Framboise
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

 

Draft at 44 Canteen. Poured out a clear, ruby color with a small, khaki-colored head of foam. It left sudsy sheets of lace. It smelled of tart raspberries, lemon and dark fruits. Sweet raspberry taste with a very sour bite.

 

Dark red pour with a fast disappearing yet lacing violet head. Raspberry and wine nose and a real silky mouthfeel. Flavor is tart (but not too tart) berries, and earthy funk with a lengthy deep fruit finish. Beautifully done. On the same level as the top quality Belgian wild ales.

 

Look - Love the raspberry pinkish red color. Looks thick with a foamy pink head and lacing
Smell and Taste - great tart raspberry with a slight barrel
Feel - Medium body and Carb
Overall - pretty great

 

 

truly elite, as good as any firestone walked fruited wild beer ive had, and that is really saying a lot, they kill it in this space, still really the best of what they do, and this is a standout even in this line, insane, and one of my favorite beers of the year this year so far. its fruited to high heaven yes, about as colorful as beer gets, dripping crimson, pink headed from the tap, fizzy like a soda, absurd color saturation. the nose is killer too, tart tight fruit, real as it gets, but its not just about the fruit, which is crazy, because in many ways it is, but like, that the base beer is a blend of their saison and a flanders red type can also be appreciated, light vinegar from the flanders part, wheaty heft from the saison, a soft lemony ester highlighting the berries, complimentary acidity the whole way, this isnt just a whatever base with gobs of fruit, its intentional, original, and darn smart. its also nuts to me that this can be as dry as it is, the natural tannins and the acid of the berries, the vinous notes of the base beer with the oak influence, and the longer conditioning time all yield a real drinkable beer thats not sugary at all, but also the essence of the fruit is not compromised in the least, its gorgeous. nuances of strawberry, red rose, and springy pink wine, its mouthwatering in the aroma, quenching in the flavor, and it comes back to the palate in a really pretty way after each sip. some nice woody maturity to it, but also a delicate vibe despite the fruit intensity. good carbonation, not a ton of body, piquant without being real sour, nice funk, the saison comes out more and more as this warms and it evolves favorably. i hope to find bottles of this around, its epic, as good as an american brewer has ever done calling something a framboise as far as i am concerned, do not miss this one, if this was a lambic from one of the heavies, people would go mental. tip top!

 

 

 

Pours red like raspberry skin (shocker as it has 4000 lbs in recipe). Head is very volcanic and pinkish/red in color. Nose is has a tartness from again the raspberries. Taste is sour at first and then it fades to a reasonable tartness. Great Wild Ale