Divine Sauvage
Green Flash Brewing Co.

Is this my first tripel mutated by the Wild yeast?

I think so.
Being traditional, I rate it below the classics.
But Green Flash has done a good job pushing the envelope. Aging in red wine barrels leaves a pretty tinge to the pale.
Beyond that , I have trouble getting enthusiastic. Smells and Tastes should be more fruit than tart.... but then, I am a traditionalist.

I caught up with Green Flash and see that they expanded too fast and have new owners. An important lesson to all you innovators out there. Banks are not your friend.

 

Golden color, little head. Aroma is musty with faint clove phenol. Taste has a lot going on, tripel notes that lean towards the spicey side, some moderate wine must and tannin, brett tartness. Some of those tripel notes seem too heavy in contrast but it is something a bit different.

 

750 ml bottle into chalice, bottled on 3/31/2017. Pours slightly hazy golden amber/light orange color with a 1 finger fairly dense and fluffy off white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big lightly tart lemon, lime, grapefruit, citrus zest, peach, pear, apricot, pineapple, red/green apple, white grape, mango, melon, passion fruit, papaya, guava, berry, peppercorn, clove, red wine, oak, hay, straw, herbal, grass, cracker, and biscuit; with lighter notes of oaken vanilla, leathery/musty funk, red wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, red wine barrels, and pale malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big lightly tart lemon, lime, grapefruit, citrus zest, peach, pear, apricot, pineapple, red/green apple, white grape, mango, melon, passion fruit, papaya, guava, berry, peppercorn, clove, red wine, oak, hay, straw, herbal, grass, cracker, and biscuit; with lighter notes of oaken vanilla, leathery/musty funk, red wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Moderate peppery yeast/oak spiciness and light wine tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart lemon, lime, grapefruit, citrus zest, peach, pear, apricot, pineapple, red/green apple, white grape, mango, melon, passion fruit, papaya, guava, berry, peppercorn, clove, red wine, oak, hay, straw, herbal, grass, cracker, biscuit, oaken vanilla, leathery/musty funk, red wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a while. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, red wine barrels, and pale malt flavors; with an awesome malt, yeast/oak spiciness, and wine tang/tartness balance; with zero puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from yeast/oak spiciness, wine tang/tartness, and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium body, with a very smooth, moderately crisp, bready/grainy/sticky/tannic, lightly tangy/acidic, and slightly silky balanced mouthfeel that is fantastic. Mildly increasing warmth of 9.7% after the finish. Overall this is an outstanding barrel aged Brett Tripel! All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, red wine barrels, and pale malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and dangerously easy to drink for the ABV; with the modestly spicy/tart/tannic/drying finish. Wonderful well rounded fruity/funky Brett with balanced Belgian Trappist yeast complexity; fantastic wine barrel integration and balancing pale malt backbone. Well attenuated for the ABV. A highly enjoyable offering.

 

 

 

This beer is no longer retired!!!!! I bought a corked and caged bottle at the Green Flash brewery in Virginia Beach Va, It is now 9.7% .abv. I usually don't like blended styles...usually both styles suffer, but this combo of a Tripel and a Sour works very well!!! Pours a bright, slightly hazy orange color into my Chimay goblet. There is good carbonation and a big foamy, bubbly head with good retention and more lacing than most Tripels. Aroma and flavor start out quickly as a Tripel. Light fruit (apples and pears), prominent Belgian yeast and some spiciness. But the sour takes over very quickly...still yeasty and fruity but a very pronounced sourness is added to the mix. The overall taste is much better than I would have expected (I am more of a Tripel fan than a sour fan). The shift of flavors takes long enough to appreciate both styles. Mouthfeel is rich, smooth at first with the strong sourness kicking in. The sourness is not vinegary and is just the right amount. I would like to try this one again.