Noble Star Collection: Solar Evolution
August Schell Brewing Company

this series continues to rule, been way too long since i had any of them. this is 2017 vintage, cool they use no boil, cool its in cypress wood, and all around our tasting table really enjoyed it. interestingly they call this a berliner, but its just as much a flanders red type, really interesting style fusion there. its got a rich amber color to it, a fizzy but fast settling layer of head on it, and some sediment towards the bottom of the bottle. the nose is familiar fruit vinegar sourness and acidity in the flemish tradition, red wine and raspberry notes, a cola layer, some vanilla, lots of wood, sour cherry, raisin, rum, almond, and lemon. lots going on, super mature and evolved but not oxidized in the least. perhaps more acidic and less bretty than anticipated, but there is some funk on this too. most of what i smell i can taste, not as vinegar forward as it smells but still sour and vinous, the cypress wood is decidedly different from oak here too, almost herbal in a way, and there is plenty of malt richness still in tact despite its age. less brett than expected again, more saison-esque and lightly farmy than truly funky in that way, but the maturity is evident and there is a ton of layers to this, it warms up extremely well and doesnt really get any more sour as it does. medium bodied, a little still maybe, but it works for this style. some dried fruitiness and cognac to finish. very unique beer, another banger from the rare beer club!

Shared a bottle courtesy of Brett and his Rare Beer Club membership.
Served at 48-50 degrees in chalices.
Understand the idea and brewing re Berliner Weiss and Flanders Red, but found the brew to actually be just a very nice Flanders red. Solid appearance; full fruit and wood nose. Flavor draws well from the wood, Brett, cherry tartness. Well rounded and rich. Nice smooth body. Really enjoyed by both of us.

too much sour for me.

 

 

Pours a dark reddish brown color with a minimal head that lasts quite a while. Aroma is slightly fruity. Tastes of sweet fruit juice but has a nice sour finish.

750 mL bottle. Deep amber. Smells of bread and cherry acidity. Tastes of wheat, some caramel, a little cherry, and lemon tartness. Medium light. It seems like it wants to be two things at once. Berliner and Flanders, but never blends together.

Nov. 2017 bottling.

Dark reddish amber, two fingers of crackling foam that last for a few minutes. Cloudy with a splotchy broken skim across the surface.

Soft acidic aroma, apple butter, brown sugar, and light malt.
Pleasant tartness, sour crabapple and lemon acidity, light woody finish.
Ample carb, spritzy, medium bodied. Fairly dry and pretty drinkable.

Overall this is a solid take on a Flanders Red, maybe even more traditional than most of the sweetened stuff coming out of Roeselare these days.

Very dark amber with no head. Dark mature cherries, belgian yeast, that expressive cyprus wood, cranberry, apple cider vinegar, funky wheat, and some lacto. Taste is thinner, equally as complex but smash into tiny intervals. More acidic and brett, somewhat vinous. Thinner body with a tart and acidic bite.

 

Clear crimson colored ale with a large head that slowly settles to a thin cap. Aroma is more like apple cider with some funk. Flavor is much more impressive. Notes of red wine vinegar, apples, grapes, plums, and wheat malt. Mild funk and mild level of sourness. The carbonation is not as effervescent as I would like my sour beers but is solid.

 

 

 

Poured from 750ml bottle into glass. Label has this as bottled in 'NOV 2017'.
There is another listing for a double barreled version of Solar Evolution. I could find no current information that the beer I sampled was stored in a second bourbon barrel that previously held red wine. The information I read has the beer stored in cypress barrels for a year.
Cloudy, red amber colored body. Slight head upon pouring results in a partial island and an active ring. No lasting lacing left behind.
Big aroma of the cypress barrel, sweet and sour behind.
Taste is more sour than sweet. Lots of cypress barrel flavor influence. Malt support. Fruity, lemon flavors. Lots of similarities to a red wine.
Thin mouth feel. Fizzy carbonation. Dry finish.
Okay Flanders Red but not elite. Cypress barrel is unique. The sour aspect is pure red wine-like.