Wild Is The Will
Stillwater Artisanal Ales

 

 

L: Amber color with slight off white head.
S: Fruity but tart. Some earthy notes that add depth to the beer.
T: Citrus tart up front with funky earthy tones after the first sip.
F: Clean feel in mouth. Tart, but refreshing. A little bit of carbonation.
O: Another solid sour beer by Stillwater.

No canning date

Pours a clear copper-gold with two fingers of off-white head; solid bits of lacing and good head retention, with a foamy cap ultimately reducing to a thin film covering the surface.

Aromas of a citric acidity atop smooth notes of cedar bark, a slight earthy sweetness, and pine needles; tightly-composed and a nice balance of tart and sweet.

Taste follows the aroma with good consistency, bringing plenty of softened citric tartness in balance with near-sweet notes of earthy pine, tree bark, and a cedar tone that embraces a subtle but building bitterness.

Mouthfeel is effortlessly clean for the style, only smoothing out further the longer it sits; an easy medium body with just a hint of prickly carbonation that pairs well with the balanced tartness; finish is refreshing and a bit sticky.

Straightforward, easily enjoyable, and very approachable sour; notes of cedar and other earthiness are light and allow the base beer to shine as something uncomplicated but not betraying its subtleties.

16 ounce can into tulip glass; no can dating, but is a recent release. Pours slightly hazy medium golden amber color with a 2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big sour/tart lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, red/green apple, white wine, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berries, cedar, citrus peel/zest, peppercorn, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light leather/musty funk, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, citrus/tropical hops, cedar, and pale/wheat malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big sour/tart lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, red/green apple, white wine, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berries, cedar, citrus peel/zest, peppercorn, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light leather/musty funk, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate lactic tart/sourness, yeast/cedar spiciness, and light Brett tang on the finish. Lingering notes of sour/tart lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, red/green apple, white wine, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berries, cedar, citrus peel/zest, peppercorn, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light leather/musty funk, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, citrus/tropical hops, cedar, and pale/wheat malt flavors; with an awesome malt/tart/sourness and spicy yeast/cedar balance; with no puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering sour/tart/tangy and spicy yeast after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy/acidic, and fairly crisp/tangy/tannic balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5%. Overall this is an awesome sour/wild ale. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, citrus/tropical hops, cedar, and pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth and fairly crisp/refreshing to drink with the modestly acidic/tangy/drying finish, not overly lactic. Awesome balance of juicy hops and Brett/Bacteria complexity; with nice cedar presence, and pale/wheat malt backbone against acidity. A really enjoyable offering, and spot on style example as expected.