Violet Underground
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Violet UndergroundViolet Underground
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From:
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
Ranked #179
ABV:
5.6%
Score:
94
Ranked #2,217
Avg:
4.27 | pDev: 5.15%
Reviews:
24
Ratings:
88
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 08, 2023
Added:
Sep 17, 2015
Wants:
  15
Gots:
  9
Collaboration with The Wild Beer Co

The Rainbow Project paired seven UK and US breweries with one of seven colors of the rainbow, creating the theme of the brew. We drew violet. What followed was left to the imaginative and creative spirt among the collaborators. Violet Underground represents a partnership between The Wild Beer Co. and Firestone Walker Brewing Co. A cuvée was born from Somerset Wild, a newly minted Golden and Sunrise Raspberry ale, and Barrelwork’s blending warhouse, Cowbell. Proprietary yeast from both sides of the Atlantic, fresh local California fruit and French candied violet petals went into the cauldron. The resulting potion is bursting with ripe fresh fruit, a hint of violet petals and anchored by a funky yeast foundation. A quenching acidity and lively carbonation rounds out the collaboration. A santé!
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mctizzz:
Photo of mctizzz
Rated by mctizzz from California

4.35/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Dec 13, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of Roy_Hobbs
Reviewed by Roy_Hobbs from Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottled Feb 15, 2019. Clear & golden with a small amount of fizzy white head. Quite aromatic, with loads of funk bursting from the glass. Surprisingly, a healthy amount of barrel still comes through along with muddled fruit. I don't know how much this has evolved over the last 4+ years, but it's really tasty. Deep, barrel funk that defies explanation, but lands well. Light and lively.

Overall, I'm very pleasantly surprised at how tasty this is.
Dec 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.11 by dan_amdg from Illinois

Feb 25, 2023
Photo of DBosco
Reviewed by DBosco from Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Batch #2, bottled 2/15/19. No problems from the age, with this corked bottle. Excellent vinous aroma. Very clear, golden amber, with just a filmy head. Slightly tart, vinous oak barrel. Overall, a fine wild ale without any odd flavors.
Feb 14, 2023
 
Rated: 4.11 by BAsbill from California

Nov 06, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by bigred89 from Maryland

Apr 30, 2022
 
Rated: 3.96 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Dec 13, 2021
Photo of bluejacket74
Reviewed by bluejacket74 from Ohio

4.32/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
375 ml caged and corked bottle, Batch 002, bottled 2/15/19. Served in a Teku glass, the beer pours a mostly clear golden/amber color with about an inch white head that didn't stick around for a long time. Not much lacing at all. I like the aroma a lot, the brew smells like raspberries, oak, citrus, peach, funk and some floralness. For the most part I think the taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also the addition of some grassy/straw, vanilla and white grape flavors. It's tart and tasty! Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, it's slick and smooth with a good amount of soft carbonation. I thought this was really good, should have bought more than just the one bottle when I had the chance!
Aug 20, 2021
Photo of Roguer
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut

4.21/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Good head production, and unbelievable retention. 10-20 minutes later, and there's still a firm 1/4 finger of off-white foam. Body is a clear, lively amber, almost perfectly transparent. (Even after drinking 1/3 of the bottle; seriously, this head doesn't quit!)

On the nose barnyard funk, oak, and a light vinous sharpness lead the way. Straw and hay, pale malt; no significant presence from the raspberries or flower petals, although the latter are there in the background.

Surprisingly soft on the palate: fruit, flower, and funk combine gently, along with a touch of sour acidity and oak. Mild to moderate pucker; an intermediate sour/funky ale, not as potent as some, but not exactly for the wild/sour novice. In some fruited sours (especially lambics), the fruit might offset the sourness, but the fruit presence here is very mild - and raspberries are quite tart, anyway.

Bigger bodied than the sub-6% ABV might suggest. That works for me, but I can understand if some might prefer a lighter experience.

