Feral One Batch 4
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Pours a clear amber with soft, wispy head.

Smell is tart with tons of oak notes and some backing by citrus peel, white wine and a hint of vanilla and mint.

Taste is tart, and still very, very oaky. Hints of vanilla and bourbon with bigger notes of white wine and citrus creeping up. Ther's a hint of butter on the finish and the whole thing is bone dry.

Mouthfeel is medium, with sparkling carbonation.

Overall, a very nice, balanced sour, where the barrels take the lead and run with it.

Good head production and decent retention for a wild ale. Nose is pleasantly funky, oaky, and tart, not unlike a gueuze, but lacking that earthy cheesy quality. Tannins, vinegar, oak, vanilla, white grape, leather, pear.

Very lively mouthfeel, with a medium body that's nearly perfect to deliver the flavor profile. Not quite puckering enough to make you slow down and sip, so it's really on the drinker to savor this at an appropriate pace. Relatively long finish; lacks the dryness of a gueuze.

Flavor profile is similar to the nose: moderate tannins, tea, pear, white grape, leather, oak, vanilla. Mildly sour and moderately funky.

This is an excellent wild ale overall. No fruit necessary; not crazily sour or funky; just a good and easy drinking representation of the style. Obviously wild ale aficionados are the target audience, but I think it's approachable enough that a novice might find it enjoyable, as well.

 

Bottle Date: 1/9/17
Palate Contaminants: other beer

Another rendition of the Feral One. I'll run through this quickly.

Look: Like III, color is clear gold. Not much head.

Smell: More like II, menthol, melon, cilantro, and funky candy.

Taste: More like III. Underripe citrus, zinfandel, slightly lactic.

Feel: Feel and aftertaste are the best parts. Some fruit, heavy weight for the type, not particularly prickly, warming. It's almost like it got topped with a lemon-lime soda.

I plagarized myself. I'll admit.

 

Good wild though not the best even today, very drinkable bottle. at venice source location. very nice blend french oak and american.taste a little watered down.

 

 

 

Love these small batch wild ale series. They have all been tasty! And worth the money.

 

AKA Feral One Batch 4

Appearance: Arrives at the bar a clear goldenstraw with a fluffy head that coats the glass with lacing

Smell: Funky and bready tones with a hint of lemon

Taste: Slightly bready, at the outset, with building lemon tartness; funky, through the middle; with the tart lemon tones dominating the back end

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with moderate carbonation; puckery

Overall: A refreshing, tart beer for the summer