Lost In The Trees
Fullsteam Brewery

A collaborative beer between Fullsteam and the indie group Lost in the Trees, this is the first offering in Fullsteam's Forager Collective (i.e., beers brewed with ingredients harvested by the local community). This particular beer is a "6% ABV Belgian-inspired session ale brewed with North Carolina figs." Two kegs made.

Poured into a half-pint glass. The color of Sweddish cottages [Falu red] with just a contact lens rim of head. Just about no lacing.

Smells of sweet malts and diluted dark fruits. This actually resembles the aroma of fresh wort - sugary, bready/grainy, somewhat earthy. A bit muted.

Tastes of caramel malts, honey, toasty grain, and the pits of stone fruit more than dark prunus fruit itself. Minor yeasty spiciness comes through on the finish. Especially as it warms, I do pick up the addition of fig halfway through the palate. It resembles honey-drizzled pear and apricot. I'm just not convinced the fig translates too well here, but it certainly doesn't hurt the beer.

Medium-bodied, but with medium-low to low carbonation (too low for the style). Slightly dry and chalky finish.

I found this to be quite drinkable, sweet, and somewhat straightforward. As a "Belgian-inspired session" beer, it's enjoyable enough, and my harshness here is partly in appropriating it to the Dubbel style.

I anticipate further offerings from Fullsteam, particularly of the adventurous type. In fact, even more adventure would do this beer some good (e.g., move away from "Belgian-inspired session" and towards true Dubbel, kicking it up a notch).