Crooked Stave Persica | Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
Brewed by:
Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
Colorado, United States
crookedstave.com
Style: American Wild Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Aged 9 months in oak barrels with peaches.
Batch 1 - 7/2012 - 750ml
Batch 2 - 10/2014 - Blends #1 (yellow wax) & #2 (orange wax) in 375ml
Batch 3 - 4/2016 - 375ml (no wax)
Added by MasterSki on 07-17-2012
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 25 | Ratings: 170
4.96/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Intense aroma of fresh cut peaches balanced by a playful Brett funk that Crooked Stave does so well. The flavor follows, a sour bite up front giving way to an intense fresh peach flavor (so often very muted in peach sours.) This beer makes me gush with superlatives. It is a precious liquid. Thinking about makes my mouth water.
★ 328 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Intense aroma of fresh cut peaches balanced by a playful Brett funk that Crooked Stave does so well. The flavor follows, a sour bite up front giving way to an intense fresh peach flavor (so often very muted in peach sours.) This beer makes me gush with superlatives. It is a precious liquid. Thinking about makes my mouth water.
★ 328 characters
4.46/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
this is one of the best crooked stave beers ever, and way better than the two different blends that were part of the cellar reserve program, neither one of those really spoke to me, but this latest release is next level! so much fresh juicy peach on it, shouldnt be surprising since so much of their fruited sours are amazing, but the flavor of the peach is so forward, the yeast is so mature, the oak is so vibrant and new tasting, and overall its just a flavor and quality explosion. yellow peach, fuzzy and sun ripened, bursts from the aroma and flavor of this, supported by a tannic wheat malt base, a sweet new oak complexion, and a positively funky mix of yeasts, more bretty and weird than sour, but with some acid too for sure. there is a cool floral vibe to this, like a blossom honey of some kind with the sweet peach flesh. carbonated strongly, it really sings on the palate. ive had a lot of heady peach and apricot wild ales lately, leaner, westly, fuzzy, and this is definitely part of that conversation. i like that the sourness is only moderate, it lets the beer sort of unwrap a little slower, its more dynamic that way. one of my favorite beers from these guys in a long time, on tap at the source right now, go treat yourself!
★ 1,245 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
this is one of the best crooked stave beers ever, and way better than the two different blends that were part of the cellar reserve program, neither one of those really spoke to me, but this latest release is next level! so much fresh juicy peach on it, shouldnt be surprising since so much of their fruited sours are amazing, but the flavor of the peach is so forward, the yeast is so mature, the oak is so vibrant and new tasting, and overall its just a flavor and quality explosion. yellow peach, fuzzy and sun ripened, bursts from the aroma and flavor of this, supported by a tannic wheat malt base, a sweet new oak complexion, and a positively funky mix of yeasts, more bretty and weird than sour, but with some acid too for sure. there is a cool floral vibe to this, like a blossom honey of some kind with the sweet peach flesh. carbonated strongly, it really sings on the palate. ive had a lot of heady peach and apricot wild ales lately, leaner, westly, fuzzy, and this is definitely part of that conversation. i like that the sourness is only moderate, it lets the beer sort of unwrap a little slower, its more dynamic that way. one of my favorite beers from these guys in a long time, on tap at the source right now, go treat yourself!
★ 1,245 characters
4.5/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at CBC 2016. Pale yellow with a white head. Sour with a nice assortment of fruit - peach, apples, apricots - and some feint oak and vanilla in the background.
★ 165 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at CBC 2016. Pale yellow with a white head. Sour with a nice assortment of fruit - peach, apples, apricots - and some feint oak and vanilla in the background.
★ 165 characters
4.25/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap, hazy yellow color. Aroma has tart, fermented peaches and farmhouse funk. Taste starts with sour peaches and some farmhouse funk but overall it's quite clean and fruity. Body is on the lighter side and has medium carbonation. A really good fruited wild ale, similar to a lambic.
