Biere Ovale
Our Mutual Friend Malt & Brew

 

 

 

its weird, i wrote these guys off many years ago, but have come back a few times intermittently and liked some stuff, they have obviously put some real effort in, and it was cool to be here drinking a few of these just a day before they won a silver for this one and a gold for another brett beer at gabf last weekend, two pretty cool categories to be recognized in at that level, so they are doing something right, but i also had some lackluster beers here at the same session, so its not all gravy yet. anyway, this is pretty exceptional, a foudre aged golden mixed culture brew thats lemony, tart, and pretty rustic, but also unique enough on the ferment to really stand out, i was quite impressed with this and can see why it took a medal. its bright yellow, short but fizzy prickly white head, just light haze, looks right, and it just glows in the glass. nose of old oak, high bretty funk, real citrusy lactic tang, key limes and meyer lemons to me, a white wine not with more wood in the middle, and then a clean stone fruitiness at the end, all very light, not a lot from the grain in the aroma, but i dont miss it. the flavor is cool too, very fermentation driven and even more tart than it smells, but still not too acidic for session drinking. lemons for sure, white grapes, white peaches, its fruity, but its all from the yeasts. i get some wheat i think, but again the malt is very minimal here. more carbonation that it shows in the glass, feels light and alive and well refined, and there is an almost old world saison aspect as well, a unique ester that gives this some old world appeal, lightly hopped, but also pretty distinctive there, more citrus, thyme, and verbena, maybe white tea too. this is impressive and somewhat unexpected from these guys, neat to get to drink it right before it was decorated. nicely done!