West Ashley | Sante Adairius Rustic Ales
Brewed by:
Sante Adairius Rustic Ales
California, United States
santeadairius.com
Style: American Wild Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.30%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Orange, lactic, and bursting with apricot aroma, West Ashley is built for consideration and conversation. While Ashley starts as a simple Saison, careful aging in French Oak Pinot Noir barrels with apricots, our house microbes, and warm encouragement transform her into a tart, complex and delectable beer.
Added by illidurit on 08-26-2012
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 1,104 | Reviews: 100
Reviews by illidurit:
4.33/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Batch 1: On tap at the brewery. Pours a nice pumpkin color with a wispy white head. Lactic lemon and peach aroma, lightly vinous. Flavor is tart apricots, nice and fresh, lemon pith, subtle brett, biiig oaky finish with heaps of grapes, rustic woodiness, buttery oaky wine, dry finish.
Batch 3: From bottle at Jupiter Sour Sunday. The aroma has taken a leap forward, just tons of dried apricots. Clearly more fruit in this batch, in a good way. Flavor is tart and tannic, apricot skin galore.
494 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Batch 1: On tap at the brewery. Pours a nice pumpkin color with a wispy white head. Lactic lemon and peach aroma, lightly vinous. Flavor is tart apricots, nice and fresh, lemon pith, subtle brett, biiig oaky finish with heaps of grapes, rustic woodiness, buttery oaky wine, dry finish.
Batch 3: From bottle at Jupiter Sour Sunday. The aroma has taken a leap forward, just tons of dried apricots. Clearly more fruit in this batch, in a good way. Flavor is tart and tannic, apricot skin galore.
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More User Reviews:
2.38/5 rDev -47.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3
One of the more overrated beers out there. Apricot pit and mild sourness. Get a de garde imperial apricot bu and thank me later.
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look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3
One of the more overrated beers out there. Apricot pit and mild sourness. Get a de garde imperial apricot bu and thank me later.
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4.52/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
750ml bottle of indeterminate batch (I think 2), generously bought over by powz87 at our recently celebratory whale tasting today, 3/22/2014.
Review #498.
App- Hazy orange body that looks like orange juice with pulp, nice one finger white head with a normal pour with normal saison retention (which is a lot) and lacing. Beautiful beer.
Smell- Holy apricot funk. Not much acid, but a lot of sweet tangerine/orange citrus flavors and a bit of barrel funk. Not super complex like a Belgian geueze, but so interesting and delicious just the same.
Flavour- Very good! Lots of fruity apricot character, with some tannins and a bit of funk. Not very acidic, maybe 3/10 vinegar, but drinking incredibly well. Like the nose, not as complex as the Belgian counterparts, but not gonna lie, this is really tasty.
Mouthfeel- Crisp yet creamy medium bodied beer that is incredibly refreshing. We drank this between 2012 BADL and Murda'd Out Stout, and this appropriately cleansed our palate in the most enjoyable way. Tart, crisp funk mixed in with some apricot juice on the backend.
Overall- One of the best American fruit sours/saisons I've had thus far. Jeez! So much more delicate yet flavourful than the likes of Chez Monus and Atrial Rubicite. It's up there with New Glarus' Very Sour Blackberry in terms of the drinking experience. Sante Adairius is for real!
1,359 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
750ml bottle of indeterminate batch (I think 2), generously bought over by powz87 at our recently celebratory whale tasting today, 3/22/2014.
Review #498.
App- Hazy orange body that looks like orange juice with pulp, nice one finger white head with a normal pour with normal saison retention (which is a lot) and lacing. Beautiful beer.
Smell- Holy apricot funk. Not much acid, but a lot of sweet tangerine/orange citrus flavors and a bit of barrel funk. Not super complex like a Belgian geueze, but so interesting and delicious just the same.
Flavour- Very good! Lots of fruity apricot character, with some tannins and a bit of funk. Not very acidic, maybe 3/10 vinegar, but drinking incredibly well. Like the nose, not as complex as the Belgian counterparts, but not gonna lie, this is really tasty.
Mouthfeel- Crisp yet creamy medium bodied beer that is incredibly refreshing. We drank this between 2012 BADL and Murda'd Out Stout, and this appropriately cleansed our palate in the most enjoyable way. Tart, crisp funk mixed in with some apricot juice on the backend.