★ 285 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap, hazy yellow color. Aroma has tart, fermented peaches and farmhouse funk. Taste starts with sour peaches and some farmhouse funk but overall it's quite clean and fruity. Body is on the lighter side and has medium carbonation. A really good fruited wild ale, similar to a lambic.
★ 285 characters
3.58/5 rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
375 mL bottle. 2015 bottle. Had the 2011 bottle fresh but never reviewed it. Hopefully this lives up to my memory. Hazy pale yellow. Smells of light peach. Very oaky and funky. A little cheese. Tastes lightly sour. Light peach. Grain. Wheat. Light body. Medium carbonation. This might have suffered from being after Pizza Boy Permasmile, which was fantastic. Maybe "subtle" is a good euphemism, but it just isn't that flavorful.
★ 442 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
375 mL bottle. 2015 bottle. Had the 2011 bottle fresh but never reviewed it. Hopefully this lives up to my memory. Hazy pale yellow. Smells of light peach. Very oaky and funky. A little cheese. Tastes lightly sour. Light peach. Grain. Wheat. Light body. Medium carbonation. This might have suffered from being after Pizza Boy Permasmile, which was fantastic. Maybe "subtle" is a good euphemism, but it just isn't that flavorful.
★ 442 characters
4.8/5 rDev +8.8%
Wasnt expecting much from this beer but wow, at a peach/apricot tasting, this was damn near number 1, and i hear its falling off, christ what was this guy like fresh!
Blend 1 and 2 dont hold a candle to this, but blend 1's tast was closer to this than 2.
★ 254 characters
Wasnt expecting much from this beer but wow, at a peach/apricot tasting, this was damn near number 1, and i hear its falling off, christ what was this guy like fresh!
Blend 1 and 2 dont hold a candle to this, but blend 1's tast was closer to this than 2.
★ 254 characters
4.22/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
2013 Blend #2. 375ml bottle into CS Teku. Released yesterday, football beer today. Pour reveals almost no head but leaves a thin ring around the glass. Body is beautiful like all CS beers. Cloudy orangeish beige. Aroma is a musty, sweet and sour. Well balanced with a slight burn when you get deep down in there. Brett, not really peachy, and simple. This beer is delicious on the tongue, a lot more peach flavor. Some Brett, but really fruity - an orange/lemon mix. Almost no carbonation and very light in the mouth. A little drying.
Overall it tastes great and well balanced. The nose and lack of carbonation make you want more out of it. Not sure if it is as classic as the first batch, but definitely wouldn't turn it away.
★ 729 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
2013 Blend #2. 375ml bottle into CS Teku. Released yesterday, football beer today. Pour reveals almost no head but leaves a thin ring around the glass. Body is beautiful like all CS beers. Cloudy orangeish beige. Aroma is a musty, sweet and sour. Well balanced with a slight burn when you get deep down in there. Brett, not really peachy, and simple. This beer is delicious on the tongue, a lot more peach flavor. Some Brett, but really fruity - an orange/lemon mix. Almost no carbonation and very light in the mouth. A little drying.
Overall it tastes great and well balanced. The nose and lack of carbonation make you want more out of it. Not sure if it is as classic as the first batch, but definitely wouldn't turn it away.
★ 729 characters
4.18/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
750ml bottle (2011) shared courtesy of rudzud at a recent tasting. Poured into a Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary glass.
A - Pours a pale peachy golden color. Little to no head with really only a small white collar that rings the glass nicely.
S - Quite sour and tart. Very peachy...lots of fruit flavor to be found here. Nicely funky too with nice barnyard aspects to be found.
T - Tart and sour up front with strong intensity. Very peachy - tons of fruit comes through here. Medium level funkiness.
M - Lighter side of medium bodied with a lower level carbonation that keeps the body a little bit low in liveliness.
O - Intense wild ale...quite tart and sour with super fruitiness with peaches really showing nicely. This was quite delicious.
★ 747 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
750ml bottle (2011) shared courtesy of rudzud at a recent tasting. Poured into a Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary glass.
A - Pours a pale peachy golden color. Little to no head with really only a small white collar that rings the glass nicely.
