Flemish Primitive Wild Ale (Spoon Whacker)
De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot)

Flemish Primitive Wild Ale (Spoon Whacker)Flemish Primitive Wild Ale (Spoon Whacker)
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From:
De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot)
 
Belgium
Style:
Brett Beer
ABV:
9%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.05 | pDev: 12.35%
Reviews:
49
Ratings:
54
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 14, 2015
Added:
Nov 24, 2004
Wants:
  8
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by oelergud:
Photo of oelergud
Reviewed by oelergud from Virginia

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tall massive 1 pint 9.4oz brown glass bottle, corked and caged. The label has a medivial scene of a spoon fight. Semitransparent straw golden body, off-white creamy buttes head with a rocky center. Great retention and beautiful lace.
Wild yeasty scent, spiced and sweet with honey and almond.
Sweet honey flavor with a nice kick of spice and spiked hops. The aftertaste is slightly alcoholic and highly hopped.
Medium body with some coating and a harsh and spiked feel.
Good drinkability, this is a interesting and unusual brew.

-Oelergud
Jul 15, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.98 by wethorseblanket from California

Jan 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by victory4me from Pennsylvania

May 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by WOLFGANG from South Carolina

Jul 05, 2013
 
Rated: 2.5 by drewone from California

Feb 26, 2013
Photo of UCLABrewN84
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

3/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Thanks to wethorseblanket for sharing this one at jmgrub's birthday tasting.

Pours a hazy honey orange with a foamy beige head that fades to nothing. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is slightly sour with some malt, honey, and blue cheese aromas. Taste is much the same with funky and cheesy flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of Brett bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a low level of carbonation with an almost flat mouthfeel. Overall, this is an average beer some some pretty funky aromas and flavors.
Feb 26, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by Rochefort10nh from New Hampshire

Nov 25, 2011
Photo of koopa
Reviewed by koopa from New Jersey

4.37/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
750ml bottled aged for about a year and cracked open today.

Appearance: First pour is a transparent golden body with an attractive amber hue and a 1 finger white crown that shows a touch of rentention and good lace.

Smell: Wow the brett in this one is really developed and heightened along with other interesting fruity notes. Lightly sweet white grape skin juiciness.

Taste: Same as the nose. Really delicious stuff.

Mouthfeel: Fairly crisp body with a soft billowy crown addition and a medium body make for a nice mouthfeel. The carbonation is still good enough but I can tell its good that I cracked this bottle now rather than 1 more year down the road.

Drinkability: The 9% abv is the only thing holding this one back from a higher mark. The body is so crisp and the taste is so nice.

Drink em now!
Nov 29, 2009
Photo of SLeffler27
Reviewed by SLeffler27 from New York

4.08/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
An enormous, white meringue head slowly descends to a rocky pillow, while depositing mounds of lace on a tulip glass. Carbonation is equally impressive, as viewed through a clear, orange-amber beer. Love the label art too.

The aroma develops from sweet vinegar to pungent apple cider and serious, fruity wild yeasts. There is a strong sense of earthiness and possibly caramel in the background, making this a truly interesting experience.

The tongue follows the nose with a significant addition of spice including pepper. The only drawback is a hint of feet.

Some metallic notes (in a nice way) accompany this full-bodied, dry ale with shockingly light carbonation. Perhaps the carbonation off-gassed entirely upon the pour.

This is a highly drinkable version of wild ale and I imagine would match a strong fish flavor.
Jul 26, 2009
Photo of barknee
Reviewed by barknee from New York

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Gotta' love the label....ehemmm...uhhm..."Spoon Whacker" pours a brilliant light myrrh color with a fluffy whipped head. Luxurious nose of sweet barnyard funk; so natural and organic, it's obvious that mother nature was at work here. This beer is "so of the Earth", that it is apparent that there wasn't any manipulation used to create this masterpiece. The mouthfeel is slightly unctuous, crisp and highly delineated, with a lovely tartness which is supported by a barely perceptible sweetness. Flavors of Mediterranean citric fruits, light clover honey. and soft bittering hops, round out this beautifully made naturally fermented brew. Bravo!!
Feb 17, 2009
Photo of wagenvolks
Reviewed by wagenvolks from Texas

3.47/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
1 pint 9.4 oz. bottle into a Delirium tulip.

Pours a hazy, peach blond hue into the glass. A hurricane-shaped swirl of tiny bubbles floats listlessly on top -- no doubt a byproduct of the laser etched glass bottom. Edge is adorned with a collar of bubbles; however, these are larger in size and leave behind some nice lacing. Sour, bready malts hit the nose first, but barnyard funk and musty woodenness are in hot pursuit. Hints of tart candy and floral spices lurk below the powerful, Brett-rich aroma.

