Ninkasi
The Wild Beer Co.

Hazy, orange color. Big, white head. Aroma of yeasts, apples, malt, spices. Yeasty, fruity taste with a dry finish and hint of alcohol. Another decent saison from this brewery.

 

 

Drank at The Craft Beer Co, Islington.

Bottle with fake wax covered crown top. Clear gold. Frothy and long lasting head.
Spicy yeast aroma. Slightly funky. Over ripe apples.
Light banana, pepper and mild clove upon tasting. Similar to scrumpy cider.
Alcohol apparent. Tingling effervesence.
Tried and enjoyed on a warm Easter Sunday.

L- Pale gold, slightly hazy, pours with 5mm white head.
S- It has a fruity smell, almost like spiced apple. ... trepidation, I have no inkling what this might taste like...
T- Interesting, better than I feared. It has a distinct aromatic spiciness to it, it reminds me of clove/cardamon.
M- For a 9% beer it's more refreshing than anticipated. Likely helps I'd chilled it well. I'm beginning to find the spicy pungency added to it's rich body becoming a bit hard going about 1/3 way into the 750ml bottle.
O- Very unusual, flavour-wise it reminds me of a north European winter or Christmas beer; but perhaps even more distinctly spicy. Later reading the lable I'm surprised to see that no added spices are listed in the ingredients; it really is that spicy and if they somehow conjour all of that from the hops it is surprising. Interesting to try it, but it isn't something I'd go out and buy.

I was given a bottle of this as an Xmas present. The bottle design has changed vs the pic about, the logo is now printed directly onto the bottle. The bottle top has been dipped in white was, leaving trails almost to the shoulder of the bottle.
BB: 23/11/21

750 ml bottle purchased at the brewery 12/2015, drank out of a tulip on 11/5/18, properly cellared in between.

Look - Aggressive pour led to way too much white head, which settled down to a nice layering that remained throughout, and left just a little lacing. Color was a clear gold.

Smell - Fresh and mild apple.

Taste - Sweet and very apple but mild, not a wild at all, more on the saison side of things. Only a tinge of bitterness. No hint of ABV.

Feel - Medium thick and smooth - surprisingly so for a saison.

Overall - I actually had to sit on this for three years as I left it in my relative's garage in the UK, and didn't make it back for a visit...during that time I'm happy to see they're available at Waitrose. So there will now be a replacement waiting for me on my next visit! Great beer!

After reading a couple other reviews, I wonder if three years of aging might have eased up on the wildness and alcohol taste of a more fresh Ninkasi, or if the recipe changed, as I didn't get either of these in my three year old bottle.

Clear dark yellow. Fruity sry apple nose and spiced yeast notes; and tart. Good balance of funky and tart. Tastes Fizzy and fruity. Dry sulfides and apple cider, chardonnay notes. Light funk throughout, moderatr tartness, semidry palate. Notes of wood, tart and farmhouse funk, and spice.

From a 750ml wine bottle with an attractive wax seal.
L: Yellow gold colour, light haze with clouds of bubbles and a thick, creamy head that leaves arcs of lacing.
S: Light, floral, citrus & honeysuckle. Some dusty yeast.
T: Semi-sweet, lightly sour, and dry. Granny Smith apple, gooseberry, cloves, yeast. Alcohol heat is evident but not dominant.
F: Medium body with foaming carbonation. Smooth, rounded, soft mouthfeel. Dry finish becomes warm & rich as alcohol emerges.
O: An excellent, very smooth, easy to drink (for 9%!), bone-dry saison. Mimics a champagne. Would be great with food. Outstanding beer to find in a supermarket (Waitrose).

Bottled in massive seven fifty ml bomber with wax covered cap
Pours a slightly hazy golden body with big g foaming white head
apples sharp fruit vinegar and sherbet
Cider elements with champane and saison sour

 

 

Color yellow gold. Foam white, impermanent.
Aroma: fruity, citrus and apple in the background.
Taste: here the addition of apples is clearly felt, this time citruses are definitely only a background.
Gentian: dry, grapefruit. Saturation average. Alcohol hidden.

Sampled at a tasting. Hazy yellow pour with a thin white head. Smells like lemons, brett and bubble gum. The taste is quite brett forward, with notes of bubble gum and grapefruit. Rough mouthfeel, high carbonation and bitter aftertaste.

Hazy yellow color with white head. Aroma has an intense brett character. Taste starts bitter and yeasty, quite cloying with bitter almonds / apple seeds. Medium body, high carbonation. Quite interesting but the bitter/yeasty flavor doesn't work that well.

 

 

Pours hazy peach with a massive head that lasts the entire glass, draping foam on the way down. Some white grape, granny smith apple and straw in the nose. Melon and pineapple and apple cider in the taste, pretty unusual. The mouthfeel is pretty full bodied. The finish is yeasty and watery for the ABV. Alcohol is very well hidden throughout. Hops are extremely restrained.