Habanango
Brewery Vivant

$ 14.33 (including tax)/500 mL capped bottle ($ 0.877/oz) from Riverside Liquors, Grand Rapids, MI.
No date, but label says 2016, stored at 42 degrees and served at 45 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 3.
Body – Golden yellow, clear, slight effervescence.
Head – Small (Maximum 1.5 cm, aggressive pour), white, medium density with rocks, rapidly diminishing to a one mm ring fed by effervescence and a partial layer one bubble thick.
Lacing – Poor. A very thin line of bubbles is the extent of the “lacing”.
Pour – Light yellow, clear.
Aroma – 3.5 - Fruity. As it warms, some habanero comes through.
Flavor – 3.5 -Begins slightly sweet and fruity, morphs into some habanero heat and some just noticeable sourness at the end. Slightly sticky. Some gastric burning is present. No oak from the foeder, no malt, no hops, no alcohol, no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide.
Palate – 3 – Light, watery, soft carbonation, nearly flat.
Impression and summation – 3.5 – While the body is quite attractive, the lack of lacing is disturbing. The palate is unremarkable. The aroma isn’t bad, but lacks the odd odors and funkiness associated (and expected) from fermentation with wild yeast. The flavor itself definitely leans to its habanero heritage at the expense of the expected flavors from the yeast and foeder. The gastric burn is as expected form chili beer. Calling this “a sour ale” as it does on the label borders on false advertising.

 

 

Too sweet on the mango made this brew like a juice, did not have enough habanero heat. Also nothing about it was sour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A - Pours a hazy gold with a one finger fizzy white head. The head recedes to a thin ring leaving a good amount of soapy lacing.

S - Aroma is light habanero, mango, lemon, green apple and some light oak.

T - The taste follows the aroma. Sour mango, lemon, green apple, funky Brett and some light oak. Finishes with a lingering habanero heat.

M - Light bodied with medium carbonation. Crisp smooth mouthfeel with a dry finish.

O - One of the better pepper beers I've had. The funky Brett and mango work well with the lingering habanero. Very balanced and easy drinking.

 

500 ml bottle into tulip glass; no bottle dating, but is a recent release. Pours hazy golden yellow color with a 1 finger dense white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of lightly tart mango, peach, apricot, pineapple, strawberry, lemon, pear, pepper, white wine, oak, cracker, bread, hay, straw, light funk, and yeast/oak earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/earthy yeast, mango/habanero, oak, and moderate pale malt notes; with good strength. Taste of lightly tart mango, peach, apricot, pineapple, strawberry, lemon, pear, pepper, white wine, oak, cracker, bread, hay, straw, light funk, and yeast/oak earthiness. Light fruit tartness and habanero/yeast/tannic oak spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of mango, peach, apricot, pineapple, strawberry, lemon, pear, pepper, white wine, cracker, bread, hay, straw, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/earthy yeast, mango/habanero, oak, and moderate pale malt flavors; with a great malt/tart/spiciness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Lightly drying from tart/spiciness as well. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, lightly acidic/tannic, and grainy/creamy balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Minimal warming alcohol; with very mild pepper heat building up through the glass. Overall this is a very nice fruited Brett wild ale. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/earthy yeast, mango/habanero, oak, and moderate pale malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink, with the balanced tartness and pepper spice. A very enjoyable offering.

 

 

 

S: sweet, sugary tropical fruit, light pepper, mango
T: Sour, habanero pepper spice, mango, light oak, bubblegum
M: Light with good carbonation
O: Very nice blend of spice, sour and sweet fruit