt notes, and an overall tartness to it which is nice. The flavor is also quite tart, but has a pronounced tannic quality. Decent cherry flavor, plenty of balsamic and red wine vinegars, and a touch of leather.
Aug 05, 2012
Photo of HopHead84
Reviewed by HopHead84 from California

3.17/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
7/6/2012

Bottle shared by Jason. Thanks! 2005.

A: Reddish brown with a fleeting white head.

S: Lots of vinegar with a not insignificant amount of acetone. Vanilla blends with plum and grape. Touch of spiciness, maybe cinnamon. Brown sugar.

T: Lots of vinegar flavor with a strong acetic acidity. Vanilla accompanies plum, currant, and grape. Lightly lactic with some tartness. Touch of acetone.

M: Upper medium body with lower medium carbonation.

Overall: Too much vinegar and acetic acidity for me.
Jul 07, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by ASUBeer from North Carolina

Jun 30, 2012
Photo of woosterbill
Reviewed by woosterbill from Kentucky

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Unlabeled, crowned 750ml bottle from '05, poured into an Old Engine Oil tulip. Big thanks to the generous JAHMUR for sharing this ultra-obscure tick.

A: Cloudy, muddy red-brown body under a thin layer of tan froth. Pretty ugly, especially considering I didn't get the dregs at all.

S: Sour, vinous, and intense: lactic acidity, tannic oak, and moderate grape essence. Very complex, acidic, and sharp.

T: Tart, tingling lactic acidity up front, with some rich, vinous grape and moderate oak. As it warms the oak lends some vanilla, and the grapes get richer. The finish is bitterly tannic, strongly sour, and nicely dry. Terrific.

M: Lively, creamy medium body. Very frothy.

O: Terrific wild ale! At first I thought it was going to be too mouth-numbingly dry to let the sourness really sink in, but as it warmed it got just juicy enough to cohere beautifully. Glad I got to try it.

Cheers!
Mar 05, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by alalvarez75 from New York

Mar 04, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Mar 04, 2012
Photo of afksports
Reviewed by afksports from New York

4.29/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This reminds of corked and caged la folie. I'm so impressed. Appearance lackibg. Good carb, overflowed, but murky red brown. Smell is tart and sour.malt and cherry and sugar. Legit sweet taste, clean finish, cloying but in a wonderful way. Cant get over how well balanced it is. This its like a belgian. Can't believe this lasted this long with a hand label from 2005.

Brian, thank you thank you thank you.
Mar 02, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by claytong from Vermont

Dec 13, 2011
Photo of rye726
Reviewed by rye726 from Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 750ml bottle into a snifter. After being really impressed by Foxy I had to delve into this one. And I must say I was again very impressed. Pours a dark brown with a thin tan head. Nose has sour yeast, wine grapes, dark fruity malts, cocoa, oak, pitted fruits and musty funk. Taste is a nice balance between tart, sweet and funky flavors. Medium to full body makes me think the alcohol might be around 10% on this one. Another fantastic sour from Jason, I wish he would make this and Foxy again over at Trinity as they are vastly superior to his current sours.
Oct 26, 2011
Photo of russpowell
Reviewed by russpowell from Arkansas

4.16/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Fermented with Cheyenne Canyon Brett

Had this on tap tonight. Poured chestnut/mahogany with near zero head.

S: Cherries, oakyness & tartness, along with hints of vanilla & leather

T: Tartness, sourness & cherries & prunes up front. A bit more wooodyness & cherry-pit as this warms. Finishes sooo dry with much tartness, hints of cherry, wood leather & raspberry vinegar

Medium-bodied with near zero carbonation & vinegar-like zing

Drinks good for what it is, went well with the cheeses that accompanied this. I'd be hard pressed to do more than 2 glasses a session/meal tough. Sour beer freaks should love it. Still a style I'm coming to grips with
Nov 17, 2007
Photo of orbitalr0x
Reviewed by orbitalr0x from Illinois

4.12/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Had this at the 2005 FoBAB..described as a blend of beers with brettanomyces and cherries aged in oak barrels. Poured a deep murky dark brown with a bubbly head that didn't last long. Aromas were very nice with big sour cherry and some roastiness. Hints of wood along with a nice earthy funk. A touch of vanilla in there as well.

First sip brought a wave of tart sour cherry mixed with a bit of caramel and vanilla. Fairly acidic with that funky, vinegar like twang from the brett. Woody tones worked in nicely as well to this tasty sour brew. Quite a suprise from a brewery I had never heard about before.

Mouthfeel was smooth and fairly light with mellow carbonation. I really enjoyed this beer and wish I could find it in bottles as I'd definetly seek it out. A wonderfully tasty, funky sour cherry brew. I hope to have the chance to sample more of this breweries offerings sometime!
Nov 25, 2005
Skull & Bones Cuvee Speciale' from Bristol Brewing Company
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 20 ratings