Brett & Barrel
Une Année

Carried away from Beermiscuous, my source for off-beat Chicagoland crafters.
If my copy was canned three years, it doesn't show. The can-aging made it better and less brett-y.

Because of its age, I'm not finding a WOW factor... just a balance factor. B&B appeals more to a Euro-saison head like me and is welcome relief from the recent fad of tarting-up saisons and forgetting that this table ale really showcases hop thresholds suitable for food.

So, I had B&B mostly as an aperitif with a cheese medley and raw carrots. I tried it as accompaniment to my world-famous ratatouille (a joke I tell on myself) and B&B did not pass the test. (So, I played it safe for the rest of dinner and had Maudite, a dubbel tried and true to me.

I like Une Annee more than my rating may indicate; mostly because I am a fuddy-duddy Euro-saison Head and complain about the style's brettification. But I will try most Une Annee brews once; but not twice for B&B, even if I find it again... because I'm afraid it will be too tart, even for three years old. A votre Sante' !

Served from the can in a Mickey Finn's shaker pint glass.

My favorite comedy duo. Anyway, this stuff pours a mostly clear brass topped by a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises wet grass, mild lemon zest, light Brett funk, flowers, and a twinge of cedar. The taste brings in more of the same, the grass more like straw and the Brett coming in subtly. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a drying finish. Overall, a pretty decent Bretted saison, one that may not necessarily wow in any singular category, but one that's eminently drinkable (partially because of its restraint).

 

Crisp, well balanced