Critters
Off Color Brewing

CrittersCritters
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Beer Geek Stats
From:
Off Color Brewing
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
Witbier
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
3.95 | pDev: 3.29%
Reviews:
1
Ratings:
5
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 06, 2020
Added:
May 26, 2020
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
SCORE
n/a
-
CrittersCritters
Notes: Brett Beer

Fermented with an isolated native yeast, which was determined to be 90% Brettanomyces.

Notes:

A funky wit beer brewed with green coriander and tangerine peel, fermented with an isolate from our native blueberry skin mixed culture. A slightly higher hopping of Grungiest lends a floral peach note and helps to keep acidity in check. Floral funk with notes of blueberry pie, white grape juice, brunch time mimosas, and jasmine tea and a pillowy softness from a grist of almost 50% unmalted wheat.

SECRET TECHNIQUES
Critters is part of a larger project of banking, isolating, and further exploring wild cultures harvested directly from native plants, fruits, and similar sources. This native yeast was carefully harvested from the delicate skins of blueberries found on a small farm near Holland, Michigan. After having the yeast genetically sequenced, we discovered this strain has about 90% Brettanomyces yeast lineage explaining it’s unique fermentation profile.

INGREDIENTS
Pilsner Malt, Flaked Wheat, Wheat malt, Flaked Oats, Grungeist Hops, Coriander, Tangerine Peel
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews.
 
Rated: 3.69 by BarryMFBurton from Indiana

Dec 06, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by jakea from Wisconsin

Oct 18, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by Guinnsslvr from Illinois

Aug 19, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by drstalker from Illinois

Aug 18, 2020
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

4.06/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Carried from the curb at Beermiscuous. Poured into my St. Feuillien bulbous tulip.
I am a big fan of Off Color; now having reviewed over half of their Current beers on BA. While there are many reasons to like them, two are most important to me. First, Off Color may be the funniest brewery on the planet (and that is a very competitive category.) Second, Off Color makes consistently good-to-great table beers... but curiously, they don't even serve food at their taproom.
So someone at Off Color really gets how brewing is part of the integrated kitchen.

Critters conveys both reasons: a gently funny label; and a very good table beer.
But, Critter's Looks are average for a wit. Not much active protein swirls after its foam settles. Smells are familiar to the wit: barley and wheat becoming fruit, citrus-orange, coriander. Tastes are similar, but more subtle; probably because Off-Color seems like it has been working harder on its house Belgian yeast over these past few years. In particular for this wit, they add a native yeast which can become a Quality Control issue, but hasn't here. Critter cleans the palate with just enough bubbles. Wheaty soft. Fine at lunch. I'm sure fine at dinner.

The only thing I'm not enjoying about Critters is that I bought only one. I will get more for my table. Cheers !

7/3/20 Just scored a 4-pack at TJs Diversey. The first bottle had an even more active yeast to start. (Poured into a St. Bernardus bulbous tulip, also maker of good wit.) Off Color's table wit was enjoyed with snack-food. I edited the review and am satisfied. I will keep count over at UnTappd and report interesting dinner pairings.
May 31, 2020
Critters from Off Color Brewing
Beer rating: 3.95 out of 5 with 5 ratings