Phruit Phunk
Nodding Head Brewery

 

On Tap during the "Phunkaboration" event in Feburary 2012. I's been a while since I had phruit phunk out of a bottle years ago.

This was served in a wine glass from a freshly tapped "aged" cornie keg of the phunk. The color was very dark amber with some red woven in the mix leaving a darker shade. Just some small bubbles off the tap that faded quick, no stick.

Smell is of ripe blackberry with some acidic funk going on. Barnyard in the back of the phunk. Slight apple cider with some vinegar that's not jarring. A delight to smell but not super pungent.

From the bottle years ago, this was super tart and fruity, it's tamed down some I believe. Not as acidic although that comes up lightly. A nice easy going sour that's has a pucker with barnyard essence and faded blackberry flavor. Small oak and vanilla with significant warming.

The feel is in between light and medium, a slightly prickly carb, and a nice pucker that is not extreme. This is all to easy to drink over time, and more flavor comes out over time.

All in all, this is one of the better sour attempts made in the Philly area. It's all supposed to be because of a magical barrel. Multiple glasses welcome. Im glad they pulled this now, because the blackberry and fruity flavor is fading.

7/2/09 notes. from the beer menu: "Fermented with Brettanomyces and then barrel aged for five months on blackberries". Served into a white wine glass. The look here is prune juice in a wine glass, it's that thick and of a similar consistency, only its muddier, and has slightly warmer notes of rasberry red color. No head to speak of, and has 'legs' similar to a glass of wine as opposed to lacing. Some childlike corner of my mind wonders why I'm choosing to ingest something that looks so... so foreign. Then I remember that this is what its all about. I take whiffs and I'm met with strong and pleasing tart citric notes, emphasis on the tart, softened with fresh picked berries. The tart notes veer well into funk territory. well into it. uh oh... horseblanket!!! ahh I love it! Deeper, sweeter notes of overripe fruits - plums maybe - are present as well. A well developed bouquet of fruit and funk.
On the mouth this translates to an almost tongue-buckling tart funkiness at the finish. It starts out light, sweet. Grows dry with a strong candy like tartness dominating the middle. Finishes with an extreme acetic like tartness, akin to the juice of cranberries grown in a harsh environment. This fruity funk hangs on the back of my throat for minutes, almost hours after I'm done. It drips, it coats. but for all of this, the beer has light edges, noticeable up front. The thick middle is betrayed by too little carbonation. As interesting and as successful as this beer is in many respects, I cannot fathom anybody drinking more than two glasses in one sitting. It's tart coat is just overwhelming.