Le Contrebassiste - Brettanomyces
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tasted from draught at Firkin on October 22, 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While Bell's "Jazz Series" captures the flavor of the French lowlands is somewhat tepid and gentler fashion than is absolutely authentic, nothing could be further from that, than when the funken earth character of wild yeast is introduced.

Decorated with the rosy, musty and saddle leather of dried citrus and pungent wood decay, the nose is twisted with the fermented scents that captivate and warn the senses. Beneath, the golden ale is the look of honey with a creamy column of foam that floats gently above.

Its relaxed taste is biscuity and malty with caramel and honey. Drying quickly, the ale reveals its sour secrets as the tang of dry zinfindale, cider, lemon, lime, under-ripened berry and crabapple and works to balance the residual bready sweetness.

With its sweetness retreating, the creamy and starchy structure of the beer remains to equip the taste with a medium-light texture. Its finish of light acidity dissects the malt as wafts of earthen burlap and damp basement echo in aftertaste.