Plumage
Fonta Flora Brewery

 

 

 

 

 

 

a curious malty ale brewed with juniper branches, pours almost an amber color, quite a bit darker than anticipated, and with less head and obvious carbonation than the other beers i have had from these guys. i love the aroma, the juniper creates a strong pine forest quality to this, gives it an outdoorsy and autumnal vibe, a little sharp and medicinal rather than sappy and oily and alive, but its a unique aroma to build a beer around. in the flavor, the more sturdy malt base seems to compliment it well. sweet toffee, breakfast bread, and even maple notes swirl around in here, the juniper well in front of anything else though. there i a cool yeast profile here too, not as wild and dry and farmy as their others i have had, but bready almost like a lager strain, and with a hint off saison fruitiness to it as well, rather complex and overall a really flavorful and unique beer. i get the sense that most of the fonta flora stuff is extremely inventive and clever, just having had a few of their brews, they seem really interested in cool ingredients and processes, and the attention to detail is obvious. not a lot of sahti styles out there, so nice to see this one come in, especially this time of the year, its seasonally perfect for late october in colorado!