Supercruise (Temp / Cab Franc)
Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales

 

 

 

Appearance: Arrives with a raspberry peach color capped modestly by less than a finger of foam; a shard or two of lacing

Smell: Red wine grape tones with some golden ale yeast in the background; slightly funky

Taste: The red wine grape flavors emerge here in a feminine way though there are hints of a bolder aspect; some golden yeast phenols and a gradual build-up of tartness, in the middle; oak and some funk in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Subtle wine flavors here highlight the diversity of what red wine grapes can bring

 

750 ml cork/capped bottle into tulip glass, bottled in 2/2019. Pours fairly hazy medium orange/amber, light reddish/pinkish color with a 2 finger fairly dense and fluffy light pink head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big juicy/tart/tangy red/purple grapes, fruit skin, lemon, lime, orange, peach, plum, pear, apricot, red/green apple, melon, red wine, oak, peppercorn, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, and white bread dough; with lighter notes of oaken vanilla, leathery/musty/lacto funk, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of grapes, fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, wine barrels, and pale/wheat malt notes; with big strength. Taste of big juicy/tart/tangy red/purple grapes, fruit skin, lemon, lime, orange, peach, plum, pear, apricot, red/green apple, melon, red wine, oak, peppercorn, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, and white bread dough; with lighter notes of oaken vanilla, leathery/musty/lacto funk, and yeast/oak earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tartness, fruit/wine tang, and yeast/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart/tangy grapes, fruit skin, lemon, lime, orange, peach, plum, pear, apricot, red/green apple, melon, red wine, oak, peppercorn, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, lighter vanilla/leathery/musty funk, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of grapes, fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, wine barrels, and pale/wheat malt flavors; with a fantastic malt/tartness, tangy fruit, and yeast/oak spiciness balance; with zero puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering tart/tang/spiciness, and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy, and fairly crisp/acidic/tangy/tannic balanced mouthfeel that is fantastic. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 6%. Overall this is an outstanding fruited sour/wild ale. All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of grapes, fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, wine barrels, and pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth and fairly crisp/refreshing to drink with the mellowly acidic/tangy/drying finish. Nicely soft, and not overly lactic. Fantastic balance of juicy/jammy grapes, and Brett/Bacteria complexity; with great wine barrel presence, and pale/wheat malts against acidity. Mild residual sweetness with crisp drying. A highly enjoyable offering, and outstanding style example as expected.