Feral Vinifera
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

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From:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
ABV:
9.1%
Score:
98
Avg:
4.46 | pDev: 8.07%
Reviews:
14
Ratings:
161
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 14, 2022
Added:
Aug 21, 2014
Wants:
  66
Gots:
  37
Feral Vinifera is our foray into a new and exciting adventure in the Santa Ynez Valley, that expresses our collaborative efforts with local grape growers and winemakers. Its journey begins with the sourcing and pressing of grapes from David Walker’s vineyard, co-fermenting the juice with a wheat-based wort, inoculating with proprietary wild yeast and bacteria, and allowing for a long fermentation and maturation in French Oak barrels. We have carefully fermented, matured and blended this beer with the collaboration of our friend, Andrew Murray, proprietor/winemaker at Andrew Murray Vineyards. The resulting cuvee; a partnership of Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Muscat grapes co-fermented with wheat based wort-bends the mind and senses. Pineapple, mango, guava mingle with Meyer lemon and gooseberry. A funky savory yeast bouquet lays down a firm foundation, fruity esters and tart acidity lend body and structure. Finishing with a flinty minerality, woody tannins and vinous perfume.

Barrel Blend Ratio Maturation time

French Oak Sauvignon Blanc/wheat beer 35% 12 months

French Oak Chenin Blanc/wheat beer 35% 12months

French Oak Orange Muscat/wheat beer 5% 12 months

French Oak Bretta Weisse 25% 8 months
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BigGreenMonster:
Photo of BigGreenMonster
Rated by BigGreenMonster from California

4.2/5  rDev -5.8%

Nov 03, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.4 by BAsbill from California

Oct 14, 2022
 
Rated: 3.92 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

May 10, 2019
 
Rated: 4.41 by Kurmaraja from California

Jan 11, 2019
 
Rated: 4.5 by kdown from California

Nov 04, 2018
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

4.28/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
This is a review of batch 2. Twas the last bottle we popped together when leftpaw came out here for his reunion this summer. Pours a golden color like a mix of your favorite adjunct lager and white wine, thin white head 1/5" that goes away right quick.

The nose is very nice. So much layers, hay, brett, french oak very discernable and appropriate, pear, lemon, grape. Just a good smelling mix that lends itself more to the wine probably than anything else. Hides the alcohol amazingly well, slight acidity isn't a hindrance. Sour right about a 5.5 on the 10pt scale. Some varied citrus notes envelope the palate as this keeps going on effortlessly, but don't you start thinking there is anything sugary or sweet about this beer.

I am very impressed with some of the wine/beer hybrids from the Bruery and FW. Very good, unique stuff, even at this big price point ($15/375). I wouldn't buy a case of it, but I could see picking up 1 bottle every time I can get my hands on it just to blow some minds.
Sep 07, 2018
Photo of Treyliff
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.53/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
375ml bottle poured into a teku
Batch 1

A- pours a clear golden color withstand one finger foamy white head that has short retention

S- funky Brett yeast gives some barnyard on the nose, as well as lemon peel and dried hay. Plenty of tropical fruit aromas of mango, papaya, pineapple and guava. Vinous white wine and oak close out the nose

T- wine notes are immediately present with a juicy grape note that dominates up front, followed by a yeasty Brett funk that gives notes of dried hay, earth and lemon. The finish gives some tropical fruit notes of juicy pineapple, mango and guava. Lingers of oak and more grape

M- medium-light body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel and a dry tart finish

O- the wine notes really come through on this one, a successful attempt at blurring thr lines of beer and wine
May 24, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by jschott75 from Illinois

Sep 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4.47 by pinballplayer from California

Sep 03, 2016
 
Rated: 4.44 by singlespeed from Delaware

Aug 30, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by SourAddict from Wisconsin

Jul 11, 2016
 
Rated: 3.83 by erjaq from California

Jun 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.69 by 7Sport from Massachusetts

May 15, 2016
Photo of DaverCS
Reviewed by DaverCS from Arizona

4.56/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Aroma is super sweet for a sour. It reminds me of a Fruit cocktail in syrup. Fantastic!

Taste is much sweeter than classic offerings by FW in regards to Sours. Nice amount of tropical fruits and fruit cocktail.

It gets a 92/100.
May 01, 2016
 
Rated: 4.59 by BT_Bobandy from Ohio

Apr 25, 2016
 
Rated: 4.56 by Intlpostman from California

Mar 22, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by SimcoeKid from California

Mar 05, 2016
Photo of TomMorris
Reviewed by TomMorris from Connecticut

4.74/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Beautiful golden chardonnay appearance; visible carbonation and zero head. Hugely complex flavor profile that transformed with everything sip. In general though, it begins with a tart smack of vibrant tropical fruits, before segueing into some more vinous, white wine characteristics. Finishes dry with lingering oakiness and acidity.

Phenomenal sour, perhaps the best I've ever had. Would love to acquire more of this.
Feb 19, 2016
 
Rated: 4.13 by AlexFields from Tennessee

Feb 12, 2016
 
Rated: 4.06 by HumanParaquat from Indiana

Jan 11, 2016
Feral Vinifera from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 98 out of 100 with 161 ratings