Petit Obscura
Telegraph Brewing Company

Petit ObscuraPetit Obscura
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From:
Telegraph Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
ABV:
4%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.76 | pDev: 11.17%
Reviews:
31
Ratings:
45
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 10, 2022
Added:
Feb 19, 2011
Wants:
  16
Gots:
  4
Ale aged with Brettanomyces and Lactobacillus. Telegraph Petit Obscura is a "small beer" brewed from the sour-mash second runnings of a batch of our Rhinoceros Rye Wine. Historically, a small beer was brewed as a way of utilizing the remaining sugars that are otherwise lost when making a big high-gravity beer. With a crisp, fruity, white-wine-like character, our little obscure one is a light-bodied "wild ale" with a subtle complexity that transcends its humble origins.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

4.09/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had this out on the river in September '21 at the ol' overflow spot at Pitt Dam. Really should use that spot more, good water access, shade etc. . .

Anyhoo, this sat in the cellar a few years before getting popped. Pours golden leaning into light amber/orange. Not the biggest head, got close to 1/4" deep. Maybe 1/5". The aroma was very nice. This was a heavy ass brett profile, leather, varied fruitiness without any fruit additions, old books, white grape, woodiness. Berries, strawberries even. It many ways it smelled agrarian like the area we were partying, farmland and orchards, but don't forget ol' leatherhands working away on the barn.

Taste was great, lots of flavor dropped into a small beer package. Still pushing an almost Amarillo like hay and citrus presence with the brett. Good chewiness to the mouth feel from it too, well above the average experience on such a session strength beer. Strawberry, leather and even smoke, this is wild stuff, literally.

I definitely liked this more than the big beer runnings it came from. Totally another winner in the cellaring department here. Hope to find another.
Feb 10, 2022
 
Rated: 3.52 by 22Blue from Kansas

Apr 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by zestar from California

Aug 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by GClarkage from California

Jul 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by OBeerMeGreatOne from California

Mar 15, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Hanzo from Virginia

Jun 02, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by LambicKing from Germany

Jun 02, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by drgonzo2k2 from California

May 18, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by t0rin0 from California

Feb 27, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by emile772 from California

Nov 03, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by bauermj from Illinois

Oct 18, 2012
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.97/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Poured out a hazy, golden orange color with a one-finger, head of bubbly off-white foam. It left thin, sticky rings of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled phenolic and funky with some fruity notes.

T -Fuity and funky with an acidic bite. Fruit flavors are orange, lemon and white grapes. There is a light grain flavor, too.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This is a nice wild ale. Very unique with some sour and sweet flavors.
Jul 28, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by GuruDel from California

Mar 13, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by WeisGuy from New York

Mar 08, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by nathanjohnson from Vermont

Jan 02, 2012
Photo of capra12
Reviewed by capra12 from New York

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Reviewed in a Foothills pint glass shared with RiceCracker

Appearance: Cloudy, straw, with carbonation still pumping from the bottom of the glass. Poured a 1 finger head.

Smell: I get a ton of tart and unripened strawberry nose. Reminds me of a berliner wiesse. There is a hint of sulfur which is hidden behind the mild funk.

Taste: This opens with a mild citrus tart that doesn't develop into much more. Very one dimensional with a mild straw profile on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, a bit puckering.

Overall: A one and done for me. I recommend this to those seeking a wild ale that is sessionable and not overly aggressive on the palate.
Dec 27, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by nanobrew from California

Nov 29, 2011
Photo of GregSVT
Reviewed by GregSVT from Texas

3.77/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
750ml bottle into a tulip

A: Pours a clear light yellow with a big white bubbly head that fades to a ring and leaves no lacing on the glass. It actually looks flat after sitting for a while.

S: The nose is light amounts of lemon zest, orange peel, funky brett, and white grapes. It's got a bit of a wine quality with a funky and acidic element.

T: The beer starts with an acidic sour flavor and progesses to a lemon zest and sweet malt finish. Not much here besides the sour flavor but the stuff that gets through in the finish is good.

M: The feel is extremely dry with big bubbles of carbonation as you swirl it in the mouth.

O: Not the biggest sour beer I've had and I'm sure some people will complain about it not being sour enough. I thought the sour was well done and a bit more balanced than others in the style.
Nov 27, 2011
Photo of CenCalMario
Reviewed by CenCalMario from California

3.83/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Served from a bottle, poured into tulip glass. Thanks Ryan (DovaliHops).

Appearance: Golden, hazy, nice head.

Smell: Funky, tart, slight acidic, sourness... horseblanket is a good descriptor.

Taste: Nice, slight sour, not over the top, easy to drink... really nice.

Mouthfeel: light but well carbed. Refreshing and effervescent.

Overall: Really enjoyed, would buy and try again many times over. It's like a smaller, less sour, less complex version of DDG. Those aren't bad things... just a smaller version of DDG I thought which is a great compliment. Well done Telegraph, looking for more of their stuff in the future.
Oct 27, 2011
Photo of brewandbbq
Reviewed by brewandbbq from New Hampshire

4.23/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml bottle, batch 68.

Pours hazy light gold with a three inch head of dense white froth. A solid skim cap and some elongated dots of lacing throughout the glass.

Aromatics lead off with lemon pith, grapefruit, pineapple, and barnboards. A wine-like vineousity steps forward and offers a tannic, lactic preview.

Light bodied and quite crisp. Snappy and quenching mouthfeel.

The palate starts with a wheaty twang, lemon wedges, and pineapple skin. Hints of Chardonnay, bright acid, and grapefruit pith follow through.

Finishes nicely tart but short of sour, with plenty of lemon-spritzed wheat and mild funk.

Oh, this is a tasty one and I would say the SoCal version of Temptation. Nice.
Oct 25, 2011
Petit Obscura from Telegraph Brewing Company
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 45 ratings