Saint Dekkera Pommetier
DESTIHL Brewery

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance: Pours clear and copper, with a two finger head; a few bubbles of lace cling

Smell: Sour apple, slightly caramelized, with pear, white wine grape, oak and vanilla tones

Taste: Acetic sour apple dominates, with a touch of caramel; in the background are lime, white wine grape and pear; after the swallow, the oak barrel impact becomes more evident, with some vanilla tones, as well, in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Reasonably impressive, but I didn't love the impact of the vanilla and caramel on the sour fruit

500 ml bottle into tulip glass; 2013 batch, bottled 1/14/2015. Pours fairly crystal clear deep golden amber color with a 1-2 finger dense white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big sour apple, lemon, lime, pear, white grape, hay, straw, grass, vanilla, toasted oak, cracker, bread, light white vinegar/musty funk, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great complexity and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, apples, oak barrel, and light-moderate pale malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big sour apple, lemon, lime, pear, white grape, hay, straw, grass, vanilla, toasted oak, cracker, bread, light white vinegar/musty funk, and yeast/oak earthiness. Good amount of fruity/lactic tartness and light oak spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of sour apple, lemon, lime, pear, white grape, hay, straw, vanilla, toasted oak, cracker, bread, light white vinegar/musty funk, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, apples, oak barrel, and light-moderate pale malt flavors; with an awesome malt/tartness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light-moderate dryness from acidity as well. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately acidic, and lightly creamy/bready balanced mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with zero warming present after the finish. Overall this is a fantastic sour apple wild ale! All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, apples, oak barrel, and light-moderate pale malt flavors; and very smooth and easy to drink with the balanced acidity. I really loved the prominence of the oak barrel in this. The flavors were extremely similar to the regular pomme version as well. A highly enjoyable offering.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This 500 ML bottle was stamped: ST6/65&66-150114-13:37. The body was a lightly hazy golden color and it had a white head of loose bubbles that settled to a ring.

The smell was fresh and fruity. Damp grains with an almost powdery aroma.

The taste was of tart crabapples. There was a nice puckering sour snap with enough sweetness to accent the primary sour elements. Lactic and fruity, somewhat woody - drying finish.

The body was a solid medium with modest carbonation. An all around tasty IL sour.