The Vieux
de Garde Brewing

Bottle from the source.

A clear deep orange with a dense, off-white head with excellent retention.

The nose is a gorgeous blend of bright hops, citrusy and mildly earthy, with and earthy, mushroomy funk. Rich tannins, wet oak, layered, rich and deep. A hint of cheese, enough so that it could be from the hops but not so much that it couldn't just be the base funk. The brightness is different from something like The Frais, with a less full hop character.

The palate is completely unexpected. Bitter, oily with a blend of hop and tannic acid. The texture is different from most other de Garde beers, with an oily bitterness that really lingers and amplifies the citrusy hop profile. The old, old base beer is also quite deeply funky, with musty, earthy mushrooms present. A little vermouth and wormwood? Moderate carbonation, long, lingering, funky finish. Lovely, reminiscent of Iris.