Nocturn Chrysalis
Jester King Brewery

 

RB transfer

 

 

As compared to its Belgian rivals, this sour fruit beer is bolder and more assertive. While it’s very good, I prefer the subtler profile of the major Belgian Lambic competitors.

 

8oz draught pour at the brewery ran $9 USD plus tax and tip...ouch.

Tart blackberries dominate. Those after a truly sour ale will be let down...this isn't highly bacterial or acidic. Depth of flavour is limited in comparison to Belgian cassis sours. Not much farmhouse, microfloral, or oak flavour is present.

Balanced and enjoyable. Fruit skin, grape skin, blackberry jam.

Not a top tier sour ale by any stretch, but certainly a good one. Those who can justify paying far more than what Cantillon charges for a substantially inferior imitation of a Belgian cassis will enjoy this one for sure, but as good as it is for an American effort I'll probably limit my experience of it to just the one pour.

High B / GOOD

 

 

 

 

Deep, dark ruby body, mostly clear, with a frothy, flamingo pink head that has low retention, lasting maybe half a minute.
Sour berry aroma - blackberry, cassis, dark cherry - and a distinct mustiness; expecting some funk out of this, and good acidity.
Tart berry on the tongue, aged to a low fruitiness, with the yeast providing a prominent smoky funk towards the finish; not bracingly tart, just refreshing and softly puckering; everything is in balance and playing a role; low acidity, with a dry finish, clean feel; medium carbonation, sharp and fine, with a medium body, a touch watery.

A sophisticated experience, don't expect 'fruity', but a well moderated, intriguing profile.

 

Blend 9. 5.9 percent abv. Opened with a gusher, so my first impression of this beer was “great, now I have to clean this up.” Looks like a glass of really dark grape soda, but a much longer lasting fluffy head. Smell is strongly tart funk and a mild blueberry undercurrent. Taste leads with funky Brett characteristics, milder blueberry flavors than on the smell. Dry finish, subtle booze presence, extremely easy sipper. Excellent example of the style, but I’d like more blueberry flavor.

 

Blend 8 - Bottled January 2022

Finally, it’s time to try a Jester King beer, the funk kings of Texas. I’ve been meaning to try their bers for a long time and I’vee recently seen some of their beers popping up at my local store so I just had to grab this one. This is standard fare Wild Ale aged on Marion blackberries, and it sounds like a treat. Let’s get into it

Pours a slightly cloudy deep purple with 2 fingers of pinkish white head that quickly fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing

Wow, this is incredibly jammy in the nose with a nice funk to it. I’m picking up aromas of jammy blackberry, lemon yogurt, wheat bread, raspberry sorbet, sharp oak, red wine vinegar, and light leather

It’s even more biting in taste but it doesn’t cross over into abrasive territory. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting jammy blackberry, tart raspberry, lemon zest, red wine, wet hay, sharp oak, and light black pepper. The swallow brings notes of jammy blackberry, tannic red wine, raspberry sorbet, black pepper, straw, lime juice, black cherry, wheat bread, and light oak

A medium body pairs with gentle tingling carbonation, resulting in a tart and sharp beer. Finishes a bit sticky and coats the mouth but it doesn’t completely ruin it

Odd mouthfeel aside, this is great stuff. Gentle and nuanced, yet boldly fruity with a balanced funk. I need to try more of their stuff

 

Very dark violet body with a white ring. Smell has bretty funk up front with blackberry and oak barrel supporting. Taste instead leads with blackberry now with both brett, and barnyard funk slight lemon juice, and oak supporting. Tart and light, elegant drinking, decent carbonation lifts the end of the sip, big time funk in the feel. Top tier name of a beer

Bottle. Thanks!

Rich black raspberry juice with the marionberry blend of blackberry and red raspberry lending a currant note. Mild pencil shavings. Nice wheat depth. Restrained acidity and the fruit does hide the funk a little bit.