Escoffier Bretta Ale
Brewery Vivant

 

 

August 2017 Bottling, drunk on 3-22-19

Slightly hazy copper, thin white head, not much retention but good lace
Smells like munich malt, grapes, bread, caramel, and malt vinegar
Flat flavor: a bit bready, a bit fruity, sherry and malt vinegar sourness, some cardboard
Low carb, isn't a big bodied beer, but feels heavy
Maybe I should have drunk this younger

 

 

 

Had on tap. Copper brown with a beige head. Caramel malts, orange, subtle brett, apricot, and a hint of raisin in the nose. Doesn't seem to feature brett strongly. This is even more so in the taste, lacking definition without it, get apricot, grape, prune, and orange more than anything. Feel is malty, chewy, warm, and has a brett dryness but only for a brief moment. Just doesn't hit the mark for me

 

 

Appearance: A bit of a gusher, but once that was addressed the beer pours a brilliant copper color with a massive head; nice stickage and lacing that sheets

Smell: Caramel, yeast, banana and funk

Taste: Caramel tones, up front, with rotting fruit tartness developing - fortified white wine grape, apricot and banana; the funk builds, after the swallow and both tart and funk flavors linger on the palette through the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: An interesting beer that is likely beyond its prime; the combination of the sweetness from the malt and the tartness from the wild yeast strains makes me think that there is more at work here than just the Brett; the flavors aren't great and it reminds me a bit of an Oloroso sherry

16oz can from IAmJacksHopTongue that I have kept for almost 2 years now. Served in a goblet.

Pours a brilliant copper with a finger and a half manilla froth. The head fades quickly to a thin ring and a little surface haze, leaving nothing in the way of lace.

The aroma is very assertive with yeasty barnyard funk. Some malty wet hay and vaguely sugary sweetness lingers in the background. Lighter notes of spice and mild fruit also make appearances.

The flavor is considerably better than the nose led me to expect. Over ripe fruit, white wine, wet hay, yeasty funk, old vegitables, mild clove, simple syrup, candi sugar and a little alcohol. This almost comes across like a funky mead. Lots of fruit and funk with a nice booze bite.

Medium full body with faint carbonation. Finish is dry with funk, meady sweetness and a little spice.

I'm not much of a wild ale aficionado but Escoffier is some good stuff. The heft of it's body and the sweetness give this an edge over most other wild ales I've tried. I can't speak to what this was like when fresh in late 2012 but this particular can was delicious.

 

Great beer that changes over time