S - Quite sour and tart. Very peachy...lots of fruit flavor to be found here. Nicely funky too with nice barnyard aspects to be found.
T - Tart and sour up front with strong intensity. Very peachy - tons of fruit comes through here. Medium level funkiness.
M - Lighter side of medium bodied with a lower level carbonation that keeps the body a little bit low in liveliness.
O - Intense wild ale...quite tart and sour with super fruitiness with peaches really showing nicely. This was quite delicious.
★ 747 characters
3.39/5 rDev -23.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
750 ml bottle, date 4/30/12, bottle 4 of 420. Pours slightly hazy golden orange with very little white head that quickly goes to a thin collar.
The aroma is subdued - acidic musty brett and a little fruit with a little butyric acid.
The flavor is sweet tart acidic fruits (lots of green apple and some peach and citrus) with a big mouth puckering sourness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with very low carbonation.
Overall, very acidic sour tart fruits but a little flat and overly sweet.
★ 491 characters
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
750 ml bottle, date 4/30/12, bottle 4 of 420. Pours slightly hazy golden orange with very little white head that quickly goes to a thin collar.
The aroma is subdued - acidic musty brett and a little fruit with a little butyric acid.
The flavor is sweet tart acidic fruits (lots of green apple and some peach and citrus) with a big mouth puckering sourness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with very low carbonation.
Overall, very acidic sour tart fruits but a little flat and overly sweet.
★ 491 characters
4/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Thanks to Steve for this one. 750ml bottle into a Cantillon Zwanze glass. Reviewed from notes.
Pours a thin white head that dissipates quickly. Spotty lace. Beer is a cloudy peach color. Decent.
Nose is slight Brett funk. Lightly tart peaches, oak, cobwebs, and wet wood. Spritzy and lively but pretty mellow overall. Nice.
Opens tart peach and some lemon. Wet wood, Brett sweetness and funk towards the middle. Tartness builds towards the middle and end. Foamy finish with a acidic, vinegar-y aftertaste. Great fruit presence but its gets a touch too intense right at the end.
Light bodied with ample carbonation. Spritzy and bubbly in the mouth and goes down filmy and dry. Finishes messy with a sticky, dry aftertaste. Very drinkable and refreshing.
I've not had anything from the WWB series up to this point but if this is a representative beer from Crooked Stave, I can see great things coming from this brewery. Not overly complex but great balance in the nose, flavor, and feel. A very solid brew up and down.
★ 1,023 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Thanks to Steve for this one. 750ml bottle into a Cantillon Zwanze glass. Reviewed from notes.
Pours a thin white head that dissipates quickly. Spotty lace. Beer is a cloudy peach color. Decent.
Nose is slight Brett funk. Lightly tart peaches, oak, cobwebs, and wet wood. Spritzy and lively but pretty mellow overall. Nice.
Opens tart peach and some lemon. Wet wood, Brett sweetness and funk towards the middle. Tartness builds towards the middle and end. Foamy finish with a acidic, vinegar-y aftertaste. Great fruit presence but its gets a touch too intense right at the end.
Light bodied with ample carbonation. Spritzy and bubbly in the mouth and goes down filmy and dry. Finishes messy with a sticky, dry aftertaste. Very drinkable and refreshing.
I've not had anything from the WWB series up to this point but if this is a representative beer from Crooked Stave, I can see great things coming from this brewery. Not overly complex but great balance in the nose, flavor, and feel. A very solid brew up and down.
★ 1,023 characters
4.25/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Batch 1 corked, capped, and waxed 750ml received in a trade with a generous BA thanks!
Appearance: Pours a honey stained peachy orange with a 1 finger white crown that shows no retention and moderate lace.
Smell: A very nice medley of peaches, brett induced light horse blanket & lemon notes, a hint of band aid, and even fainter floral notes.
Taste: Same as the nose but with less peach in the profile than I was hoping for. I bet that wasn't the case when batch 1 was fresh though.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and undercarbonated for the style but not to the point where it ruins the experience.
