MF Grapes
Upright Brewing Company

 

epic stuff, better than even fantasia on tap at the source, and frankly the best beer i had from our trip to oregon, maybe not even close. i loved this, but i am a lush for grape beers and hybrids like this, especially wild ales and saisons, so this was already speaking to me. lovely deep pink color on it, trying to be clear, still some shine even though its imperfect, and a short but fizzy collection of small bubbles on the surface. nose of oak tannins and vanilla notes, strawberries and raspberries, good pinot noir, and earthy minerals, all before the funky wild yeast character, bretty and mature, lightly peppery, organic seeming, almost a lambic weirdness to it, light cedar, iodine, and grape jelly, really compelling and less tart than many in this space. the flavor is right there too, the yeast and the grapes together are amazing, and there is a pretty serious fruit saturation to this, almost presents like a good natural wine, minerals and fermentation funk, so cool. the fruit has some tartness but the beer overall does not seem too bacterial to me, and i could drink a whole lot of this. i love the wood too, not heavy but distinctive, and there are sweeter concentrated fruit notes that play well with it, a port wine thing. nice carbonation, a cool floral wrinkle as it warms, and a fermentation profile that only upright can deliver. this is definitely among their best beers ive ever had!

On tap at the source

A fantastic grape character, moderately spicy and tannic with fruit, mild dried berries, a touch of leather on a mildly earthy, spicy base. A moderate wood presence, tannic and mildly bitter, balancing the fruit nicely. Soft earthy funk with mildly warming spice. Lovely.