Nectarnal Slumber
Oakshire Brewing

i love these guys, and always dig finding new beers from them. this is a tart saison base, simple really, but done in wine barrels with nectarines, which seem to be at the peak of freshness. i like how the yeast element is fairly understated for how mature the beer is, like its pretty low acidity and the funkiness is consistent through it but never in front of the fruit or even the lighter malt. the thing is though, i kind of wish this wasnt wild at all, like a totally clean fermentation would leave a clearer picture of the fruit, and i think the little bit of sourness that is in here is a distraction from it. that said, there is a wonderful juicy freshness to the nectarines, very distinct too, like obviously not peaches or apricots or anything, i love that element. soft wheat underneath it, a nice round vanilla character from the oak that is great with the fruit, and a sort of highly refined vibe. overall a really solid offering, but this might be better as a clean saison next time, just for the sake of the fruit. hard to be critical of a beer this good though...