Critters
Off Color Brewing
- From:
- Off Color Brewing
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Witbier
- ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- +2 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.04 | pDev: 4.46%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 2
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 31, 2025
- Added:
- May 26, 2020
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
NO SCORE
-
-
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
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
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by ChicagoJ from Illinois
4.4/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2/21/25 - (Bottle - Home) (Chicago, IL) Bottle Notes: Purchased at store temperature November 27, 2024 at Beer on the Wall Park Ridge for $3.41 including tax. Refrigerated upon returning home before opening this evening. 8.5 oz, no bottle date but distributed the week ended 11/22/24. Native Fermented Belgian Style Wit Beer brewed with Coriander and Tangerine Peel. 6.0% ABV, Gravity 13 P, 8 IBUs. Malts Flaked Wheat, Wheat Malt, Flaked Oats. Hops: Grungeist. Secret Ingredients: Native yeasts, green coriander. tangerine peel. Native fermentation. Brewed and bottled by Off Color Brewing, Chicago, Illinois.
Appearance: Single pour into an Off Color branded tulip glass yields a golden yellow crystal clear base, mild sustained carbonation, and a brief bubbly white head which provides a partial cover over about a quarter of the base and a bubble ring around the rim. Really nice. 4.5
Aroma: Funky, barnyard lemon, citrus and tangerine. Truth in advertising. All come together really well. Strong and quite enjoyable. 4.5
Taste: Consistent with the aroma, with citrus and tangerine leading the way, lemon backs and can get the wheat in the flavor which is quite good. Reminds me of a slightly sea salted triscuit. 4.25
Mouthfeel: Light crisp clean body, gentle carbonation, drinks below the 5.2% ABV. Would be marvelous for a warm Summer day. Dry, balanced despite the fruit flavors, light funk, citrus lemon finish. 4.5
Overall: This is a solid light and easy selection. High quality like most Off Color releases. My two regrets are the small 250 ML bottle size as I would love at least 500 ML and the fact I waited to long to enjoy because now I have to wait for the next release to enjoy this once again. Highly recommend. 4.5
Feb 22, 2025Appearance: Single pour into an Off Color branded tulip glass yields a golden yellow crystal clear base, mild sustained carbonation, and a brief bubbly white head which provides a partial cover over about a quarter of the base and a bubble ring around the rim. Really nice. 4.5
Aroma: Funky, barnyard lemon, citrus and tangerine. Truth in advertising. All come together really well. Strong and quite enjoyable. 4.5
Taste: Consistent with the aroma, with citrus and tangerine leading the way, lemon backs and can get the wheat in the flavor which is quite good. Reminds me of a slightly sea salted triscuit. 4.25
Mouthfeel: Light crisp clean body, gentle carbonation, drinks below the 5.2% ABV. Would be marvelous for a warm Summer day. Dry, balanced despite the fruit flavors, light funk, citrus lemon finish. 4.5
Overall: This is a solid light and easy selection. High quality like most Off Color releases. My two regrets are the small 250 ML bottle size as I would love at least 500 ML and the fact I waited to long to enjoy because now I have to wait for the next release to enjoy this once again. Highly recommend. 4.5
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois
4.06/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.06/5 rDev +0.5%
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, 2020I 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.
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