Once Upon A Time In Blenheim
8 Wired Brewing Co.

 

L: Visually this is a stunning beer. Pours a nice golden color with constant effervescence. Definitely looks like a cross between a classic lager and a high end champagne.
S: This beer's 3 years aged on Sauvignon Blanc grapes shows strongly in the scent. Very lovely grape smell but watch out for those forceful bubbles, they fight back.
T: Delightfully similar to drinking a fruity wine. This beer aged remarkably well yielding a a strong grape flavor with hints of the oak it aged in and a slight note of vanilla.
F: Has the bite of a sour and the mouth feel of a sparkling wine. Works surprisingly well.
O: Decided to finally crack open my 2014 vintage bottle and boy was it a treat. This is a delicious beer that is only hampered by the fact that I know I will never have another glass.

absolutely epic, 2014 vintage, super mature, strong for a lambic, but a beer i am thrilled to have bought multiples of, now that its in full maturity, its drinking beautifully, never really had anything quite like this. not sure if its three years in the barrels, or a blend of three vintages like a gueuze type, but its so unique it already sort of defies categorization, except to say that its quite obviously spontaneous! the beer is a slightly hazy golden once we get to the bottom of the bottle, pours with some fizz but it settles out fast, and it looks brassy and flat after a minute. aroma is all time though, the sauvignon blanc juice rather apparent, funky and fruity and tart, woody as can be too, tannic but not grossly acidic, and the bretty element of the wild profile is really well developed, super impressive here, and my mouth waters to taste it. so much fruit on this, almost like a new school southern hemisphere dry hop the grapes contribute so much! kiwi fruit, honeydew melon, tangerine, white wine, vanilla oak, and a truly wild lambic fermentation profile thats way different than belgium obviously, but passes as far as i am concerned. way mature, well blended, and so distinctive, really not too sour, and one of the more interesting wild beers i have had so far this year. stoked to have another bottle, ill sit on it awhile and see what happens. if you are lucky enough to find this, do not pass it up, its truly like no other, and all i shared the bottle with loved it!

edit: amazing how well this is holding up, more than two years after original review, seems even more refined now, wonderful clarity and fizziness, the grape is identifiable right away still, and i am amazed at how refined it all seems. just gorgeous, bulletproof in the cellar, one of a kind! a standout from our grape beer session last night!

 

Appearance is a crystal clear, deep golden color with a 2” white fluffy foam cap, active bubbles, quick fade, nose of lacto, slight oak funk, white wine juice must, hint of green apple. The taste is woody, vinous grape skin, green apple skins, mild lemon peel, touch of white pepper and subtle funk. Mouth-feel is Champagne like, slick, thin to medium body, medium to high carbonation and a dry finish with lingering green apple and mild apricot notes. Overall flavor is very balanced; this ale was aged for 3 years in oak barrels and was 100% spontaneously fermented with Marlborough region Sauvignon Blanc juice from Cirro Wines. The alcohol content is well concealed and the crisp dryness in the finish makes your tasted buds clamber for another sip.
Make sure to buy 2 of these bottles, one to drink now and 1 to cellar.

 

A 500ml bottle, 2014 vintage, with a best before date of 24th November 2025. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.

Appearance: A very nice clear golden colour with a two finger white head that dissipated quickly and left behind no lacing.

Aroma: Funky, barnyard, oak, vanilla, white grape and a touch of lemon juice.

Taste: Tart and sour, white grape, vinous, lemon, green apple, oak, funk and vanilla.

Mouthfeel: Dry, medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Overall: Maybe the oak and vanilla flavours were a little strong and overpowering, but I think it was saved a bit by the Sauvignon Blanc flavours which came through nicely.