Nature Albicocche (2021)
Microbirrificio Opperbacco

JULY 2024.
75 cl bottle (24€ from the pub fridge).
It's an Italian Grape Ale with Trebbiano grapes from the Recchiuti farm (Notaresco, ITA).
The grapes are pressed by foot directly in the brewery and destemmed by hand to be placed on the bottom of the barrel to form a "pied de cuveé" (or Starter, it is a key phase of winemaking that must be followed carefully, to check that the grapes develop only positive yeasts. The "good" indigenous yeasts that are generated, added when necessary, will push the musts to ferment) in order to allow the "flora" present on the skins to proliferate and activate the fermentation of the beer.
Fermentation and maturation then take place for 12 months in oak barrels previously used by local wineries.
On the nose, aroma of apricot and bacterial notes.
When poured, it's orange in color with golden reflections, veiled but not too much and with an evanescent foam that disappears immediately, like that of a Prosecco.
In the mouth, a complex beer with new flavor nuances that emerge together with the dilution of the temperature of the beer.
The initially sweet notes of apricot soon take on a sour note which is in turn "rounded" by a fine woody scent, which lingers for a long time on the palate, while the finish is harmonious/soft which helps to favor the overall balance, mitigating the sensations “hard” (in particular tannins and acidity, which are still present and clearly noticeable even though the drink is "fast/rapid").
Even after drinking for a long time, these precious woody notes mixed with fruit remain in the palate, while the tongue is cleansed.
Not only extremely balanced in its complexity, but in my opinion truly valuable and distinct.