Sundowner
Adelbert's Brewery

Appearance: Bright golden glass, good clarity, holds a rocky white head that laces.

Aroma: Belgian yeast driven over ripe fruit, lime rind, peach esters, white wine.

Taste: Belgian yeast fruit flavors, heady esters, hints of vinegar, tonic water, white wine, tannin (grape skin?), and a hint of nail polish.

Mouthfeel: Very dry, low carbonation (thought it might be flat given the lack of vigor at the cork pop), medium body.

Overall: I don't like it. The esters are very heavy, I don't care for white wine, and that's a lot of the flavor profile here. I don't think anything is "wrong" with the brew, I think this is what they wanted to brew, I just don't like it. You might.

a torridly interesting and delicious brew that showed absolutely no sign of its alcohol strength whatsoever. its got some hazy and some body, looks belgian in the glass with a high white head, a light burnt orange tone to it but pale still, bubbly and pretty, maybe not quite at champagne levels of effervescence, there is some grain interference with that much delicacy, but it certainly accomplishes the mission, i wish there were more of these out there! its got a great malty front end, a little honey character, a lot of wheat it seems, some raw and rustic grain elements combining with an estery french/belgian type yeast that lightens it up but also seems to add a cool vinous character, peppery and herbal, fragrant but clean in the taste, citrus and white wine and fresh biscuit. light funk to it, but its not wild or bretty or anything, just farmy and old worldy and full of yeast complexity, bottle condition is on point too, this is super lively, light for what it is, and really smooth in feel. even as it warms up the alcohol stays well hidden, i think the fruitiness hides it well, and the fact that its pretty dry helps it a lot too with that. super complex and delicious, definitely got us a little bit turnt, but i never knew it was so strong as we sipped away, just felt richer and fuller. wonderful beer, easily the best i have ever had from these guys!

 

 

 

 

I wanted to like this but it was absolutely vile. The taste was mostly yeast, juniper, vomit and lacquer. The combination of all these was even worse than the sum of their parts. Picture the ugliest person in the world, and that's what this beer tastes like.

I was excited to try this and have been pleased with most all of the Adelbert's I have tried. This was disappointing. It had a nice golden color, but it smelled and tasted like old beer. I picked up on the champagne yeast taste just faintly. The one thing I can say is that the 12% ABV was well masked. I was expecting more bubbles in the feel. If you are going to try Adelbert's for the first time, stick with one of their other brews.

Having tried (and loved) Malheur Brut Noir, I am always optimistic when popping a new beer in this uncommon style. Though this is brewed by Adelbert's, my expectations are well above average.

BOTTLE: 1 pint 9.4 fl oz. Brown glass. Unbranded black hood-and-wire cap over a branded cork. Unappealing label design.

Reviewed live. Served cold into a goblet at low altitude in Austin, TX. Purchased at a local HEB grocery store. Allowed to warm over the course of consumption.

Bottled: 08/11/14. 12% ABV. The label identifies it clearly as a biere brut. Batch #001.

No bubble show forms as it's poured.

HEAD: White. Fizzy and effervescent (to style). Somewhat thin. Not real creamy, robust, full, or frothy. Retention is below average - about 1.5 minutes. Leaves no lacing as it recedes.

BODY: Cloudy lemony yellow of average vibrance. Pale and bright. Clean; no yeast particulate or hop sediment is visible.

It's a nice looking beer in its style, but doesn't stand out. Not unique or special, but there are no egregious flaws.

AROMA: Belgian character is evident, with soft notes of green apple and white grape coming through joined by Belgian pale malts and effervescent champagne yeast. The floral hop character is apt albeit minimal, lending this needed complexity.

The booze is noticeable but well-concealed. There are no off-notes. Green apple dominates.

An aroma of mild intensity. I find it generally appealing for the style, but not paradigmatic.

TASTE & TEXTURE: Alcohol is evident, but the flavour is interesting: apple rind, green apple, champagne yeast (with its signature effervescence), faint banana, ale esters, white grape, and crisp pear. There's a whisper of banana bread as well. Presentation of flavour is very clean on account of the über-attenuated yeast, leaving the mouthfeel crisp, clean, and hard (as opposed to soft). It's smooth and wet, but its booziness keeps me from calling it refreshing. Medium-bodied and aptly hefty and weighty on the palate, with a nice overall presence.

Overcarbonation does hold it back and reduces drinkability. Moreover, it's on the simple side for a biere de champagne. A darker flavour profile would suit it better, but it's nice for what it is, and it's closer to actual champagne/sparkling white wine than most beers in the style. This might be just what wine drinkers need to ease them into craft beer.

The balance is subpar on account of the obvious alcohol presence, and while it's built with obvious cohesion, it never quite comes off gestalt. The subtlety of the green apple and white grape is nice, as is the subtlety of the Belgian character. Those hoping for a more clove-forward biscuity Belgian yeast presence will be disappointed, but the French champagne yeast character works here.

A drier mouthfeel would suit it better, and lower carbonation is desired. I'd like to see the pear played up more, and the green apple acidity reduced.

OVERALL: On the boozier side for a biere de champagne, but still drinkable - or at least, as drinkable as most low end champagnes. I'll enjoy finishing the glass, but this isn't amongst the better beers in the style. Will fit the bill for those new to the style or hoping for a more champagne like beer drinking experience, but the discerning drinker is best off sticking to Malheur's vastly superior offerings. It's always nice to see more beers in this style available, but Adelbert's didn't quite come out with an impressive offering.

C- (2.66)

 

 

Clear light golden pour with a small head that dissipates quickly. Light green apple and grain aroma. Taste has light yeast upfront with a hint of apple juice flavor. Very light bodied and the alcohol is well hidden. Can also taste a hint of white grapes and slight fruitiness as the beer warms. Finishes dry. Different and delicious.

From a bottle, Batch No 1; bottled 8/11/2014

A: With a careful pour in my tall flute glass, it pours a clear and sharp yellow like straw with a finger-thick head. It has beautiful carbonation sprinkling to the top in thin, concentric swirls. Lacing is medium, and the head retention is very good.

S: Notes of champagne, green apples, baked bananas, faint yeast, and white grapes are most pronounced. Lovely and light, this has a beautiful Belgian-inspired aroma.

T: Sparkling wine, dried herbs, apple rinds, and champagne yeast strains come to the fore; the finish is dry yet with a tinge of sweet sun-dried fruit, especially bananas and white grapes (obviously).

M: Mouthfeel is definitely effervescent but not inordinately so, and the finish is beautiful dry yeast with crisp apple.

O: I was so excited to find this unique beer, and it does not disappoint. I've seen many use this for a "Beermosa," and that sounds excellent. This is a fine piece of work to convince snobby wine connoisseurs that beer can indeed stand beside the best wines and champagnes. Brava!