Funky must dominates the flavor as well, but unlike the aroma, Spoon Whacker tastes a bit stale and seems to have some cardboard-like oxidation. A soft, floral bitteness comes in via some hops on the finish. Surprisingly, there's not much of an alcohol presence in the taste, but the warming stomach is evident of its presence. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, on the dryer side of things, and nicely carbonated. Sourness and funk give the tongue a nice work-out, but it wears on my tastebuds after a glass. Not an easy bomber to finish alone, as this beer definately took some getting used to (let it warm well past the 40-45F mark). I'm still not totally sold on Bretty brews, and this didn't hit it out of the park for me, especially given the steep ($10.99) price tag).
Oct 29, 2008
Photo of Rudgers73
Reviewed by Rudgers73 from New York

4.68/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Pours crystal clear into my La Fin tulip. Nice golden color with mild carbonation rising. Great looking head, bright white and sticky with lacing. The aroma is earthy with tart fruit (apple peels, green grapes, cherries). Sticky sugar in the background as well. The taste is much more mild than I had expected. Well-rounded flavor with a completely unoffensive pale malt base. Sweet and tart fruit come out in the pallet as well as a light hopping. There is little-to-no brett funk in this. I was expecting something more sour and bitter, but this is still a pleasant surprise and a well rounded Belgian golden ale. I would call it a wild tripel.
Oct 04, 2008
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Every time I open one from this series, it's a wild ride.

Spoon Whacker seems to be full of Brett in the nose, really a strong yeast smell too, that you might find in rising bread. Brett has a pineapple/melon character, with a good dose of spice as well. Dull pale orange, floaties on the second pour. Tons of lace, first pour had a two inch head.

Bready flavors, spicy with wild yeast, dry and funky aftertaste. Some bitterness in the middle from the aged hops. Mineral water, wet stone, stale bread, funky cheese. The underlying pale ale is sturdy with ample carbonation. Easy to sip, the bottle is gone in an hour. Yet another interesting variety in the Flemish Primitive series.
Jul 13, 2008
Photo of morimech
Reviewed by morimech from Minnesota

3.39/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3
Pours a clear golden with a thick white head that lingers for the entire session. Heavy lacing is left on the glass. Looks beautiful in the glass.

The Brett funk is evident from the first whiff. Typical barnyard/horse blanket aromas dominate over the fruit smells. If I concentrate on the smell I gan detect notes of green apple and a light spiciness. Alcohol is not detected.

The taste is also very funky. More funk but I do detect some sweetness from the malt with apple like fruit notes. Some alcohol is detected. Has a lingering musty aftertaste.

Medium body with low carbonation that does not get in the way of consumption. Very nice mouthfeel.

This beer is too funky for my tastes. I think the funkiest I ever tasted. If you are into that sort of thing then this beer might be right up your ally. It has a high ABV which limits consumtion. It is also somewhat expensive so it won't be a beer I will likely revisit.
Jun 22, 2008
Photo of Dukeofearl
Reviewed by Dukeofearl from California

4.38/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750 ml bottle from Hi Time Wine in Costa Mesa, CA., price note recorded; May 2008.

Pours a slightly cloudy yellow-golden with a frothy-fluffy but not overpowering white head. And then for good measure, the head sticks around with style throughout the session, through several top-offs. Just beautiful.

Aroma is just wow- a nicely balanced Brett funk with all the beery goodness one can ask for. A decent malt note, hops, and funk balance. Doesn't get much better.

Flavor follows through- I'm really liking this one. All I can ask for from the style, really. A nice malt base, light and lemony, and a gentle (not overpowering) pepper and spice layer leave this one really enjoyable.

Nice and creamy mouthfeel, just a bit over-carbonated, but that is a quibble.

Easily my favorite of the style so far, probably because it is easy to get my arms around. This one is much more balanced than others in the style (although others may call this more simple or plain, I just like it better).
Jun 02, 2008
Photo of ccrida
Reviewed by ccrida from Oregon

4.23/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into my De Proef flute, Spoonwacker is a brilliant gold with lots of streamers and a massive meringue like head that leaves huge chunks of foam. Served at cellar temp, my 3rd of this whole series, which I'm really loving. This one's the second, released Fall 2004, 45 IBUS. The brilliant color, steady animation, epic head and sweet labels, wow - another perfect Belgian blonde from De Proef!

Smell was initially a fragrant wildflower and green apple, bubblegum, but quickly followed by the barnyard funk of a wild ale, mainly brett and candi, with plenty of grain as well. As it warms, the fruity Belgian esters take the fore, tasty if a bit medicinal. I held on to the synthetic cork for the rest of the night, which retained the fruitiest esters for hours.