Overall: An enjoyable fruited saison that I'd love to try again (fresher batch would be nice).
★ 695 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Batch 1 corked, capped, and waxed 750ml received in a trade with a generous BA thanks!
Appearance: Pours a honey stained peachy orange with a 1 finger white crown that shows no retention and moderate lace.
Smell: A very nice medley of peaches, brett induced light horse blanket & lemon notes, a hint of band aid, and even fainter floral notes.
Taste: Same as the nose but with less peach in the profile than I was hoping for. I bet that wasn't the case when batch 1 was fresh though.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and undercarbonated for the style but not to the point where it ruins the experience.
Overall: An enjoyable fruited saison that I'd love to try again (fresher batch would be nice).
★ 695 characters
4.68/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Shared with JLindros at his Birthday Whale Tasting. Reviewed from notes.
A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a crystal clear peach juice hue with a thin, quarter inch head that fades immediately .
S - Super, SUPER ripe peach notes, peach skin, flesh, candies, peach juice. Its just awesome how peachy this beer is. Light funk as well.
T - Peach juice galore with light wild funk notes. It then switches over to tart, sour stone/pit notes. A great combination of fresh fruit and canned peach flesh and syrup. Over the top with just a little bit of brett funk.
M - Mouthfeel is super tart/sour with light carbonation.
O - Overall this is an incredibly good peach beer. Love when a beer delivers what it promises.
★ 719 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Shared with JLindros at his Birthday Whale Tasting. Reviewed from notes.
A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a crystal clear peach juice hue with a thin, quarter inch head that fades immediately .
S - Super, SUPER ripe peach notes, peach skin, flesh, candies, peach juice. Its just awesome how peachy this beer is. Light funk as well.
T - Peach juice galore with light wild funk notes. It then switches over to tart, sour stone/pit notes. A great combination of fresh fruit and canned peach flesh and syrup. Over the top with just a little bit of brett funk.
M - Mouthfeel is super tart/sour with light carbonation.
O - Overall this is an incredibly good peach beer. Love when a beer delivers what it promises.
★ 719 characters
4.6/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Bottle (2012)
Acquired via trade
Thanks, quirkzoo!
(Aged for 6 months)
Hazed peach and dark orange in color with a quickly forming, though quickly disappearing, off-white head. Leaves light ribbons and dots of stick down the glass. Pretty and appropriate.
Perhaps the most juicy and fruit-forward peach beer I've ever experienced. This smells like crushed, juicy, dripping, summer peaches, and little else, but that aroma is so incredibly vibrant and expressive there simply isn't room for much more. There's a hint of yeast and pie crust malt, but this is most certainly about the expressive, juicy, vibrant, succulent peach character...like nothing I've experienced before. This was sampled next to Sour in the Rye Peach and Fou Foune and the fruit character in this was leagues ahead of the others. While the Cantillon expressed more funk and complexity, the Persica definitely expressed the most fruit character.
The flavor is similar to the aroma, as the peach juice and nectar character is fully realized here in the flavor as well, with just a layer of funk for additional character and drinkability. Simple really, though profoundly delicious.
Near full in body, especially for the style, with somewhat low carbonation. Exceptionally drinkable. I looked down and my pour was gone!
Fantastic. The most peach-forward beer I've had, by a long shot. The only one in contention may be Fantasia, but this is certainly the more interesting beverage. Fantastic! Excited for more!
★ 1,486 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Bottle (2012)
Acquired via trade
Thanks, quirkzoo!
(Aged for 6 months)
Hazed peach and dark orange in color with a quickly forming, though quickly disappearing, off-white head. Leaves light ribbons and dots of stick down the glass. Pretty and appropriate.
Perhaps the most juicy and fruit-forward peach beer I've ever experienced. This smells like crushed, juicy, dripping, summer peaches, and little else, but that aroma is so incredibly vibrant and expressive there simply isn't room for much more. There's a hint of yeast and pie crust malt, but this is most certainly about the expressive, juicy, vibrant, succulent peach character...like nothing I've experienced before. This was sampled next to Sour in the Rye Peach and Fou Foune and the fruit character in this was leagues ahead of the others. While the Cantillon expressed more funk and complexity, the Persica definitely expressed the most fruit character.
