Lilac Skye
Banded Brewing Co.

500ml capped bottle - no date (one-time release) - poured into a fancy tulip at 44F.

Pours a gently hazy deep copper reddish hue topped with a finger of foamy khaki head with decent staying power. Some effervescence can clearly be seen feeding the collar that surrounds the beer.

Nose: Fermented dark fruit jumps right out of the glass. I know it's plum, and i can certainly smell plum, but it also brings notes of cherry, grape, and raspberry with it, just wafting with sharp pedio culture, zippy lacto, and lots of dusty brett which lends that signature dusty library note. There is also TONS of oak in here. So much so, it actually smells a bit like bourbon. They aren't bourbon barrels, but you definitely get that big oaky note that defines bourbon. After all, the flavour of bourbon is oak. Notes of wet hay, petricore, barnyard funk, leather, wine barrel, and forest floor all make it very clear that you're face-to-face with a wild ale. Underneath it all, the faintest hint of fresh lilac blossoms can be found.

Palate: The beer greets the palate with a big hit of oak. Very reminiscent of bourbon. The oak is followed by a bit of sharpness, which is not aggressive in the slightest, and teeters back and forth in nature between sharp acetic and tangy lacto, without coming across as lemon juice nor vinegar. The addition of plum lends that fermented dark fruit characteristic, though not as much as in the aroma. While I could probably guess this is fruited in a blind review, i suspect many would overlook that aspect, and certainly wouldn't hit the nail on the head with plum - (I literally just handed the glass to a non-beer drinker without saying a word but "try this", and the first thing she said was, "Wow, that taste like plums!" - so possibly ignore that first comment). The malt base begins to show a slightly roasted quality to it, though this could possibly be the massive oak presence I'm misinterpreting. I fail to taste the lilac note, but that's okay, because lilac has an aroma, not a real flavour, and it showed up on the nose, so that's enough for me. The finish begins with a slight zip before the gentle tartness begins to fade. The dry, slightly tannic oak serves to really dry it out and while the grains, plum, and acids all disappear, leaving mostly oak, with just a dry whisper of plum and a clean hint of rustic grain. Exceptionally clean.

Mouthfeel/Body: The beer is medium-light in body with no real malt heft or sweetness to weight it down. Effervescence is fairly lively for a beer that has sat in oak for over a year, but in the glass, it fades fairly quickly. The heavy oak influence is also apparent here, particularly in the finish with its tannic tightness in the mouth, similar to a very dry red wine. Quite crisp, drinkable, and hides its ABV quite well.

Overall: This is really quite a nice wild ale. The plum adds a really nice layer of complexity, and the lilac - a wonderful note in the aroma. It's tart enough to satisfy the experienced sour ale lover, but restrained enough for someone who's just beginning to test the waters to fully enjoy. It's tart, but it won't make you pucker. The oak influence is massive and brilliant. Some beers will have a big bourbon note, but I've yet to encounter a beer that has achieved that with just regular oak barrels that have no trace of bourbon. Maybe the oakiest ale I've yet to try. It isn't the world's greatest wild ale by any stretch, but those who enjoy these types of ales tend to enjoy a large variety, and this is certainly one to stop and take the opportunity to try if you encounter it. You may never see this one again, so if you can, try it now. Especially if you're a bourbon drinker or really enjoy the affects of oak.