Penumbral
Oxbow Brewing Company

8oz pour at the brewery 10-29-25.
Fluffy, off white head with good retention, no lacing in a “wine” glass.
Red/pink body and opaque.
Lively nose of funk and cherries. Pink lemonade.
Bright fruit - blue and red.
Light body, high acidity across the mouthfeel and tongue. Bright, lively and zingy finish.
Very Good to Outstanding.

Beautiful pour with far more red hue than I'd expect but it's pretty much honey colored and crystal clear. Tight head of pink tinted foam that persists landing as a hefty cap. I thought it didn't cling much but the cap cascades spectacularly down the glass post sip.

The initial smell from the bottle is a burst of cherry and blueberry. The blueberry becomes tea-like. There's a very mild and pleasant funk giving just a hint of the wild side and a little earthiness.

Straightforward saison initially fruited well - bright and clean. Fruit forward and I'd say the cherry is the lead with blueberry providing depth. I do get the tea note in the taste. It's mildly sour with sourness from the fruit and a sharper hit I suspect from the fermentation or process. The funk - yeah its there but it's pretty laid back and there is something different about it I can't quite describe. There's some sweet taste woven into the funk and almost a cheese note thats quietly saying to my peanut brain...brie??? Definitely something different and I do like it. It's an enjoyable flavor combination that's a little layered but not overly complex. There's just that slight but fascinating sweetness that comes and goes.

Feel is light, fairly brightly carbonated and a tad bit drying but not astringent. The fruit and funk carry into the aftertaste and slowly fade. I get kind of a brandy-like or maybe sweet sherry taste after the fruity funkadelics fade.

Warmed to room temperature of 65 F, this beer is delightful. It takes on a fruit wine characte. The funk takes on a supporting background role. A pleasant peppery spice emerges late in the taste and the sauson aspect is more assertive. It's much more rounded and integrated when it's warm.

Good beer and a fun one to drink. It's complex and layered just enough to be interesting but not so complex as to make it a science project.