Apparition
Four Winds Brewing Co.

Poured from a 650ml bottle.
A: Pours a clear light golden with a thin white head a really no lacing.
S: A musty dank nose for me with hints of fruits in the far background. Not a nose i like.
T: Spices and bread yeast minor hops .
F: Good carbonation clean and crisp nice and dry on the finish.
O: A nice change for me ,i like it on a hot day it would go down much better.

 

Poured from a howler.

Appearance - Pours a slightly hazy straw colour with three fingers of frothy, persistent white head.

Smell - Citrus and tropical hops, citrus and tropical fruits (pineapple, lime, orange), Belgian witbier yeast, hint of spice (black pepper and coriander), biscuity malts.

Taste - Moderately bitter citrus/tropical hops at first, followed by the spicy yeast, citrus and tropical fruits, and black pepper flavours. Malty aftertaste, also with lingering bitterness from the hops.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate-high carbonation. Dry and refreshing finish.

Overall - A wonderful blend of citrus and tropical hop and fruit flavours. This is a hybrid style that marries together the elements of a Belgian witbier and an American pale ale. Great taste and incredibly refreshing - I'd love this on a sunny patio.

 

 

 

 

Apparition is defined as 'the appearance of something remarkable or unexpected' but given this beer's billing as a "hopped up white ale" I'm not surprised it has the dense orange hue of an IPA and the cloudy complexion/creamy head of a witbier. It looks like both father and mother (not sure which is which).

The bouquet is overflowing with flavours. A generous use of hops and highly zestful Belgian yeast creates a smell that's soaking wet with pineapple juice and peach nectar. It's also an aroma where citrus soars; oranges line up far as the eye can see. I like it so much I almost expect to be let down by the taste...

Once every five years or so, however, I'm wrong - apparently I was due. The taste very much replays all that goes on in the aroma: ripe apricot, ataulfo mango, pulpy pineapple, and various other citrus fruits lightly coated in pine resins, all to the backdrop of a toasty, lightly honeyed malt bill.

Both the "West Coast" and "White Ale" monikers are highly perceptible. There's a balance between bitter, pithy citrus fruits and more delicate orchard fruits; the mouthfeel is part spiky and part smooth. I'm not always a fan of style mash-ups but this combo works (see also: Philips Electric Unicorn).

Apparition belongs to Four Winds' limited Zephyrus Series, named after the Greek God of the West Winds, and it is appropriately fragrant, ambrosial and succulently divine. Hops showboat, as they are one to do, but don't steal all the spotlight; the Belgian yeast, forever its fragrant, zestful self, is in turn respectful of them. The pair make quite a delicious team. Fill my glass back up!

 

 

 

Got on trade through CANBIF. Thx westcosat! 650ml bottle served at 4deg C in a draught glass

A- Opens well and pours a 1" high white head that lasts for over 5mins before film out. Medium to light gold colour and unfiltered

S- Nice wild character here. Touch sour, bit malty but heavy on the hops. Citrusy notes.

T- Hits you with a sour hit then mellows out to a grassy hoppy good base. Not sweet but that bitterness is just a refreshing break. This brew tastes like a cross between their Juxtapose and an blend. I like IPA this change a lot.

M- Dry and tart. As a funny chalky end to it.

O- Very good blend. Has an appeal of being different and if I ever see it will buy for sure. The wild grassy nature really makes it for me with this brew. Starting to like these Four Winds products

Food Pairing

This wonderful little brew went very well with......... Light stir fry with chicken and snow peas. Have some oyster sauce on hand and a touch of corn starch so you can thicken the chicken stock up a bit

Enjoy!!

 

 

Massively carbonated. Cloudy straw-coloured.
Smells of Belgian yeast, tropical fruit and something floral/kind of herbal.
Hops and white pepper. Kind of a funky combination. Very "green" aftertaste. It's interesting, but if I were to rate to style, nope.

 

 

From a bottle, pours a cloudy pale yellow color with a ton of big fluffy white head. This is definitely a bit over carbonated.

The smell is unique, lots of yeast, floral, white pepper, a little tropical fruit and spice. The flavor is spiced, coriander, yeast, earthy floral notes and just a bit of fruit. The finish leaves a little medicinal taste.

Overall, this is ok. It has a few flaws that stand out (carbonation, unbalanced) and hurt the overall impression of this beer.

Hazy yellow body with a soapy white head. Aromas of coriander, yeast, floral notes. Odd minty flavor. Overly spiced, lacking balance and nuance. Black pepper and aggressive saison yeast. Mediocre.