Oude Brett Saison
Hi-Wire Brewing

Volume Two

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy honey color with a two finger head; reasonable stickage and spotty lacing

Smell: Bretty funk, with green apple, stinky cheese and barnyard tones; oaky with a vinous edge

Taste: Green apple and funk forward with stinky cheese and barnyard flavors building; the oaky, vinous character emerges in the mid-palate, with a sour accompaniment into the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate to high carbonation

Overall: Could be a bit more dry in the back half but still quite good

Bottle from the downtown Asheville pub location.

SN goofy sidecar glass.

Big chewy-looking, ever expanding, lingering, almond-orange colored head. Light, foggy honey ale body.

Smells of lemon, orange rind, powdered sugar, dusty crust & softly herbaceous hops.

Tangy, sweet & sour lemon/lime, very faded toast-like malt, very light oxidation, plus that somewhat indescribable floral/shroom/plastic/gummy flavor combo that makes up good brett.

Body goes down easy (& is on the thinner side), but has a slight greasy feel. The bubbles could have been sturdier.

Not what I thought it would be, but enjoyable nonetheless.

 

for how pretty this is in the bottle, and how much energy and attention to detail they put into the packaging, i really didnt love it, and wish the beer had that kind of attention. all of the hi wire bottles look awesome, cool glass, awesome labels, but this one wasnt as delicious as it should be, although i had it from the tap, and perhaps bottle conditioning is a big part of what it needs. its blonde with a little haze, a brassy shine and a nice white head. aroma shows a lot of brett, but its young, even a little cheesy or stinky to me, without the drying funkiness i associate with it and enjoy in the style. the base beer is pretty hearty, lots of wheat and body, but its not quite fermented down to dry and has a little more linger than the style usually allows for in terms of grain sugar. i could see this improving over time in a bottle, but right now its more malty than yeast driven, and the brett just needs some time to work up its classic funkiness. for now its a little weighty and even a little off, green apple tang, cereals, wet animal, in need of some refinement or some ageing, disappointing given the sexy packaging...