Bianca Blackberry Wild Wild Brett
Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project

 

 

 

Had this at Hops and Pie during Sour Fest 2019 in Denver, CO.

Red pour, slightly a more ruby, darker version, not bright red but not crimson either. 1/3" white/pink colored head. I think the blackberries are nice here, they don't smell like feet like they do sometimes. The lactose for me drowns out the brett because I wasn't feeling it at this stage.

Taste, I think there are nightmares on brett elements here, but this is better. The blackberry is well done. I assume it must be Omnipollo who decided to put lactose in it. Its not enormous, but I don't think it really helps the beer, especially the brett aspect. Has a wine like aspect to it for sure, but its like it took the acidity from a white wine and dropped it into this red wine like body and influence. Sourness and acidity get stronger as it warms, so there really isn't much palate adjustment to it. Kinda scary to think how sour and acidic it could be without the lactose. Dig the little bit of leather hint alongside the blackberry, like I said, its like it was aged in a red wine barrel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

375ml bottle, no dating.

Pours a hazy dark red, a finger of slightly pinkish foam, head retention excellent.

Blackberry aromas are inviting. Brett is there, has an apple cider like tartness on top of the blackberries.

Blackberries bring a tasty tartness, some apple cider like vinegar, vinous, tannin like, Brett is mild but ever present. Very dry finish.

Medium bodied with very lively carbonation.

Truly delicious and I am enjoying every sip. A hit with my palate.

 

Would I buy this again? Definitely. Its very good and I wish Id bought the whole series.

Presentation: 375mL brown bottle with no dates. Served in a Rastal Harmony glass.

Appearance: The two finger, light pink head goes away fairly quickly and leaves behind a thin ring that stays until the end and some lacing in patches. It's a beautiful, bright crimson color.

Smell: It's sweet and fruity with notes of blackberry, some green apple and a hint of lemon. There's also a subtle funk in the background as well.

Taste: It's tart, fruity and juicy with a lot of blackberry flavor. The milkiness from the lactose shows up more in the aftertaste as a counterbalance to the strong fruit character but it never really takes over, which is nice.

Mouthfeel: It's smooth and quite creamy but it still retains some crispness from the medium carbonation.

Overall: Blackberry is by far the most dominant note on this beer but the rest of the flavors and aromas do a good job of keeping it form being one-dimensional. A very well made and interesting beer.

Pours a burgundy red with taste of berries. Solid darkness and sourness with good complexity in the overall. Almost taste like a wine but is actually a beer.

While the brewers at Crooked Stave once again host a brewing cooperation with Omnipollo, they bring their special microflora to the table while the blackberry ale recipe comes from Stockholm. So, great minds are souring alike once more.

Deep burgundy and with light lavender overtone, the dark looking ale carries a racy froth with loose structure. As the acidity breaks down the foam, the scent arises with the robust tang of blackberry and a backdrop of citrus, cider, wine and the light pungency of sea air. Light candy lays upon the tongue with the strong suggestions of hard blackberry candies along with a wafer-like breadiness and smooth vanilla cream.

As the low lying sweetness begins to dissolve on the middle palate, the tartness of blackberry rumbles onward and links up beautifully with the natural sourness of lime, lemon, red grape, currant, gooseberry, crabapple and kiwi. As a light mustiness builds, a peppery and vinous taste trends highly wine-like with rustic nuance of leather and damp burlap.

Bright acidity keeps the session light, sparkling and highly refreshing, but the woven smoothness of milk sugars keep the textures creamy with rolling vanilla. Light earth chases a mild briny finish into an aftertaste of blackberry juice, red wine and sourdough.