The flavor is similar to the aroma, as the peach juice and nectar character is fully realized here in the flavor as well, with just a layer of funk for additional character and drinkability. Simple really, though profoundly delicious.
Near full in body, especially for the style, with somewhat low carbonation. Exceptionally drinkable. I looked down and my pour was gone!
Fantastic. The most peach-forward beer I've had, by a long shot. The only one in contention may be Fantasia, but this is certainly the more interesting beverage. Fantastic! Excited for more!
★ 1,486 characters
4.46/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
750ml bottle poured into Lawson's snifter. Bottled 4/30/12, bottle #348/420. Graciously shared by JD (ShawDeuce22) at his birthday tasting. Reviewed from notes.
A- Pours a light translucent slightly yellowish orange golden color. Fairly minimal carbonation, almost no head or lacing.
S- Peach juice with some light bretty funk, nectarines, and a hint of mustiness. Fairly aromatic.
T- Lots of juicy peaches balanced with a light brett funk, a bit of nectarines, finishes with a lightly sour peach finish and a lingering fruity peach aftertaste.
M- Medium bodied to a little bit on the light side, very easy drinking, lightly tingly that plays well with the brett.
O- This is one of the first brews I've had from Crooked Stave and I'm definitely impressed. The peaches held up very nicely despite having over a year on it. There was a nicely balanced funkiness to it that still let the peaches shine through nicely. This is a must try and I definitely recommend seeking it out. It holds it's own against the likes of Mimosa, Peches n' Brett, Fantasia, etc..
★ 1,062 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
750ml bottle poured into Lawson's snifter. Bottled 4/30/12, bottle #348/420. Graciously shared by JD (ShawDeuce22) at his birthday tasting. Reviewed from notes.
A- Pours a light translucent slightly yellowish orange golden color. Fairly minimal carbonation, almost no head or lacing.
S- Peach juice with some light bretty funk, nectarines, and a hint of mustiness. Fairly aromatic.
T- Lots of juicy peaches balanced with a light brett funk, a bit of nectarines, finishes with a lightly sour peach finish and a lingering fruity peach aftertaste.
M- Medium bodied to a little bit on the light side, very easy drinking, lightly tingly that plays well with the brett.
O- This is one of the first brews I've had from Crooked Stave and I'm definitely impressed. The peaches held up very nicely despite having over a year on it. There was a nicely balanced funkiness to it that still let the peaches shine through nicely. This is a must try and I definitely recommend seeking it out. It holds it's own against the likes of Mimosa, Peches n' Brett, Fantasia, etc..
★ 1,062 characters
4.48/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Shared at my Birthday whale tasting. Thanks to rudzud for sharing.
Pours a very light fizzy head that is gone almost instantly, hazy peach color.
Nose light canned and fresh peaches, tons of peach, a little funk, stone fruit and juicy peach fuzz, hint musty.
Taste is clean juicy fruit at first, light wild funk, tons of fresh peach and canned peaches, fairly tart sour, light sticky syrupy, hint bready, peach syrup, just a touch of Brett funk.
Mouth is lighter bodied, little syrup.
Overall quite nice, not as funky as I expected, but decent funk, but tons of peach.
★ 574 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Shared at my Birthday whale tasting. Thanks to rudzud for sharing.
Pours a very light fizzy head that is gone almost instantly, hazy peach color.
Nose light canned and fresh peaches, tons of peach, a little funk, stone fruit and juicy peach fuzz, hint musty.
Taste is clean juicy fruit at first, light wild funk, tons of fresh peach and canned peaches, fairly tart sour, light sticky syrupy, hint bready, peach syrup, just a touch of Brett funk.
Mouth is lighter bodied, little syrup.
Overall quite nice, not as funky as I expected, but decent funk, but tons of peach.
