Ventus (2016)
Mystic Brewery

Oh Mystic, how I'm going to miss you. Down to my last couple of c e l l a r e d Mystic offerings, today I say goodby to my last Ventus.

Probably should have drank this one sooner. It is a cider-y and tasty wild ale, but at this point it has lost some complexity. A bit too acidic. Still, a refreshing summer brew packed with memories. Cheers Mystic, to Auld Lang Syne.

a barrel fermented wild ale i have been saving for quite some time. with the news that mystic was going to shut down, and this being my last bottle of their beer, i was a little reluctant to open it and close the book on them, they have been a favorite for a long time, totally unheralded for whatever reason, but makers of some amazing fermentation forward beers, and they will be missed. this one didnt quite live up to the occasion for me, a little faded and past its prime maybe, lightly orange tinted golden from the cork and caged little bottle, no sediment at all and high shine, but no head either, quite still. it smells like heavy white wine, i assume those are the barrels this was done in, but it doesnt say on the minimalist label. i get some white vinegar in nose and taste, some white pepper spiciness, fading bread grains, and a little stone fruit and marmalade thing too. it has an almost lambic sourness and feel, but is missing the funk side, not as bretty as i thought this would be, more acidic, citric, its good, but its not quite as refined as i was hoping for, nor as interesting, mystic beer always has such an identity to me, and this one is a little samey as they go. dried apricot, fresh lemon, and sharp white wine through the finish, plenty of oak on it, some tannins, and almost no carbonation at all. a fun beer because of who these guys are/were, but its a relic now, past its moment. hoping to find some bottles from them lingering around if i make it back east this summer, i dont want this to be over...

 

375 ml bottle into tulip glass, 2016 vintage. Pours lightly hazy medium golden yellow color with a small dense of white head with poor retention, that reduces to nothing pretty quickly. No glass lacing, some clinging bubbles and streaming carbonation. Aromas of big tart/sour lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, apricot, pineapple, mango, melon, guava, berries, red/green apple, white grape/wine, oak, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, and white bread dough; with lighter notes of oaken vanilla, peppercorn, leathery/musty funk, white wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, oak barrels, and pale/wheat malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big tart/sour lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, apricot, pineapple, mango, melon, guava, berries, red/green apple, white grape/wine, oak, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, and white bread dough; with lighter notes of oaken vanilla, peppercorn, leather/musty funk, white wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Light-moderate lactic tart/sourness, wine tang, and light Brett/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart/sour lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, apricot, pineapple, mango, melon, guava, berries, red/green apple, white grape/wine, oak, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, light pepper/leather/funk/vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, oak barrels, and pale/wheat malt flavors; with a great malt/tart/sourness and oak/wine tang balance; with no puckering flavors after the finish. Fairly crisp finishing. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering tart/sourness and oak/wine tang after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/grainy, and fairly acidic/tangy/tannic mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 6%. Overall this is a fantastic sour/wild ale. All around fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, oak barrels, and pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth and fairly crisp/refreshing to drink with the modestly acidic/tangy/tannic/drying finish; not overly lactic. Amazingly well rounded Brett/Bacteria complexity; with great oak presence, and pale/wheat malts against acidity. Mild residual sweetness with lingering crisp acidic dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and spot on style example as expected of the brewery. Aged wonderfully.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good starting head but dissipates quickly. It leaves a few chunky spots on the glass as it goes down. The color is light gold/dark straw with a solid haze.

Light pale malt with a strong sourness to the nose. I get lemon and other citrusy aromas. Light bite smell.

Think lemon drops when tasting this beer. While the citrus sourness is completely dominant, there is enough sweetness to bring complexity. The flavor is very close to a neutral (no fruit) Lambic. The finish and aftertaste is like concentrated lemonade. The body is full and the carbonation low. Easy to drink given the style.

 

Clear gold, highly effervescent, with a thin half-finger of bright white head that quickly dissipates into a crown.

Nice sour aroma with oak behind and an almost floral quality.

Not quite as mouth-puckering as the nose suggests, but still nice and tart. Fruity, light. Sour apple. Pear. Just a hint of the wood.

Lightly syrupy with good carbonation and a prickly bite in the mouthfeel.

Pleasant, clean-tasting sour. Not quite the same depth of flavor as the classics, but very strong nonetheless.

 

Bottle poured into fluted snifter at the brewery.

Thin white foamy head sits atop a red tinted golden brew. Active carbonation.

Aroma has a hint of sweet tart citrus, deep earthy oak, herbal spiciness and a bit of funk.

Tart and sweet citrus with a touch of funk and doughy malts. Bit of cracker and earthy grass.

Moderate carbonation and medium body. Crisp and refreshing.

Overall a delicious and well made brew. Clean flavors.

 

 

 

12.68 oz. bottle

Pours foggy hazy amber gold with a quickly receding thin white foam head. Smells really funky and musty with some tart oranges, apricots, peppery spice, oak barrel, smoke, hay, with earthy grassy pine. Tastes like tart oranges, musty apricots, peppery spice, oak barrel, mild smoke, funky hay, bready malt, with earthy grassy pine. Feels medium-light bodied, creamy with moderate carbonation. Overall a really nice barrel-fermented wild ale.