Sauvie
The Ale Apothecary

 

Similar to Ralph, without the follow through...

A 375ml corked and caged bottle, bottled on 29th October 2019. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen stemmed glass.

Appearance: A lightly hazy golden orange colour with a two finger white head that had decent retention, and eventually settled to a thin fluffy cap, while leaving nice lacing.

Aroma: Tart, peach, apricot, sweet grape, tangy, citrus, orange, oak.

Taste: Sour, tart, gummy candy like fruitiness, peach, apricot, grape, citrus, lemon, oak.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied with moderate carbonation.

Overall: Really enjoyable and easy to drink, with great aromas and gummy candy like fruitiness in the flavour.

Poured into a white wine glass. Blush pink with no head. Floral scent with spice and bitter almond aftertaste. Mouthfeel carbonated at first but smooth at the swallow. Wish I had more than one bottle.

 

 

 

 

 

12.7oz Cork and caged Bottle (bottled January 30 2020, and marked at 7.49% ABV) poured into 14oz teku. Poured a gorgeous, but cloudy, reddish mahogany color with over an inch of khaki-colored head that dissipated quickly, and left no lacing.

A nice dose of wine at the front of the nose. Soft grains in the background, with some wood and floral notes as well.

Fairly similar on the palate, with some yeast spice/funk added in. A nicely tart spice bite on the finish really helps dry the beer out.

The body was light, crisp, smooth, and had an extremely dry finish.

Drinkability was very good, I'll seek it out again, but I'm glad it's in this size bottle, i think a 750 would be a bit much for one sitting.

Overall, another great beer from the wilds of Bend. A must-try if you see it.

Bottled 1/16/ 20 @ 7.46%, the label also tells that Ale Apothecary uses all the Crystal hops grown by Sauvie Island Hops near Portland. And goes on to repeat their brewing principles of "100% naturally carbonated with honey, and 100% Oregon. Unfiltered, open-fermented and barrel-aged." If this is not yet "Masters of Terroir", it is getting very close.

I'm sharing the label because this could be a slightly different rendition than 2017 vintage released a year ago. While AA is carried selectively in Chicago, I got my 375ml copy from Tavour. Tightly corked and caged. Priced as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. (It was.)

Everything about Sauvie is well above the average for a style that I keep trying to like... but have not yet grown into. Sauvie Looks the rustic part with active bubbles and foam, but still well-behaved. Smells are wilder; mostly the tart and the barrel, but I do not discern what fruits are emerging. Tastes are largely becoming the same. But the first nuance, a citrus medley attacks my tongue. Then there is a unique dying sensation to finish. Thankfully, Sauvie does not get too tart to sip. Balanced acidity I presume for most aficionados... less so for me as Wilds often give me a bit of reflux. (Sorry, but as you also age... this could happen to you.)

I went on AA's website and they are as expected: one man's passion to brew his way... and great marital support. Paul has an extensive blog, several entries a year going back to 2011; so obviously thoughtful over time, in addition to an impressive ale resume. AA may not make it on my Bucket List for a visit, but I will remember this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

L: Orangish red color.
S: Strong nectarine flavor.
T: A lemonade that's made with nectarine rather than lemon.
F: Light with citrus notes.
O: A really good summer beer to enjoy outside.

 

Pucker up because this one is tart! The oak brings out the tartness in the starring fruit flavors: grape, grapefruit, orange, peach, lime, and a touch of apple. This is all beautifully contrasting by the wood tannins, rye, and a finishing kiss of hops and earth within the tartness. Smell is not as complex more focused on the tart notes and wood. Feel is tart but not really acidic, sneaky dry, full, and bright. Almost forgot, cloudy rustic copper body with a slight bubble ring appearance

375 ml. corked and caged bottle.
Brewed 12.2017.
Bottled 3.21.2019.
914 bottles.
Moderate to vigorous pour yields a 3/4 inch white head over a pinkish amber body with a little lacing. Nose of citrus, grape, oak, and a bit of spice from the dry hopping of crystal hops. Very nice! Taste mirrors nose with additional flavors of spice from the rye malt. Exhibiting a wonderfully tart, spicy finish of a little grape tannins, oak, and spice. Whoa! Very nice feel and overall, yet another world class offering from AA in Bend. Cheers!