Sarah Lovely
Aardwolf Brewing Company

I received a 25 oz. bottle from @roguer in the NBS BIF #13. Poured into a stemless glass. It pours a pretty mahogany color with a thick, creamy, medium-mocha head and generous lacing. It's quite dark for a Wild Ale. The intriguing nose includes raspberry and oaky-tobacco notes, as well as the distinct smell of Brettanomyces. The taste opens with a burst of ripe raspberry but there are also rich notes of bakers chocolate and burnt coffee that add both depth and surprising roasty bitterness. As expected it's sour but not overwhelmingly so. I'm impressed by the mouth feel; it's quite thick and creamy for the style. The carbonation is moderate and the 6.6% ABV gives it good substance but doesn't distract. Overall, this is not a typical Wild Ale. The malty, roasty aspect adds a very nice dimension. I really enjoyed it.

Really impressive head production for a BBA sour ale. Good retention. Body is shockingly dark, almost like a stout.

Bourbon, oak, and raspberries all vie for dominance on the nose. Tons of oak, and the bourbon and raspberries come together in a wine-like melange. Other notes include chocolate, coffee, and brown sugar.

Incredibly, impressively sour on the palate, with waves of oak and vinegar. Raspberries and bourbon both take a back seat, but not unpleasantly; this is a sour dark ale, without hesitation or reservation.

Super unique and seriously intense. Great in small doses. Heavy on the dark chocolate covered raspberries and cherries. Definitely a sipper, this is a dessert beer.

 

 

 

 

First off, I am not normally a fan of dark sours. However, this one surprised me. I am confident that the Bourbon Barrel aging was the major factor in this. The barrel is the first thing you smell and taste. The look....very much like a stout. The sour notes are there, but subdued (a good thing for me).

 

 

 

 

From a growler into a tulip

Pours pitch black with a nice tightly knit brown head with good retention and leaves spotty lace all the way down. Smells like tart raspberries and not much else. Not very complex, but has a fantastic aroma! The tartness bites immediately in the back of my jaws. Nice tart, raspberries and chocolate dominate here. Once again, not terribly complex but absolutely delicious! Mouth feel is a little prickly due to the high carbonation, but it works well here. Medium body. Overall this is a fantastic Wild Ale. I find myself buying a growler each week. This has shortly become one of my all time favorites from any brewery. Highly recommended! Well done Aardwolf!

 

 

 

This beer smells amazing. Tastes amazing. Fantastic.