Overall- One of the best American fruit sours/saisons I've had thus far. Jeez! So much more delicate yet flavourful than the likes of Chez Monus and Atrial Rubicite. It's up there with New Glarus' Very Sour Blackberry in terms of the drinking experience. Sante Adairius is for real!
1,359 characters
4.19/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Huuuuge thanks to rudzud for acquiring this beast.
Light fizzy head fades semi quickly, hazy murky lemon yellow orange color.
Nose is interesting, a lambic like funk, mild sour lemony tartness, a mild apricot juice, tangy apricot, mild genetic stone fruit, light generic funk, light fleshy peach and apricot.
Taste is on, decent bit lighter peach, more like apricot skin and stem, light funk, light stone fruit, hint sour like funk, weird fleshy fruit not really much apricot, mild tangy with mild acidity. Weird orange peel bitterness too. Hint of toasted oak and vinous wine barrel like notes. Finish is dry mild sticky mild acidic bite, little flemmy, hint of apricot and stone fruit. Seems like the nice subtlties of the beer are lost in the funk and fruity notes.
Mouth is med bod, decent but lighter carb.
Overall a huge let down, just ok, not really sour or funky, not much for apricot or stone fruit, just average in general. No idea how this had such a big reputation.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Huuuuge thanks to rudzud for acquiring this beast.
Light fizzy head fades semi quickly, hazy murky lemon yellow orange color.
Nose is interesting, a lambic like funk, mild sour lemony tartness, a mild apricot juice, tangy apricot, mild genetic stone fruit, light generic funk, light fleshy peach and apricot.
Taste is on, decent bit lighter peach, more like apricot skin and stem, light funk, light stone fruit, hint sour like funk, weird fleshy fruit not really much apricot, mild tangy with mild acidity. Weird orange peel bitterness too. Hint of toasted oak and vinous wine barrel like notes. Finish is dry mild sticky mild acidic bite, little flemmy, hint of apricot and stone fruit. Seems like the nice subtlties of the beer are lost in the funk and fruity notes.
Mouth is med bod, decent but lighter carb.
Overall a huge let down, just ok, not really sour or funky, not much for apricot or stone fruit, just average in general. No idea how this had such a big reputation.
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4.29/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
9/7/2013
Big thanks to Chris for the bottle. Poured into a Teku.
Yellow with a little orange and an inch of white froth. Scattered lacing clings to the glass.
Sulfurous, tart, and lactic apricots with wet leather, earth, barnyard, and blue cheese. This is really damn complex and Lambic-like. The overbearing sulfur presence diminishes the overall quality of the aroma, but there are some really impressive things going on that can't be ignored.
Brackish apricot flavor with notes of musty barnyard, hay, and wet leather. Unlike in the aroma, sulfur is not overbearing here. Robust earthy notes blend seamlessly with the lactic stone fruit flesh, pit, and tannic skin. There's a little oak as well. The acidity is citric and lactic, with only a whisper of acetic. Tart throughout, finishing with a piquant flourish.
Lower medium body with matching carbonation. Dry, sticky mouthfeel.
A very good beer with a bit too much sulfur in the nose. Hopefully they get that figured out (it's been present in some of their others beers) as it is detracting. Who needs spontaneous fermentation when you can inoculate with a house strain of this quality?
1,149 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
9/7/2013
Big thanks to Chris for the bottle. Poured into a Teku.
Yellow with a little orange and an inch of white froth. Scattered lacing clings to the glass.
Sulfurous, tart, and lactic apricots with wet leather, earth, barnyard, and blue cheese. This is really damn complex and Lambic-like. The overbearing sulfur presence diminishes the overall quality of the aroma, but there are some really impressive things going on that can't be ignored.
Brackish apricot flavor with notes of musty barnyard, hay, and wet leather. Unlike in the aroma, sulfur is not overbearing here. Robust earthy notes blend seamlessly with the lactic stone fruit flesh, pit, and tannic skin. There's a little oak as well. The acidity is citric and lactic, with only a whisper of acetic. Tart throughout, finishing with a piquant flourish.
Lower medium body with matching carbonation. Dry, sticky mouthfeel.
A very good beer with a bit too much sulfur in the nose. Hopefully they get that figured out (it's been present in some of their others beers) as it is detracting. Who needs spontaneous fermentation when you can inoculate with a house strain of this quality?
