Sixfold XII: Brett'd Golden Ale
West Sixth Brewing Company

 

 

 

The traditional Belgian golden ale never saw it coming. Like a poltergeist stalking its prey, the natural Belgian yeast of the style is supplanted with something wild, something sour, and something totally funky. Brett'd transforms the entire attitude, demeanor and temperament of the ale, and for all the right reasons.

Hazy goldenrod and with a tinge of bruised peach, its those rich pastry and cobbler-like fruits that stew in the nose, above a creamy pillow of froth. Along with a musten perfume of weathered woods, cellar-like funk and tropical fruit that have slightly turned, the nose preludes a bready-sweet taste that rolls gently with toasted caramel, poundcake and vegemite.

The middle palate is rife with the good stuff- mellow sweetness and doughiness mingle with bruised citrus fruits of lemon, lime, orange and grapefruit. A tropical medley of dried pineapple, mango, apricot, light banana, papaya, and passionfruit bleed into a cidery tone of green apple, pear and even peach. Hay and dried grasses follow with a mild peppery bitterness and a piquant sourness of white wine, white pepper and sun-bleached oak.

Medium-bodied for sour ale, the beer's rich doughy texture remains despite the carbonation that breaks up the sweetness and highlights the beer's acidic and peppery finish. A return of saddle leather, musty cork and stewed fruit give that cobbler and pastry-like aftertaste a mature and briny fare. It's a perfect pairing for Thai cuisine and seasonal snow crab feature dishes.