Higher Ground
Franklin's Restaurant, Brewery & General Store

Bottle 115/259. Barrelled 7/13/2013. Bottled 7/23/2015. Released 10/16/2015 (day after my birthday!). Opened 1/22/17.

Pours a crisp clear amber/light copper with a good sized white head that settles in and settles onto the glass wonderfully.

Nose is very tart with an underlying indescriminate wild 'funk' to it that is actually quite inviting right now. Not as woody as some I've had, though I think it works to Higher Ground's favour in this instance. Also less vinous, more rounded with tannins and some sweet notes reminiscient of a good cognac, though much much mellowed and shaved off.

Flavour follows many similar notes, though strays a little from the lacquer smoothe melding of the nose. The red wine aspect of the barrels reveals itself a little bit more, and it's just a little more rough around the edges. The balance between the sweet tripel base and the barrel and the 'wild' yeasts is just a bit less balanced and skews more towards the sweet tripel than I personally prefer.

Thinner side body, sticky and, while not dry -- there's way too much residual sweetness for that... -- it's impression bears some similarities.

Overall I'm glad to have picked it up, and it is hitting the spot nicely at the moment, but not quite top flight.

Boozy for a wild ale.

Hazy orange body with a quarter inch of off-white. Aromas of stone fruit, funk, awesome sourness, melon, pedio. Unfortunately, the flavor does not live up to the promise of the aroma. Overly sweet and harsh. Fruity, with notes of kiwi and oak tannins. Needs work. Lovely aroma, by far the best aspect of the beer, but lacking the overall qualities of a superb American wild ale.