Belgian Pale - Brettanomyces
Westbrook Brewing Co.

A: Poured from a growler to a tulip glass. Had a dark red color and a cloudy consistency. There was a small amount of foamy head that lasted a fair amount of time. Average lacing.

S: A sweet, fruity and enticing aroma. Fruit seems to dominate the smell.

T: Tasted of lots of fruit (cherry, passionfruit), a bit of malt, a healthy shot of yeast, and a hint of hops. Extremely vibrant and sweet flavor. Tasty.

M: A decent amount of carbonation with a smooth, silky finish. Medium-bodied.

O: An interesting, well done, and drinkable Belgian Pale Ale.

Westbrook Brett & No Mices
Growler poured into a tulip

Belgium pale ale, dry hoppped, brewed with Brettanomyces, and aged in red wine barrels for 11 months.

A: Pours a very hazy light brown/amber with only the faintest light tan colored head which dissipates immediately. Leaves small patches of spotty lacing.  

S: Powerful aromas that hit you well before your nose gets anywhere close to the glass!  Sour apple, sour pear, belgium yeast banana, lemon, slight funk, sour cherry.  Awesome aroma!  

T: Wet hay like funk, earthy, fresh banana, slightly tart, a little bit of peppery spice, a slight oak/woody character, and a hint of vanilla.  Not  nearly the fruit or sour punch that the nose implied, which is a bit of a let down.   Becomes more tart as it warms, but the fruit notes never come out. I really didnt get any vinous/red wine notes either.  

M/D: Medium bodied, somewhat drying on the finish.  Under carbonated, which may be the result of the growler, although it was filled yesterday from a keg that was tapped the same day, so the growler might not be the cause.  Either way, its an issue for me.  

O: Overall, pretty good offering here.  Wonderful aroma, but the taste doesn't quite live up to the nose, and the under carbonation is a fault.  That being said, still quite good and Ill have no trouble finishing the rest of the growler.  

 

 

On-tap at the Westbrook tasting room on 7/21/11. Graciously served by Mrs. Morgan Westbrook herself, quite a treat on my birthday! This is also dry-hopped, but I'm not sure what with.

Pours a hazy orange with a creamy white head that fades to a thick ring and haze. Funky Brett aromas dominate the nose wonderfully, along with tropical hop flavors (getting a lot of passion fruit) and some slightly sweet malt. Not as tart as the nose implied, instead the Brett takes a strong stance and adds an amazingly complex earthy quality despite being so young. Still getting some of the tropical flavors the nose suggested, but it's subdued. Medium-bodied, with a fairly crisp mouth-feel. This was easily the highlight of the trip, and I happened to spy more of this sitting in oak barrels, so I can't wait to see what it becomes in 6 months!