1,149 characters
4.4/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
It took a while to track this beer down, largely due to its west coast whale status and the majorly inflated trade values created by the Bay Area hype trolls, so I am glad that I finally located a trader who would go dollar for dollar on this bottle.
The taste is tart, funky, and lightly fruited with a dry finish.
Overall, a very well balanced and enjoyable beer. It would probably taste better with a bit more tart and a lot more fruit, but that would then become a different beer.
Now having tried it, I have no real need to revisit this beer for quite some time. For what a single bottle of West Ashley commands in a trade, I would be better off trading for Fou' Foune (which is a better beer) or drinking two modestly priced shelf Allagash or Russian River sours.
775 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
It took a while to track this beer down, largely due to its west coast whale status and the majorly inflated trade values created by the Bay Area hype trolls, so I am glad that I finally located a trader who would go dollar for dollar on this bottle.
The taste is tart, funky, and lightly fruited with a dry finish.
Overall, a very well balanced and enjoyable beer. It would probably taste better with a bit more tart and a lot more fruit, but that would then become a different beer.
Now having tried it, I have no real need to revisit this beer for quite some time. For what a single bottle of West Ashley commands in a trade, I would be better off trading for Fou' Foune (which is a better beer) or drinking two modestly priced shelf Allagash or Russian River sours.
775 characters
4.31/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a bottle into a taster. Lots of apricot and barnyard funk - lactic sourness was present, but not overwhelming. Nice beer, but didn't live up to the hype for me.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a bottle into a taster. Lots of apricot and barnyard funk - lactic sourness was present, but not overwhelming. Nice beer, but didn't live up to the hype for me.
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4.18/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
my first beer from these folks thats not a collaboration, and its a pretty good one, albeit a little short of where the hype would have it. the apricots didnt seem that prominent to me, but the sour saison base was awesome, and the barrel aspect fantastic. hazy orange tinted blonde color, short but lasting white inch on top. the nose here is more saison yeast than brett, but there is some funk intermixed with the moderate acid tartness. the apricots arent invisible on the nose, but their presence is light, more of an orchard fruit sweetness than apricots specifically, but i get it. the flavor is light on the apricot too, which is fine for me, i dont reckon it needs much. the blonde sour saison beer is just great, with a lot of yeast character in addition to the mouthfeel, its got a little spice, and the wheat malt base has some serious body to it. the carbonation is pronounced, and the finish is dry. as an apricot wild ale, its not my favorite, its not fruit forward enough for that, but as a wild ale in general, its exquisite. the oak on this adds a nice layer that jives famously with the yeast. i would buy this if it were available here for sure.
1,165 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
my first beer from these folks thats not a collaboration, and its a pretty good one, albeit a little short of where the hype would have it. the apricots didnt seem that prominent to me, but the sour saison base was awesome, and the barrel aspect fantastic. hazy orange tinted blonde color, short but lasting white inch on top. the nose here is more saison yeast than brett, but there is some funk intermixed with the moderate acid tartness. the apricots arent invisible on the nose, but their presence is light, more of an orchard fruit sweetness than apricots specifically, but i get it. the flavor is light on the apricot too, which is fine for me, i dont reckon it needs much. the blonde sour saison beer is just great, with a lot of yeast character in addition to the mouthfeel, its got a little spice, and the wheat malt base has some serious body to it. the carbonation is pronounced, and the finish is dry. as an apricot wild ale, its not my favorite, its not fruit forward enough for that, but as a wild ale in general, its exquisite. the oak on this adds a nice layer that jives famously with the yeast. i would buy this if it were available here for sure.
1,165 characters
4.54/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had a half pour at the brewery earlier today.
Pour was as nice light golden color with very minimal lacing.
Perfect amount of funk and apricot on the nose and a nice crisp, tart mouthfeel.
Lived up to the BA rating in my book, just wish they had it in bottles to go.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had a half pour at the brewery earlier today.
Pour was as nice light golden color with very minimal lacing.
Perfect amount of funk and apricot on the nose and a nice crisp, tart mouthfeel.
Lived up to the BA rating in my book, just wish they had it in bottles to go.
266 characters
4.63/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.61/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.61/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
4.75/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.86/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
4.6/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.83/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.72/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
West Ashley from Sante Adairius Rustic Ales
Beer rating:
4.57 out of
5 with
1,104 ratings
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