Taste is pretty good, but the balance is more with the malts and sugars then the bugs, which makes the alcohol a bit more noticeable then the others, with some lingering, out of place fusels. These big blondes are less palatable when their under-attenuated. I still love the brett, which is very intense, with lots sour fruit, horsehair and wildflowers.

Mouthfeel is a bit thick and sugary, with a wine like finish, though creamy. A bit heavy for a Flemish Primitive, especially with the age. Going on 3.5 years old, I wonder how much more the bugs can chew through? Plenty of trub means I'm gonna have to wait awhile and find out!

Drinkability is very good for me, though I have a bias for wild BSPAs, particularly from De Proef. Still, it's my least favorite of the three of this series I've had so far, but still fantastic, even though it's more malt fwd and floral/fruity. An hr. later, that head's still chunky!
Apr 25, 2008
Photo of brewcrew76
Reviewed by brewcrew76 from Wisconsin

4.15/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pours a bright pale yellow with a thin white head and spotty lacing.

S - Pale malt, tart green apples and pears, bubblegum, horse blanket and barnyard funk that gets stronger as the beer warms

T - Slightly spicy with tart green apples and pears, a sweet candi sugar middle that lingers with just a touch of the barnyard funk in the finish. The funk is much more subtle in flavor than aroma.

M - On the light side with medium carbonation, a slight alcohol warming and a dry finish. Not as carbonated as the Demon Fish I tried.

D - Another winner in the Primitive series. I can't wait to try the others.
Apr 23, 2008
Photo of wedge
Reviewed by wedge from North Carolina

4.27/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a slightly hazed golden color with a few dark bits of yeast floating around. A large, lumpy white head forms on top dropping to a blanket of soapy bubbles, leaving behind light rings of lace. There's a good bit of funkiness central to the aroma...pale malt base and an Orval-like, perfumy floral character. Pale dried fruits, powdered sugar, even some butterscotch can be stirred up. I cannot stop smelling this beer. The flavor starts with a pale, dry fruitiness reminiscent of melons. Some sourness mingles with grain, though less funky than the smell. Hints of lemon-tinged sugar cookies. Smooth medium body - very easy to drink considering the 9% abv. There's loads of yeast all over this beer. A very nice, happy, warm weather beer - funky.
Mar 31, 2008
Photo of tastybeer
Reviewed by tastybeer from North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance brings mainly cloudy orange gold, with a few olive hued-wood like tones, topped by a giant dense finely foamy white head. Once the head dies down there's a steady 1/4 inch of fluff remaining with some straggly lace stuck behind. Smell is pretty vast to say the least. I smell lemony roses, heavily fragrant flowers, farm aromas and orchards combined. Apples, pears, passionfruit, cranberry, or basically the countryside covered in fruit and flowers as sprnig turns to summer. Sweet homemade biscuits, doughy bread, all sorts of yeasty esters, syrupy lemon, and fresh sugar cookies all come to mind. Very aromatically sniffable. Taste is sweet, fruity and ultra flowery also. A crazy fresh combination of pleasant late spring flavors. Everything intermingles very smoothly in a crazy extensive way. Texture is smooth, creamy, soft, and coating. Very pleasant to consume in every way.

This is one of those beers that paints an image in my mind of a big field packed with tall grass, and everything that's alive is happy, flowering and/or jumping around. Can't complain about that.
Mar 31, 2008
Photo of taez555
Reviewed by taez555 from Vermont

4.19/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Had a bottle of this at The Publick House Brookline.

This beer poured a bright clear yellow body with little to no head, but what there was fine and white. Nearer the end of the bottle I added the yeast and it gave it a nice hazy yellow color.

Nose was simply amazing. Pure horse blanket, as if you just walked into a barn and took a huge whiff. Horse shit, fine aged farmhouse blue cheese type stink. Reminded me almost of some fine ciders. Not for everyone, but if you're a fan of the wild ale style, this is near perfection.

Taste was a little more subdued. A nice light to medium body(very surprising for how big it is). Some more farmhouse shit type tastes, but mostly a nice clean wheat and soft malt flavor. Very reministant of a berlinerwies or real high quality cider actually. Finished with a clean mild horse blanket finish that didn't linger too long.

Wow!!! I'm not a crazy wild ale fan, but this is outstanding. The smell alone is almost all I needed. A great beer I wouldn't mind having again.
Feb 03, 2008
Flemish Primitive Wild Ale (Spoon Whacker) from De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot)
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 54 ratings