Fox In The Snow - Blackberry
Off Color Brewing

 

cool series of beers this is becoming, stunning packaging, and the blackberries make sense. i think i like this a little more than the cranberry edition, as the jammy sweetness of the berries seems to work a little better than the tangy acidity of the cranberry in an already pretty sour base beer. i kind of always forget that this is malty and strong, almost an oud bruin type base, shiny and amber colored without a lot of head. the fruit is way behind the beer in aroma and flavor, its identifiable as blackberry and its summery sweetness is appreciated, but this is malt and fermentation profile first for me, clean bacterial pucker, high mineral brightness, baked malty richness without a ton of body for its abv, and light caramel character in the mix as well. the berries drop in beautifully though, subtle as they kind of are, present the whole way just out of the spotlight, really enhancing the flavor of the grain in a pie-like way, and balancing some of the acid. this doesnt have a ton of residual sugar, but it does have a nice long finish, stays with me awhile, partially due to relaxed carbonation, a little red wine vinegar to it, a flanders thing, and i am immediately curious about long ageing one of these. off color continues to impress, i am so thankful we see a little bit of their beer here in idaho. a first rate operation!

Overall appearance of this beer is fairly "meh". The coloration is both a plus and a minus. The burnt tones aren't overly attractive, but when exposed to different light conditions, it does take on a variety of colors that are at least somewhat interesting. Very little in the way of head despite an aggressive pour.

Aroma hints at a good amount of acidity, with some nice wine like characteristics underneath. I'm not picking up the blackberries directly, but there is a subtle sweetness to the aroma.

The taste is where this beer starts to shine. While I'm not detecting the blackberries, this is a nicely complex beer that hits you with tart notes out of the gate, but with plenty of vinous characteristics mixed in. It has a really nice funky / earthy finish that rounds out the experience. Relatively light feel and mild carbonation.

 

Appearance: Arrives a tawny cranberry color with a modest cap; a splattering of lace

Smell: Vinous red wine barrel tones dominate with the blackberry recessive; some sweetness but the tart tones prevail

Taste: Barolo is a big red wine so it is no surprise that the vinous flavors predominate at the outset; fruity and oaky with tart blackberry elements developing; the sweeter aspect fades through the finish which is moderately tart

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation; puckery

Overall: The flavors are nice but the blackberry was pushed aside a bit

Close to a Flanders Red and, most probably, inspired by it.
In that style and in Fox Blackberry, I appreciate how the tartness mostly cuts through the sweetness instead of relying on hops as do most styles.

I am not a fan of Wilds, but I am a fan of Off Color and they tend to make Wilds better than most micros. But even a balanced tart in a small bottle if drunk by me still results in very tight taste buds. The fewer Wilds I taste test, the better off I am.

2021 edition, 8.5 oz. bottle.

Brownish amber tone, a thin flash of foam that disappears after a minute.

Aroma is acetic with some noticeable THP, apple butter, apple cider vinegar, cheerios. Not getting much blackberry, it smells more like a Flanders Red.

Tart lemon, apple butter, cereal grains, cheerios. Some acetic sharpness, medium body and softer carbonation. Again, missing any distinctive blackberry character. Overall, not a big fan and glad it was only a single. The last Fox in the Snow I had improved after a few months regarding the THP character, so maybe wait a bit on this one too.

Thanks to Thomas & Jenny for this one!

 

No bottling date listed but bottled within the last month for sure. Consumed 4/15/20

A very pretty color and the smell of amazing. I need to try it back to back with the regular cherry version for the differences. I get a decent amount of tart but less than many other Off Color fruited beers. Lots of fruit on the back end which I really enjoy. This is a unique take on a kriek and I think I need to pick up another 4 pack. Don’t miss this beer