St. Bretta Citrus Wildbier Gold Nugget Mandarin
Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project

Poured cold from bottle dated May 2015 into a tulip glass. Clear, pale yellowish-orange in appearance, with a voluminous white head that left a bit of spotty lacing as it settled. Light malt, lots of orange, lemon, and orange zest on the nose and palate. It has that nice "funky" character typical of brett beers, with zesty bitterness, citric sourness, and a pleasantly dry finish. This was quite lovely with four years of age on it.

July 8th, 2015 - The tasters through the tour of Crooked Stave continue with the Gold Nugget Mandarin. Brighter than the Surettes, it has a smell that has a direct ancestry to Hoegaarden, soft and full with a yeast and savory bread note that always gets me salivating. The flavor is soft and cushy, with the slightest touch of citrus. In the aftertaste is a long puff of wheat with freshly squeezed orange. Delicate, balanced this is another stellar beer from Crooked Stave, though softer and more reserved than the sour brews previously.

 

Clear, pale golden with a thin, white head. The smell is (surprise!) Brett-forward with citrus notes and a touch earthy and floral. Taste is also Brett and citrus - balanced, but simple. Not quite as dry of a mouthfell as I was expecting from an almost two-year-old bretted beer. Overall, nice for what it is, but their other offerings are better.

Pours a foggy straw with a twinge of orange. The beer turns from slightly foggy to murky and opaque when completely emptying the bottle. Head forms up a little over a finger, and is white. Lacing is completely absent. Brettamyces and sour funk give the aroma an immediate punch, with wonderful juicy orange, and citrus notes underneath. Flavor profile follows closely with the aroma. Sour funk punch up front, with more and more orange and citrus notes popping out as the sour funk taste fades. A nice, and balanced dynamic between the two notes. A subtle biscuity malt finish rounds out the flavor profile well. Mouth feel is bubbly, with a medium consistency and thickness. Overall, a fun, funky ale. The citrus and orange stand out on this one well, even if plenty of sour funkiness happening.

Served in a 12 oz snifter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

wow! I had previously written off the st Bretta series as a beer that I didn't love from stave...but of course ended up picking up some of the more recent versions and have been blown away by them. they really have revamped this series and this one is a winner. really nice citric notes on a soft golden sour ale. drinking amazing right now.