★ 574 characters
4.9/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
2016 batch - Incredible sour peach nose with slight funk, small white foam head and color is clear golden, flavor is balanced between sour (clean, slight acidity) and lots of peach, closes with a dry finish. Overall extremely well made peach sour.
★ 248 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
2016 batch - Incredible sour peach nose with slight funk, small white foam head and color is clear golden, flavor is balanced between sour (clean, slight acidity) and lots of peach, closes with a dry finish. Overall extremely well made peach sour.
★ 248 characters
4.54/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Thanks to Skuter and mrbubbler for sharing this one at mrbubbler's "end of the world" tasting.
Bottled 4/30/12. Bottle # 193/420.
Pours a hazy orange with a foamy bone colored head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is sour, tart, and funky with lots of peach and acidic aromas. Taste is much the same a phenomenal peach flavor that is mouthwatering and delicious. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a fantastic beer and definitely one of the best sour fruit beers I have ever had.
★ 631 characters
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Thanks to Skuter and mrbubbler for sharing this one at mrbubbler's "end of the world" tasting.
Bottled 4/30/12. Bottle # 193/420.
Pours a hazy orange with a foamy bone colored head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is sour, tart, and funky with lots of peach and acidic aromas. Taste is much the same a phenomenal peach flavor that is mouthwatering and delicious. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a fantastic beer and definitely one of the best sour fruit beers I have ever had.
★ 631 characters
4.55/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Like most Crooked Stave beers, the head on this one doesn't do the beer justice. It's white and somewhat fluffy, good lacing, but just looks thin. It sits atop a bright, somewhat murky orange/yellow.
Aroma has hints of peach, oak, persimmon, apricot and light sweet bread.
And then there's the flavor. It's quite yummy. Peach and oak are light, but powerful. Not sweet and just enough dryness to cleanse the palate. Apricot and persimmon, some passion fruit, and a dose of lemongrass.
Acidic to a great level. Easy drinking. De-lish
★ 538 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Like most Crooked Stave beers, the head on this one doesn't do the beer justice. It's white and somewhat fluffy, good lacing, but just looks thin. It sits atop a bright, somewhat murky orange/yellow.
Aroma has hints of peach, oak, persimmon, apricot and light sweet bread.
And then there's the flavor. It's quite yummy. Peach and oak are light, but powerful. Not sweet and just enough dryness to cleanse the palate. Apricot and persimmon, some passion fruit, and a dose of lemongrass.
Acidic to a great level. Easy drinking. De-lish
★ 538 characters
4.22/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Cellar Reserve bottles. Served in a Crooked Stave wine glass. Beautiful bright peach aroma. Dry lactic nose. Flavor is very tart with less fruit. Touch of acetic and oak. Dry. Low carbonation. Peach character really takes over as it warms, alongside very mild funk. Acidity is pleasing and matches the fruit well. Very excited to try this one again.
★ 349 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Cellar Reserve bottles. Served in a Crooked Stave wine glass. Beautiful bright peach aroma. Dry lactic nose. Flavor is very tart with less fruit. Touch of acetic and oak. Dry. Low carbonation. Peach character really takes over as it warms, alongside very mild funk. Acidity is pleasing and matches the fruit well. Very excited to try this one again.
★ 349 characters
4.59/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a hazy light orange color with a small eggshell head that fades to a whispy cap of fine bubbles.
Aromas pop and are extremely inviting. They begin with a vibrant combination of apricot, peach, nectarine fruity flesh with emerging Bretty yeast notes. There are some more citric fruit notes with some lactic acid and oak emerging more as it warms. This is the closest thing I have smelled to Fou Foune by a long shot.
The tastes begin with peach skins, fruity nectarine pulp, with tropical notes as well. Then comes the slightly tannic oak, lactic acid and more and more emerging funk. Sourness increases as it warms.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium to low carbonation. Finish is plesantly tart, sour and dry but a tad bit sweeter than a traditional Belgian fruit lambic most likely due to the higher ABV.
