Plum Ardent
Transient Artisan Ales

I could drink so much of this! Looks like grapefruit juice, the plum actually comes through in aroma and taste, very balanced sour with some light funk

Body looks like fresh poured grapefruit juice... pinkish purplish and grimy... A slim shade of late sunset. Big wet head that settles in pretty quick to gathered carbonation capping the liquid, but not much sticking.

Nose is immediately deep wood and earth with a hint of spice to it. Smells like fresh felled firewood... fir sap and a hint of sweet juiciness.

Flavour carries the theme: it's thick deep woods. I was expecting a much lighter fruitier beverage, but this conjures images of firewood piles and rounds that split easy but burn fast. Beyond the slivers of wood there is a sticky tart vein that runs through and culminates with an almost vinous/green blossom into the sweeter side of the brew which still isn't particularly sweet per se, but it finds that section of the tongue better anyway. The contrast of woody spice and creamy sweet nature reminds me of another Transient that Brian sent along: Ol' Dirty Fashioned. That one was more pronounced on these fronts, but there is a distinct similarity between them. I wonder if the yeast used between the two was the same, or maybe some other characteristic of being brewed on the same system? Not a negative, just an observation. I would say this woody character overwhelms any chance to get specifically plum from the beer, and if it didn't list that specific fruit on the label, I don't know that I'd name it out of a lineup.
Ultimately the forefront of this one, and the lasting impression that lingers, is that harsh resinous woodiness with a middle layer of creamy yogurtfruit drawing to a dry finish. Aggressive carbonation compliments a medium sticky body and a lingering finish that is cranberry tart in quality, if not in specific flavour.

Thanks @FlintB for sending this along amongst your unreal Michigan generosity!

enjoyed April 2018. I liked this but didn't get a lot of plum. other versions of Ardent, like regular & premier, were more successful IMO