Oncilla Taxi
Off Color Brewing

8.5 fl oz. bottle, no bottling information. Excited to try this outing from Off Color, acquired the 4pk from the local Binny's. "Funky saison aged in puncheon wine barrels with tropical fruits" "Secret techniques: Finger Limes, Yuzu, Pink Lemons, Mandarin Oranges, Mandarinquats, Limequats, Calamondins, and Fukushu Kumquats". Quite the list of ingredients I must say.

Poured to Brasserie D'achouffe stemware.
Mouthwatering tartness immediately upon uncapping.
Pours a lightly pale golden body, small finger of quickly dissipating white bubbly head. Appears bubbly and adequately carbonated. Looks very nice.
Huuugely complex & interesting aroma - tons of oak wood, white wine, white grape, leather, vanilla, and tart funk.
Flavor profile follows the nose: deeply layered, complex and interesting stuff. This saison has turned all sour with lots of tart funk, citrus zest, and big flavorful earthy, grainy, bready yeast on the finish. The long list of exotic fruits all kind of seem to meld together however, becoming lost to one another, sad to say. There is definitely 'sour beer' levels of tart, sour, funk, & yeast on this bad boy.
Smooth, crisp, crushable. Feels a touch higher than the 5.40% abv listed, but either way, feels modest enough to be sessionable. Love this small serving size bottle format also, it's definitely a perfect amount of beer, and I wish there were more beers available in this format.

Off Color Brewing Oncilla Taxi -----4.5/5

 

 

 

Poured into my Off Color tulip.
Being a traditionalist, I like more foaming activity in my saison; but Oncilla Taxi is tempered by lots of tart fruits and, I guess, Brett... so lesser foam gets produced. Smells: there are limes in my saison; and I think that is interesting... albeit more so in summer than during today's late winter tasting. The Tastes follow, which is good for refreshment, but unfortunate for the food because limes are too strong for most foods except probably, Mexican food. However, lemons improve the chances of going with many more foods, particularly from the Mediterranean kitchens and fish. In the mouth, the intensity is from the limes; and that is cleansing, but, I repeat, not friendly with enough foods.

I am a big fan of Off Color and enjoy most of their brews, and many again and again. Oncilla, probably not unless I find it in summer.

8/18/22 I found it this summer in a small bottle. And it worked fine as refreshment while the Dog Days were coming to an end. Acted well as an aperitif. Glad I ventured again into this tart world.

750ml bottle, poured into a Hill Farmstead oversized wine glass. Enjoyed on 6.9.19, reviewed from Tasting Journal.

The beer pours a hazy amber color, light golden hues, bubbles rising up towards a foamy white head with moderate retention and great lacing. The aroma is loaded with citrus, lots of lemon lime, grapefruit peel and orange zest with plenty of funk and bacterial cultures yet also lightly floral with a very grainy base as well as a nice oak quality. The flavors echo the nose, loads of funk and buggy cultures, soft oak and grain, but this is all about the citrus, a bit of juiciness but a lot of rind that spans from tart lemon to more bitter grapefruit. A grainy and almost spicy saison base and mineral water reside underneath the heavy adjuncts. The mouthfeel is good, coating and creamy with a medium body that has a tart and dry finish.

Verdict: A nice citrus forward farmhouse beer from Off Color. Unique and interesting and the adjuncts are well expressed.

Pale saturated gold, slight haze, slow ascending bubbles. Thin layer of foam and spotty lacing.

Citric fruity aroma, lime and lemon, yuzu, mildly tropical.

Taste is tart and citric as well, crisp and juicy with lemon lime yuzu and mild Brett traces, mild earthy hop bitterness. Lemony aftertaste. Lighter side of medium bodied, crisp dry finish. Pleasant and quenching in warm weather.