Anita Rustic Ale
Wander Brewing

 

Brewery says this is made with Belgian farmhouse yeast, Spalter Select hops, and is the base beer for Wander's Fruit Puncheons. I can see that this might be a good vehicle for the fruit flavors, but I wouldn't want to drink this by itself again. It's not bad, it just fills the mouth with unwanted flavors.

The taste is malty and somewhat sweet. The mouthfeel is stolid, even oily somehow. It seems to coat the roof of the mouth after some sipping. There's a touch of tartness. Quite yeasty and buttery. Peculiar flavors float across the palate-- yam, prune, watermelon rind. Just a hint of bitterness in the finish.

Sharp aroma has a cheesy hint along with the smell of old plums. Dark reddish coppery color with a brief foam in the Kasteel chalice. From the 32 oz growler filled yesterday at the brewery tasting room.

Served in a Tulip glass.

Fruity, bubbly, wonderful. Less sour than an actual sour, but I thought that's what they gave me at first. (There's one called "Plum Millie American Sour": would like to do a taste test of the two next to each other.) Had the characteristic Saison Farmhouse funk, though not the dominant characteristic, and in a good way -- with a nice malty backbone and an apple-y, plum-y sourness.

Would definitely come back for this, though I may have to try all their standards first, especially the Shoe Toss Rye IPA (which I have tasted, and that's also wonderful).