Bird Of Prey | Driftwood Brewery

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

3.51/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by psiweaver I think? Served in a taster glass.

A - White foam settles to a thick collar, wispy patches, and minimal laced. Lightly hazed burnt orange body.

S - Very sulfurous aroma, with some farmhouse funk. There's a mild vinegar character, as well as some fruity malts, and a bit of grain, but this is overwhelmed by the brett and I'm not a huge fan of whatever strain was used.

T - The taste is better, as the stale fart flavor has largely dissipated. Some oaky vanilla, overripe fruits, a touch of green apple skins, dirty funk, and some mild vinegar flavors. Not much in the way of residual vinous character from the wine barrels.

M - Surprisingly zesty carbonation, and extremely dry and oaky. Medium body, with some light residual stickiness. Alcohol is well concealed and acidity is restrained.

D - Not bad, other than the mildly off-putting aroma. Probably suffered being consumed next to Rodenbach's sublime Caractère Rouge, although it's not a very fair comparison as this doesn't have fruit in it. I'd be willing to try this again down the road to see if the sulfur clears up or the acidity intensifies.

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4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

3.81/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

3.75/5  rDev -12.8%

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

4.7/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Didn't even know this one was coming! Announced on facebook yesterday, picked up a couple bottles today. From the label:

The first in our Bird of Prey Wild Ale series, this sour ale was inspired by a Coopers Hawk that took residence in the brewery for a full 24 hours. Brewed in its honour, this wild ale spent a year conditioning in a mix of American & French oak wine barrels. Tart & funky, this beer can be aged for a very long time, but will be enjoyed now!

Appearance. Pours a lightly hazy, deep amber-orange with half a finger of frothy, pale yellow head.

Smell. Nice sour fruit like green grapes and green apples with a little strawberry. Some red wine vinegar and wood with just enough horse-blanket funk. Nice.

Taste. Tart apples, grapes and a little cranberry followed by plenty of oak and dry wine. Just a little vinegar. Awesome dry, earthy funkiness that lingers a bit ...with the oak ...and the wine. yeah.

Mouthfeel. Just above medium body with fine and lively, medium-low carbonation. Fantastic.

Overall. This is awesome. A really nice sour with full, great flavours. Complex and refined. Another winner from Driftwood.

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4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

Bottle: Poured a reddish color ale with a nice thick foamy head with excellent retention and some good lacing. Aroma of tart notes with some oak and cherry is very pleasant. Taste is a super well balanced mix of tart notes with some oak and cherry with light residual sugar notes with almost no acidity. Body is quite full with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. That is a world-class Flanders Fed with good level of complexity and perfect level of drinkability.

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4.25/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

4.46/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 650ml bomber into a Dieu du Ciel Zwanze Day teku glass
2014 Vintage; Poured 2014/05/30; Thanks to FondouVoodoo for the bottle

Pours a clear copper color with almost two fingers of bubbly, white head that falls to a thin collar and no lacing. The nose is soft, dominated by tart cherries, some sourness, hints of sweetness and a bit of barnt funk. On the palate, the tart cherries and a touch of sweet malt roll through first, but the beer transitions into crisp tart, sourness. There is a nice oaky character and an overall crispness. The body is medium with nice carbonation making it smooth, light and refreshing. Overall, this is a very tasty brew! Very smooth and a nice balance of residual sweetness and tart, dry sourness. A very strong example of the style!

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4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

5/5  rDev +16.3%

3.89/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Big thanks to FondueVoodoo for helping me round off the Top 50 of Canada with this rarity.

Poured from a 650ml bottle, bottled 01.28.14.

Pours a nice copperish body with a frothy and effervescent head. Aroma is the best part; oak, red wine, mild cherries, cork and a bit of sweetness hidden in the tartness. Flavor is acidic and a bit tart but not prolonged. Fiinshes with a mild cherry sweetness but found the oak flavor and general body to be a bit ordinary, especially considering the pedigree of the brewery.

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4/5  rDev -7%

4/5  rDev -7%

4.31/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4.47/5  rDev +4%

Appearance: It has a nice ruby/amber color to it. It has a nice creamy beige head that dies down moderately and leaves little lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitely give out hints of loads of tart cherries, definite funk, grapes, faint oak and a touch of vinegar.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a bunch of tart cherries, red grapes, some barnyard funk, light oak and very faint vinegar.

Mouthfeel: It has a low carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied by great flavors and aromas. Another great one by Driftwood!

Serving type: bottle

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3.7/5  rDev -14%

3.75/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

This is a fresh bottle of the 2014 vintage. Drank less than a week after bottling.

A: Murky auburn brown with red highlights, skim of dense light tan head.

S: Grape must, sour cherries, muted sweetness, hint of tannins.

T: Gentle and intertwined fruit and oak character. There is a sort of vegetal lactic acid thing going on that's not overly pleasant - I hope this will settle down with age. The sourness is dull rather than puckering or complex.

M: Light and slightly fizzy - not much to report but suits the job.

O: Not a home-run, at least not at this point. It's pretty good but I've definitely had a bunch of Flanders reds I've preferred. I think this may do well with some age though, and a couple are in the cellar for future dates.

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4/5  rDev -7%

4.32/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'm impressed.

I expected something like Petrus... maybe boardering on a Goudenband, but this is more like a Rodenbach.

Clear, copper amber, pours with an hint of off-white head. Absolutely no retention (unlike its Belgian counter-parts), but somehow it manages to leave a little lace.

Aroma is woodsy & leathery, some cider, with a little straw-like funk... and it's very inviting.

The taste is a bit sour, but certainly not overrbearing, with a light, leathery funk. A little woodsy, brown sugar, golden raisins, cider, biscuit and earth with a light grassy & peppery spice.

Moderate body has a light acidity and a crisp finish.

Well done. I'd like to see how this mellow's with age.

Thanks Rutager!

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4.21/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2014 bottle.

Beer is dark red/brownish. Small off-white head. Minimal lace.

Nice smell. A rich berry scent complimented by oak, balsamic vinegar and some vanilla.

Taste is similar and also very good. Red berries, oak, vanilla, vinegar. Moderately sour. Fairly dry.

Full bodied, moderate to high carbonation level.

Overall, very nice. A very well done Flanders Red. It's not Rodenbach Grand Cru but it is not leagues below either. Good stuff.

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5/5  rDev +16.3%