Mother Pucker
Roots Organic Brewery

According to the bartender at Roots, Mother Pucker was their trippel, aged in a Pinot Gris barrel, that mistakenly soured, presumably from bacteria resident in the barrel. Supposedly only a sixtel (5 gal) was made. Tapped earlier this week, she doubted it would still be around by the end of the weekend. I'm not sure I buy the idea that a wine-maker would use so small a barrel, but regardless of the exact back-story on how it came to be, the description fit the beer to a tee. Hopefully she's wrong though and they have more on deck...if not, I feel very lucky to have gotten to try this beer, as I don't get to drop into Roots nearly as often as I'd like.

Anyways...served in a chalice, the color is a clear dark gold with only a wisp of a white collar.

Aroma is fantastic, soft, sour lactic nose, lemons and Pinot Gris, from mild to moderate as it warms. From the first whiff I knew I'd love this beer. Yum!

Taste is just plain awesome - Pinot Gris meets Lambic! I should note any semblance of a Trippel has been obliterated by the aforementioned effects of the barrel aging, but that for me is a very good thing indeed. Very vinous, crisp acidity, honey and lemon rind, a funky mother pucker for sure! In spite of all the flavor, it's really not too overwhelming, in the way a pure Gueze might be for those unaccustomed to wild brews. I credit that to the Pinot Gris, which is very notable - I wonder how much was left in the barrel, especially if it was only a sixtel? The alcohol is certainly noticable, but again is more like the richness of wine at that ABV, which is much cleaner tasting then the fusels you often find in big beers.

Mouthfeel is slick and on the thicker side. A sugar coating forms on the teeth after a few sips, much like, you guessed it, drinking wine!

Drinkability is so high Roots had to impose a limit of 2 smaller chalices per customer! Absolutely fantastic, I really enjoyed my two servings, and would've had no problem with a third. But I understand that if it really is so limited, it needs to be shared. I can also recognize that it may be to rich and strong for plenty of folks. But it was exactly to my taste, and I'm just really glad I got to try it. I really hope Roots tries to reproduce this 'mistake' in bigger quantities, it's got to be one of the best beers I've had in memory, or dare I say ever??
WOW!