Raritea - Freak Of Nature Oolong
Stillwater Artisanal Ales

Draft at The Farmers' Cabinet in Philadelphia, PA.

Pours a cloudy, pale golden yellow color with a two finger frothy white head that has excellent retention, only very slowly fading into a lasting ring. Chunks of soapy lacing left behind.

Funky, slightly herbal aroma with a musty barnyard quality along with acetic vinegar, light fruit and herbal tea notes.  Lots of lemony citrus and dark tea leaf.

Medium bodied with a tart, puckering mouthfeel and a decent level of sourness without being harsh or acidic.   Lots of sweet citrus with a strong lemon peel presence countering the and subtle funk and earthy tea flavors.  Really refreshing and easy to drink with a prominent herbal tea leaf presence toward the slightly dry finish.  This beer pulls off the tough task of being really unique while remaining flavorful and sessionable.   I'm excited to try the other variations in this series.  

First had: on tap at Farmers' Cabinet, Philly, PA

The Raritea line was part of Stillwater's 3x8 series brewed specially for Philly Beer Week 2012. Three breweries (Evil Twin, Cabinet, and Stillwater) each worked on one beer brewed or aged in 8 different ways. Stillwater's contribution, Raritea, was a brett-fermented saison, brewed with 8 different types of tea from the Rare Tea Cellar.

Of the 3 projects, I think Stillwater's came out the best, and had the most distinctiveness, even if they were still mostly subtle differences.

Hazy, pale yellow pour with a wispy white head; minimal retention and lacing. Aroma of pithy lemon and mild grassy funk, touch of soapiness. Taste of softly sour citrus, apple skin, herbal tea, biscuity malts, and again, a little soapy, but well within tolerable levels. Light-medium body, and nice overall, but not among the better of the series.