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Feral Vinifera
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- 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:
- 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
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
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by 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
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, 2018Batch 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
More User Ratings:
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
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, 2018The 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.
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
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, 2016Taste 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.
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
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, 2016Phenomenal sour, perhaps the best I've ever had. Would love to acquire more of this.
Feral Vinifera from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
98 out of
100 with
161 ratings
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