Whalez - Chardonnay Barrel-Aged
Orange Belt Brewing

 

 

 

Reviewed from notes. Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a J. Wakefield OG teku glass.

A: Pours a hazy dark gold, with average visible carbonation and a thin white head that fades quickly.

S: Tart and a white wine vinous, apricots and lemons. Lactic acidic with dry oak tannins. A mild Brettanomyces-like earthiness in the background. Light biscuit malts. There’s some toast here as well – though I'm not sure if it's toasted malts or some charred oak. Nice, but for some reason I'm not in love with it.

T: Lactic tart, white wine, and big oak tannins. There's a definite stone fruit or apricots flavors, though those aren't included on the label. Lemony citric acid. Very muted wild yeast character. Nice depth of funk from Lactobacillus. Biscuit malts, but these mostly stay out of the way. Dry and more lactic tartness in the hang.

M: A light body, and carbonation sensation fairly low. Alcohol presence is well-hidden.

O: Good, but lacking a punch to put it over the top. It's not fruited, there's not huge depth of cheesy woodsy funk, it's not screamingly tart. It just needs...something else. Still, perfectly enjoyable.