Barrel-Aged Farmhouse Pale Ale (BAFPA)
Oxbow Brewing Company

A 500ml bottle, bottled on 7th June 2021, and poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.

Appearance: A nice hazy golden straw yellow colour with a two finger white head that had good retention while leaving nice lacing.

Aroma: Citrusy, lemon, lemon zest, lime, oak, dusty, vanilla, brett, light funk.

Taste: Light sour, lemon, lemon zest, lime, peach, with light oak and funk.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Overall: Enjoyable, refreshing, and really easy to drink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excellent and balanced farmhouse beer. A little sour but not too much. A good background oak flavor. I wish I got more than two bottles on my last visit to Oxbow. I'll have to see if my craft brew store has any.

 

Bottle from the brewery in Portland during 2020 trip to Maine. Pours an opaque golden orange with a fluffy white head that lingers, smell is funky grass, oak, and bitter cider, taste follows the nose with sour grassy funk, green apple, dry oak finish, feel is light, bright, and dry. A sophisticated and truly delicious beer that makes me feel like an adult.

500 mL Bottle. ABV 6.5%.
Appearance: slightly veiled gold to heavily veiled orange/grapefruit, one finger of frothy off white head, great retention, low carbonation, slight sediment on final pour, cap remains.
Aroma: Slight funk, aromatic orchard fruit, slight stone fruit, sweet grass, calm Brett funk, citrus (lemon) dessert, soft vanilla, Slightly sweaty, beautifully simple aroma, complex, well balanced.
Mouthfeel: under medium body, low carbonation
Flavour: Brett funk, slight lemon, grass, orchard fruit, nicely balanced, slight vanilla, well balanced.
Overall:

Review: 167

Mar, 2016 bottle

Pours slightly hazy gold with a creamy frothy white foam head. Smells like a lambic, oak barrels, spice, sweet acetic vinegar, barnyard cobweb funk, horse blanket, farmhouse, bready crackery malts, caramel, vanilla, mild banana, apple, cherry, apricot, with dusty floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes tart and acidic with sour apples, oak, sweet acetic vinegar, farmhouse, barnyard cobweb funk, horse blanket, banana, apricot, grape, cherry, vanilla, caramel, bready crackery malts, peppery clove spice, with dusty floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels dry, medium bodied, creamy with moderate carbonation. Overall a really nice barrel aged farmhouse ale.

Body is hazy, dull gold, like lemon juice, with a dash of amber. Forms a full, cloud-white head, good retention, a few minutes worth.
Fresh and pure orchard aromas of tart apple, softly musty, and lemon zest.
Fantastic flavour, right off the bat - macintosh apple, lemon meringue, bitter hops offering hints of citrus zest, and something distinct that I can't put my finger on. Almost candy-like. Bubblegum? Not quite. Playful interplay of crisp pulpy fruit, tart notes, yeasty funk and spice. Some resinous touches too. Sophisticated feel, fine carbonation (medium), medium body, very dry finish.

Just a delight to drink, full of complex, distinct flavours and perfect mouthfeel.

 

 

Ripe pear, apricot, strawberry yogurt, jammy peach, lemon, green apple, vanilla cream, white peppercorn, oak, mellow vinegar, minerality, grassy and hay notes. A funky and slightly musty earth quality.

Bottled in May 2017. Enjoyed with appetizers.
BAFPA's Looks are not its strength. I imagine the Brett yeast works against the ample foam and the active protein swirls that I most like in the saison; so I'm Looking at a dirty blonde. Smells offer lightly tarted-up fruit and, then, the old school saison grass and herbs. Tastes finally tell me this has been in a barrel(s) and blended; simply, this is too sophisticated and subtle and simple not to have been blended by a master. Finishes nicely dry.

This is my 4th from Oxbow. My average rating is -9 below the Average; so I do not think I'm giving them a fair shake. Mostly, it is that I still resist Brett in my favorite style. But, they are very thoughtful and they brew for food. I'm not yet to put them on my stateside BBBL, but someday I might.

Picked up this 500 ml bottle in Big Fatty's in White River Junction, Vermont; difficult choice among many outstanding potentials. Bottled in January 2018 and the label said enjoy within 5 years. Obviously I didn't make it that far but it's an unseasonably warm last weekend of September, and first weekend in autumn, and the high alc heavy hitters will just have to wait.

As soon as I popped the cap lemony funk filled the immediate space. Poured into a DFH tulip a nice large bubbled head topped a golden straw colored body. As it warmed over the cellar fridge temperature white grapes and barrel smell came forward. The taste mirrored the smell with pear tastes emerging. Feel was like drinking a dry sparkling wine.

I'm not sure what additional aging would have done but if I ever find another of these I'll put it to the test.