Overall I was expecting this to be good, but not this good, it was utterly fantasic. This is definitely in the top 3 American made WIld Ales I have tried; in the same category as South Hampton's Black Raspberry Lambic. Let the hype train roll with this bad boy...
★ 1,085 characters
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a hazy light orange color with a small eggshell head that fades to a whispy cap of fine bubbles.
Aromas pop and are extremely inviting. They begin with a vibrant combination of apricot, peach, nectarine fruity flesh with emerging Bretty yeast notes. There are some more citric fruit notes with some lactic acid and oak emerging more as it warms. This is the closest thing I have smelled to Fou Foune by a long shot.
The tastes begin with peach skins, fruity nectarine pulp, with tropical notes as well. Then comes the slightly tannic oak, lactic acid and more and more emerging funk. Sourness increases as it warms.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium to low carbonation. Finish is plesantly tart, sour and dry but a tad bit sweeter than a traditional Belgian fruit lambic most likely due to the higher ABV.
Overall I was expecting this to be good, but not this good, it was utterly fantasic. This is definitely in the top 3 American made WIld Ales I have tried; in the same category as South Hampton's Black Raspberry Lambic. Let the hype train roll with this bad boy...
★ 1,085 characters
4.62/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A huge thanks to Urbancaver for sharing this. Thanks Cam!
This beer was a great surprise. Stole the show at a recent tasting. The aroma is rich, sour, and very fruit forward. Ripe, sweet peaches are lined by a perfect Lactic sour aroma. The nose is just so vibrant.
The flavor follows along the same lines. Fantastic beer. Deep, fresh, ripe peach flavor bursting at the seams. Perfect balance of sweet peach flavor and lactic sour. Bright, high acidity letting everyone know that this is a peach beer. So damn good.
The mouthfeel was the only thing that could have been improved. I would have liked a little more carbonation to make the beer a little lighter on the palate. Other than that, fantastic.
Maybe the best fruited American Wild Ale I've ever had. Delicious.
★ 775 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A huge thanks to Urbancaver for sharing this. Thanks Cam!
This beer was a great surprise. Stole the show at a recent tasting. The aroma is rich, sour, and very fruit forward. Ripe, sweet peaches are lined by a perfect Lactic sour aroma. The nose is just so vibrant.
The flavor follows along the same lines. Fantastic beer. Deep, fresh, ripe peach flavor bursting at the seams. Perfect balance of sweet peach flavor and lactic sour. Bright, high acidity letting everyone know that this is a peach beer. So damn good.
The mouthfeel was the only thing that could have been improved. I would have liked a little more carbonation to make the beer a little lighter on the palate. Other than that, fantastic.
Maybe the best fruited American Wild Ale I've ever had. Delicious.
★ 775 characters
4.67/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thank you d4radio for an excellent trade!
Pours a murky peach colour. No real head... Looks okay but nothing special
Smells awesome! So much peach! Smells awesome!
Tastes heavily of peach. Lots of fruit character with a touch of nice tartness. The sour is well integrated. Every sip hits with more peach. The oak character comes through subtly. Very enjoyable. This is definitely one of the best beers I've had In a while!
★ 422 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thank you d4radio for an excellent trade!
Pours a murky peach colour. No real head... Looks okay but nothing special
Smells awesome! So much peach! Smells awesome!
Tastes heavily of peach. Lots of fruit character with a touch of nice tartness. The sour is well integrated. Every sip hits with more peach. The oak character comes through subtly. Very enjoyable. This is definitely one of the best beers I've had In a while!
★ 422 characters
4.22/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Thanks, David. Surprisingly nice stuff here.
Typical blond sour appearance with a fair bit of haze. Carbonation is at a lower-medium level, and there's little head formation. The nose has a juicy, sweet and rather vibrant peach character that only comes out more as the beer warms and opens up. There's a nice lacto creaminess that works well with the fruit, a touch of citric acidity, and mild barnyard funk. It tastes quite a bit more tart than I was expecting, exhibiting little of the sweetness that's present on the nose. Brett is mild, bringing some pleasant pineapple notes and a hint of phenolic funk. There's a great creamy vanilla note beneath the fruit that I find thoroughly enjoyable. Carbonation is low, but the beer doesn't feel outright flat; hopefully this improves in time as it could use more bubbles. This is excellent stuff overall, and should continue to improve with a little more time in the bottle.
