Preternatural Cuvee 2
Stillwater Artisanal Ales

There was once a time when wine and ale had no distinction. Anything fermentable and available went into making an alcoholic concoction. As we, as a society have advanced, we created rules about what raw ingredients create which beverage. But that old world of making beer has been lost. ...until now.

Preternatural Cuvee 2 is Stillwater Ales opportunity to go back and blend the worlds of beer and wine with Farmhouse-styled Saison that pours a billowing and bubbly appearance embedded in a pale amber-chrome color. As the funky, fruity, refresh and earthen aromas align for an extended age wine perfume. It's steely caramel flavor is mildly sweet with honey, wafer and sourdough.

The bounty of fruit immediately starts to bounce off of the middle palate with the strong taste of grape juice, must and robust wines playing a large part in the beer's taste. With the help of green apple, cherry, plum, cranberry and currant ebbing and flowing through the session, its a finish of grapefruit, lime, lemon and pear that all seem weathered and dried. Mild bitterness gives way to a stern and mossy sourness that plays out like hay, pepper, acetone and dried oak on the late palate.

Medium light in body but showing a plethora of complexity, the beer trends woodsy and dry with strong echoes of wine left in its wake, the beer's efforts are truly appreciated but its taste is also complicated as it lumbers the palate as well.

 

Orange body with a ring of bubbles. Vinous influences fills the smell, with the grape in particular standing out, huge oak, peach, funk and rye. Taste is warm with slight rye breadiness to go with the wine, grape must, oak, peach, pear and herbs. Feel is rustically coarse, yeasty smooth, and warm.