The Archer Réserve
de Garde Brewing

5/22 bottling

A clear red with a thin, white head that falls off rapidly leaving little lacing. The nose is gorgeous. Richly fruity and spicy with a piquant tartaric acid bite. Earthy, musty, mildly mushroomy funk. Dried berries. Mild honey. An undercurrent of oak. The palate opens with a tartaric acidity which brightens the fruit notes present. It also complements the delicate spice note from the yeast and the oak. Dried cherries. The grape depth is quite magnificent. Dried grape skin, dried cherries, blueberries, earth. Moderate carbonation with a lingering tartaric acid character on the finish. Lovely.

 

not sure if this is different from the one labeled reserve cuvee or not, the alcohol content is different but that could just be the vintage, i believe they are both blended from four years, but wanted to add this one separately as that is how the label now reads, october 2020 bottling. gorgeous color here, reddish purple in the glass with a fizzy head that settles fast and just a little cloudiness. the nose is amazing, the best part of this for me, immediately more mature and complex than the original archer, which was also highly impressive to me. more oak here though, more funk, more lambic-like to me, the best of their fermentation profile and blending skills here as far as i am concerned, not too acidic, amazing. the grapes are identifiable is pinot noir, the wine character here is as strong as the fruit character, like some grapes themselves, some actual wine in the mix, subtle other fruit tones of cranberry, red currant, and tangy raspberry too. the flavor is pungent and strong, dripping with grape goodness, again easy to pick as pinot noir, tart and puckery but not astringent or too acidic. wine grape and oak tannins both, some high minerality, juicy grape and skins, dark soil, raw wheat, flattering oxidation, and some iodine and medicinal element in the ferment, infinitely dynamic and complex, the best of the beer wine hybrid types in terms of depth, this is the kind of beer i am just obsessed with right now, and drinking this was a real treat for the senses. the acidity level is perfect, the woodiness is spot on, and the grapes come through wonderfully. it would be cool to have this side by side with the original next time, but i am probably dreaming! always fun to drink beer from these guys, they remain one of the best!