★ 924 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Thanks, David. Surprisingly nice stuff here.
Typical blond sour appearance with a fair bit of haze. Carbonation is at a lower-medium level, and there's little head formation. The nose has a juicy, sweet and rather vibrant peach character that only comes out more as the beer warms and opens up. There's a nice lacto creaminess that works well with the fruit, a touch of citric acidity, and mild barnyard funk. It tastes quite a bit more tart than I was expecting, exhibiting little of the sweetness that's present on the nose. Brett is mild, bringing some pleasant pineapple notes and a hint of phenolic funk. There's a great creamy vanilla note beneath the fruit that I find thoroughly enjoyable. Carbonation is low, but the beer doesn't feel outright flat; hopefully this improves in time as it could use more bubbles. This is excellent stuff overall, and should continue to improve with a little more time in the bottle.
★ 924 characters
4.15/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to whomever supplied this at thetomG's place. Served in a 3 Floyds tasting snifter.
A - Quick-dissolving white foam settles to a thin collar. Opaque apricot body.
S - A mixture of peaches and cream and uric acid. Perhaps some slight sulfur in there as well. Lots of residual sweetness here, either from the fruits or the malt - stone fruits, obviously, and vanilla dominate.
T - The taste is significantly better and ditches the odd urine note in the aroma. A nice blend of fresh, fruity peaches, tropical brett flavors, mild funk, and lactic yogurt sourness.
M - Medium-light body, light tannic character from fruit and barrel but otherwise quite smooth in texture - actually verging on creamy. Lower carbonation - could use a bit more spritz.
D - Aside from the mildly odd aroma, this is quite enjoyable stuff. It's really easy to drink, and I suspect it will improve over the next few months.
★ 907 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to whomever supplied this at thetomG's place. Served in a 3 Floyds tasting snifter.
A - Quick-dissolving white foam settles to a thin collar. Opaque apricot body.
S - A mixture of peaches and cream and uric acid. Perhaps some slight sulfur in there as well. Lots of residual sweetness here, either from the fruits or the malt - stone fruits, obviously, and vanilla dominate.
T - The taste is significantly better and ditches the odd urine note in the aroma. A nice blend of fresh, fruity peaches, tropical brett flavors, mild funk, and lactic yogurt sourness.
M - Medium-light body, light tannic character from fruit and barrel but otherwise quite smooth in texture - actually verging on creamy. Lower carbonation - could use a bit more spritz.
D - Aside from the mildly odd aroma, this is quite enjoyable stuff. It's really easy to drink, and I suspect it will improve over the next few months.
★ 907 characters
Crooked Stave Persica from Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
4.41
out of 5
based on 170 ratings.
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Poured from a 375mL bottle into a Crooked Stave stemmed wine glass. Purchased at the brewery about a month ago.
Pours a sunny, straw yellow hazy, effervescent and fizzy body with a small white head that reduces quickly to leave no lacing and no retention. You could say it looks like peach juice once the head dies down.
Aromas are mesmerizing. Freshly cut peaches take center stage as do potent stone fruit aromas. A sweet, earthy, grassy fruitiness with some funkyness thrown in. You can tell it's going to be acidic from the lactic aromas as well.
On the tongue is a delicious stone fruit medley. Sour peaches again take center stage, tart citrus, sour apple, white wine, very acidic but not overly, just enough. Light oak on the follow through, finished by a drying tartness that sticks on the tongue for a while. As far as mouthfeel, this is incredibly drinkable, it's actually tough not to drink it in a couple gulps. Light crisp body with high carbonation.
Overall a definite masterpiece, up there with the big players IMO, comparable to Fuzzy with a little less funk.
★ 1,084 characters