The Wild Mongrel
Nomad Brewing Company

a really compelling wild beer here, one of their more mature, funky, and distinctive beers to date, although they have all been quite memorable. seems weird that something like this would be on blowout pricing, not sure why it wouldnt resonate with american consumers, but that seems to be the case where i have seen their stuff. in any event, this is done with shiraz grapes, but doesnt have any color from them at all. the beer though is quite vinous, tannic and tangy, less sour than funky by a mile, with some well established brett in the nose and taste, farmy and rustic and actually wild to me, not just the same old mixed fermentation cultures. there is a little sweetness through it, honey or candy sugar or something, and a woodiness as well. some light iodine and minerals, earthy mustiness in the brett, and a higher tone saison type ester. really pretty complex, and i taste the grapes too, late, with strawberry and blackberry notes, essences rather, and a little grittiness. the yeast is what makes this, but the recipe, execution, and maturity are also awesome, and this beer should work here in the states, be trendy even, but it seems somehow lost on the shelf for whatever reason. i thought it was excellent, different, and very drinkable with pretty high carbonation and layering as it finishes. really super underappreciated unfortunately, its great beer!

Orange honey color with a thick, rocky, white head. Nose is fruity, funky farmhouse style; floral and musty. More fleshy, light fruit in the flavor, combined with a little lemon tartness and funky brett character. Finishes very dry with citrus zest flavor. Body is very light, and delicate. Fantastic balance and not an aggressive sour ale.

 

500 ml bottle into tulip glass, best before 4/2018. Pours slightly hazy medium orange/amber color with a 1-2 finger dense off white head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap the lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big tart lemon, berries, red grape, green apple, white wine, peppercorn, oak, hay, straw, leather, musty funk, light caramel, toasted bread, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, oak barrel, Shiraz grape, and light-moderate malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big tart lemon, berries, red grape, green apple, white wine, peppercorn, oak, hay, straw, leather, musty funk, light caramel, toasted bread, and yeast/oak earthiness. Good amount of yeast/tannic oak bitter/spiciness and moderate tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of tart lemon, berries, red grape, green apple, white wine, peppercorn, oak, hay, straw, leather, musty funk, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish or a while. Damn nice complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, oak barrel, Shiraz grape, and light-moderate malt flavors; with a good malt/tart/bitter/spiciness balance; with some light lingering astringency from tannic bitterness after the finish. Moderate dryness from tart/bitter/tannin/spiciness, increasing through the glass. Medium carbonation and light-medium body; with a smooth, tannic, sticky, and lightly acidic/grainy mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 6.7%. Overall this is a great fruited Lambic style! All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, oak barrel, Shiraz grape, and light-moderate malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink, despite the lingering tannic astringency. A very enjoyable offering.

With one hand in the microflora of Belgium and the other in the grape baskets of France, this British-brewed "wild" ale fuses the fruit with the sour fermentation for an artisan ale that'll appease fans of ale and wine.

The Wild Mongrel pours an amber rose hue with a dainty off-white froth, swirling with musty aromas of cellar, cork, pepper and saddle leather, and accompanied by the spicy, grapey perfume of red wine. Sweet with lightly toasted caramel, peanut and honey, its floral upstart is both of the earth and of whimsical perfume.

As the middle palate evolves, its sweetness dissolves on the tongue and the tartness of wine begins to build. Peppery, woodsy and strongly favoring a soil, sod and peppery root quality, the beer's phenolic side takes the balance. Succulent syrah grapes continue to shower the tastebuds with its sweet and tangy flavor to temper the oaken spice and to keep the beer's attention on the sourness and fruitiness at hand.

Medium-light in body, the residual grape display keeps the beer tasting and feeling rich on the palate. Its piquant tartness and peppery nature combats its sweetness as the ale finishes balanced, bitter and playfully astringent. A medium-length aftertaste of grape, must and pepper offers refreshment, complexity and challenge with each and every sip.