This is a very solid beer. The collaboration showcases what each brewery already does so well: Wild, with funky and rustic ales, Firestone with their barrel program and expertise.
Jul 12, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by ajdemma from New York

Mar 28, 2021
 
Rated: 4.1 by Taenim from Maine

Mar 01, 2021
 
Rated: 4.18 by Nunya from Ohio

Jan 17, 2021
 
Rated: 4.31 by loganburgh from Michigan

Jan 01, 2021
 
Rated: 4.35 by GreenMind from Pennsylvania

Nov 17, 2020
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Pours a fairly clear honey color with a one finger head; squiggles and dots

Smell: A lot of oak in the aroma, with the raspberry and candied violet both coming through; very floral

Taste: Tart but candied flavors forward, with the violet pronounced and the raspberry building; very oaky and somewhat vinous, through the middle, with the finish bringing both tartness on the side of the tongue and the sweetness at the tip

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with moderate to high carbonation; somewhat puckery

Overall: Quite impressive and distinctive
Nov 14, 2020
Photo of Thomas_Wikman
Reviewed by Thomas_Wikman from Texas

4.08/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: dark golden with an inch thick white head.

Aroma: raspberry, orange, lemon, perhaps violets

Flavor: tart raspberry, orange, lemon, perhaps floral notes and oak.

Body/Overall: light to medium body. It is a very good Wild ale.
Nov 04, 2020
Photo of IKR
Reviewed by IKR from California

4.27/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 02-15-2019
375 ml bottle

Appearance: Slightly straw yellow color. The beer has a generous-sized white head that slowly faded with nice good lacing. Nice looking wild ale.

Smell: Grassy/hay notes, moderate fruit notes, grapes, and mild barnyard funk notes.

Taste: Floral notes, tart berries, mild barnyard funk, and moderate citrus notes. While I wouldn't have been able to specifically point to candied violet petals as the source of the floral notes they are definitely noticeable and provide a nice contrast to the berry notes resulting in a nice level of complexity in the taste profile. The beer has a mildly dry finish.

Mouth-feel: On the light side of medium-bodied with a generous level of carbonation. The body has a nice level of heft to it for a wild ale.

Overall: A very tasty wild ale. The use of the candied violet petals provided a unique flavor profile. The beer is tasty with a unique flavor profile. Definitely worth picking up for those into sours.
Sep 28, 2020
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

4.15/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Shared with appetizers. Struck me as more saison-like after the first few sips.
Bought two bottles from Tavour. The second entered on UnTappd.

Because of their huge variety, I'm still unsure what the average Wild Looks like... but this one is fine; lively from the corked and caged bottle. Smells are like this potpourri from the flowers and petals and barrel and bret and almost whatever else the mind can reasonably imagine. Such diversity also comes together in the Taste as part of a mild approach for the main show of grapes and lemons leading this fruit medley. Present throughout, the tart finally pushes to prominence and finishes semi-dry. Lots of bubbles, cleansing for more appetizers. The hit of the first part of the meal.

I'm a big fan of FW and how the Duvel group lets FW create. I'd like to be a big fan of Wild Beer Company, but alas have only found three. Putting these two masters together in a collaboration has made my day. Cheers !
Aug 31, 2020
 
Rated: 4.18 by TheHopsman from Nebraska

Jul 13, 2020
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.42/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Bottled 2/15/19

I finally caved. My first Firestone Walker beer. I’ve heard amazing things, but the prices are always off putting. Let’s see if this was worth a $10 bottle

Pours a cloudy light orange with a finger of white head that reduces to a ring quickly

Damn that wine comes through heavy in the aroma, tons of sweet and sour grape. Not really sure what to look for in the violet petals, but there’s definitely a floral note, but I can’t tell if it’s that or the brett. Mild funk and jammy raspberries in the nose too

This one is very acidic when held in the mouth for a bit. On the front end I get tons of tart, underripe raspberry, very raw from the barrel. On the back end this comes through with more funk and grape, still quite tart, and a mild mint note, probably from the violet petals

This is light medium bodied and has moderate spritzy carbonation, which leads this to drink stupid easy. Finishes mostly dry with a wonderful tartness

Goddamn, this is incredible. Incredibly expensive, but a wonderful treat. Think I need more from these guys!
Jun 26, 2020
Violet Underground from Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 94 out of 100 with 88 ratings