Jerkbird
Off Color Brewing

 

 

definitely some age on this one now, a cool bottle of beer with a well developed brett profile now, sort of a style bender, strong and with some sweet malts like a tripel might have, but also with some hop bitterness and yeast esters like a belgian pale, but then fully bretted out too, so it does a lot of things, including hiding its alcohol very well, this snuck up on me rather quickly last night. love the label art, mine says 9.5% abv too, maybe some batch variance there, no date visible on it. the beer pours a slightly hazed over yellow color, some density and legs to it, very frothy, thick, creamy, and lasting white head in our oversized wine glasses, perfect for this sort of thing. it smells like a brux type brett, not positive, but the brett is earthy and musty and with an iodine note, minerals, and dried fruitiness, at least as forward as any more conventional belgian yeast element, dried apricot, golden raisin, and white grapes to me here. no tang at all, nothing piquant or tart, this is without any bacterial element that i can appreciate, and i dig that. the malt seems simple, organic, enhanced maybe, a light candy sugar or honey even, that kind of vibe to it, but the alcohol doesnt show itself at all either, perhaps owing to its age. i get tea-like and floral notes in the taste, elderflower liquor and verbena, springy and lively still, without any oxidation or anything, still not all the way dry in the finish despite all the brett, which suggests to me this one is really built to last, and probably will continue evolving favorably for quite some time to come. not their most radical beer, they do a lot of crazy stuff here, but i like the brett element in an otherwise rather classic belgian strong pale ale, always a joy to drink beer from off color! this one was popped to celebrate my wifes raise at work and was plenty suitable for the occasion!

 

Bottle. Clear gold with ring and island and a little lace. Herbal cidery honey booze aroma with similar apricot fruity honey cereal sweetness and strong herbal bitterness. Medium body slick near cloying. Just not very good compared to what else is out there.

Hard to put this beer in to a box, let alone a style category. I'll try though. It's an American spin on a belgian something or another with some hops (not too much), and dosed with brett. It's pale and a bit cloudy and has a classic barnyard funk (again, not too much). Real tasty stuff and pretty easy drinking.

 

 

Well done triple.

 

 

 

 

Look: It pours golden and brilliantly clear. It has a slightly off white head. Head retention is low.

Smell: There is a significant aroma of spices and fruit. Pepper is the most distinctive of the spice elements. There are some orange notes with pear in the background. There are some earthy notes as well.

Taste: The flavors have spices and pepper with orange and hints of pears. There are also some floral notes.

Feel: It has a moderate body with smooth alcohol warming and a dry finish.

Overall, a highly spicy somewhat fruity Belgian ale with the classic dry finish.

8.5oz bottle. Poured out a somewhat cloudy, bronze color with a small, khaki-colored head of foam. It smelled of sweet caramel, bubblegum and some esters. Sweet caramel and toffee with a spiciness and booziness.

 

On-tap at Off Color Brewing Taproom - The Mousetrap, Chicago, IL

A: The beer is hazy dark golden yellow in color. It poured with just a thin collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of fruity yeast are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell and is quite fruity.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is definitely a lot fruitier compared to other beers in the style.

Serving type: on-tap

 

 

 

A fluffy white head holds an inch and a half then suddenly settles to a quarter inch cream for the duration. Pours gold and clear with turbulent fine carbonation throughout. Each sip leaves a fine lacy coating on an antique snifter.

The aromas open with a mix of earthy and fruitiness similar to fermenting apples and apricots. Warmth brings out floral notes and peppercorn. Start to finish there is a mild sweet and funky undertone.

The flavor profile starts out spicy and generally follows the nose without sweetness. It is surprisingly bitter with a mild astringency, similar to celery. Peppercorns are front and center as it warms. The finish is long and dry, similar to a white wine.

While carbonation is less than expected, that works well with the very dry, canvas texture. Alcohol is strong as expected, but lacks warmth in this medium bodied beer.

In my opinion, this is a sophisticated and reserved take on the style. It forces one to think and was quite enjoyable on a dark, cool, windy Saturday afternoon. I finished the bomber after dinner.

Pours out a very hazy/murky bright golden color.

Aroma starts off with juicy pineapple, bit of apricot, goes into musty, wet hay, sweet bready notes, fruit esters and even a floral aspect. Lots going on!

Taste is also very juicy, bright and tropical to start. Pineapple, sweet orange, apricot, sweet bread, fruity esters, musty, white grape, wet hay/grass. Very complex and the Brett C is definitely playing a big part!

Medium bodied, creamy mouthfeel, effervescent and only a hint of the alcohol.

A very complex, but drinkable beer! Off Color makes some great stuff!

 

 

A subtle nose with light notes of fruit and floral alcohol. There is also a light peppercorn aroma.

A slight honey-like sweetness up front but otherwise the flavor matches the nose. It is dry with a low bitterness but a much lower sweetness.

Overall the balance is the most impressive part of this beer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/11/21 It's been 54 months since I first reviewed JerkBird. We've all changed. This ale had a bottle re-release in 2018 that I missed. UnTappd indicates a keg re-release at Mousetrap of 10.5 ABV in October 2020. And now this is 10.5% bottle, a small 250 ML suitable for the table or appetizers (and not get too buzzed.) I've just asked BA to correct the ABV. And am in the process of revising my review below as I work my way through my little-bottle 4-pack carried to the curb from Mousetrap.

I'm not Looking at a pretty pale. Foam is less effusive once Brett gets involved. But Jerbird still Smells like a standard Strong Pale. Jerkbird tastes bready, sweet (must be the flaked wheat claimed on the label.) Jerkbird finishes with its hops, almost dryish... which interferes with some foods. But the Brett is modest, balanced.

In 2016, I had Jerkbird twice because it is easy to pickup since I ride my bike past Off Color's brewhouse.. Jerkbird was better the first time. So, I've lowered the rating slightly. Nonetheless, if you are in Chicago (or can get here soon), buy Jerkbird. It is intended as one-off... but I hope it is not. (2021 addition, and thankfully it is not. Some good tweaks in the re-release that I will work on.)

P.S. If Off Color tweaks the recipe, they also can change the name... or explain the joke. (I'm still waiting for the joke.)

 

Tasted in a 12 oz snifter from a 750 ml bottle on February 19, 2016.