Le Seul XX
Une Année

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decent head production and retention given the style. Before long it's a still foam-less body, a strange vibrant coppery color.

Sharp and tart nose, vinegar and citric acid, balanced by a fruity sweetness from the strawberry.

The fruit hits the tongue first, with a light sweetness, before a strong wave of vinegar-like sourness consumes the palate. More of a sour than a wild ale; very little funk. Distinct from the puree kettle sours that are a dime a dozen; complex, balanced, and rewarding.

Puckeringly sour - surprise!

 

 

Bought this can from Binny's remainder shelf. Fresh was not an issue.
I'm a fan of Une Annee' and have had 8 of their ales, but this is their first Wild (I'm not a big fan of the style.)

Le Seul XX Looks slightly better than average and its color reminds me of the filling for strawberry-rhubarb pie.
Smells are mostly this tart medley. Tastes follow closely, but the tart in mid-palate pushes the fruit to the curb. But, it is balanced and finishes ever so dry that it is hard to believe that fruit was originally involved. Medium mouth. Enough bubbles to cleanse the palate. but this is too tart to eat with most foods.

In each review of an Une Annee' ale, I always talk big about visiting my favorite suburban Chicagoland Belgian-inspired brewer. But I haven't yet... and now we have Covid, again. So Une Annee', I hope to visit you on the other side soon.

 

A- Tallboy can into a goblet with a murky pink body and a one finger foamy cap. Fair head retention. A thin ring at the edges leaves small webs of lacing.

S- Bright and pungent strawberry rhubarb jam. Truly like an amazingly tart and juicy strawberry preserve. Lactic acid, rhubarb pie, lemon juice as it hints at sweet berries and sour brew.

T- The sourness really amps up here and drops a barrage of lactic acid on the palate to balance the berries out. Pure strawberry jam, semi sweet rhubarb pie filling, slight funk, lemon sourness, a hint of tart apricots and slight tannins.

MF- Light bodied and the texture is foamy and a bit creamy. Overall smooth and it ends extremely sour when all is said and done.

A ton of strawberry and rhubarb character as this blasts the palate like a super sour preserve, jam or pie.

 

Can to tulip.
The appearance was a ruddy pink to burnt orange color with a quickly dissipating small foamy white head. No lace.
The aroma had a great meshing of strawberries to rhubarb. Subtle yeastiness and a touch of grassy tones help give it some balance.
The flavor seemed to yield towards the strawberry sweet, tart and some subtle sour qualities just a touch in front of the rhubarb. The aftertaste acted upon the strawberries, lush and full, tart and sweet with a touch of sour.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a fair sipping quality about it. Sour harshness grips my tongue a bit more than expected. Good carbonation and some stickiness but an enjoyable stickiness (nothing cloying). Mellow finish of strawberries and grassy dry character.
Overall, well brewed sour ale but perhaps needs a bit more rhubarb for a better balance. I'd still have again.

 

 

 

 

750 mL bottle purchased 11/17 and poured into Aslin anniversary glass. I love strawberry rhubarb pie, so let's give this a whirl.

L: 1F head with pretty much no retention, no lacing, only a thin ring. Beer is golden with a pinkish hue to it.

S: Strawberry seems to predominate, but this is a very subtle ale and frankly there is not much to the nose at all besides the berry and some yeastiness.

T: Quite tart, definite light but persistent notes of strawberry and rhubarb. Could also be described as lemony, I think.

F: Light-bodied, moderately carbonated. Really good drinker, although this deep freeze probably wasn't the best day to drink it. Construction is good, tartness a tad much and could be reeled in a bit.

O: A nice sour with good subtle flavor.