Oenobier: Viognier Juice
Trillium Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

330ml bottle dated 8/30/18.

Pours clear yellow with a short-lived head of white. Zero retention or lacing. Vineous in the nose with shades of Grand Marnier, apples, and white wine. Light bodied with a crisp, snappy mouthfeel. Wine-like and orangy on the palate. Zero malt or bitterness with hints of honey, apples, and pear. Finishes dry with some lingering throat warmth and vineosity.

 

 

There's a part of me that says that there's more to Trillium than hops but as the brewery flirts with the line that separates beer from wine I'm more apt to say that there's more to Trillium than beer.

In full celebration of the French Viognier grape, this specialized version of Oenobier makes a formal introduction with a billowing, sparkling champagne-like impression. Breaming with golden carbonated streams, the spritzy foam soon dies down to look the part of riesling quite well. A juicy scent of white grape is nearly candied in its portrayal as a mellow perfume of citrus, melon, pear and cider brings a highly floral aroma to seduce the senses. Confectioner's sugar, agave, cotton candy and a delicate honey character rolls onto the tongue with a first taste of malt elegance.

While the sweetness lessens on the middle palate, the unique flavor of those prized grapes offer an apple, sugar pear, honeydew and lemon medley that offsets the grape's natural vinegar-like acidity for a vinous rich taste in a full bodied white wine texture. Trending nutty and woodsy on the late palate, a peppery character comes with elements of cashew and balsa.

Medium light on the palate for sour ale, the beer's full grape flavor has the mind registering a fuller and more rounded texture than what's actually present. Trailing into a swift and acidic finish, the sourness wins out over sweetness and fruitiness as the racy bubbles carry the malt effortlessly from the tongue. An arid refreshment with echoes of cotton candy roll gently into a quick after palate.

Tasted from a 330 ml bottle bought at Trillium's Fort Point taproom.

L - Appearance is very much like a Champagne. There is an initial fountain of white foam during the pour, but the thin head quickly disappears completely. What remains is a crystal clear, straw yellow liquid full of tiny bubbles streaming to the surface.

S - Delicious, clean aroma of crisp white wine and strong Brett. funk. No hops or yeast or even malt aromas tie this to conventional beer smells, but it is very appealing in a unique way.

T - Like the aroma, the flavor is a mix of clean white wine and funky barnyard. Moderate sourness is sensed in the finish and aftertaste, but not earlier in the palate. Reminds me of a gueuze or like a funky, traditional Spanish cider.

F - Light body with sharp, snappy carbonation. Light hops bitterness blends seamlessly into moderate sourness. 10.9% alcohol is almost totally hidden.

O - This is an unusual but highly enjoyable funky beer with a strong grape wine influence. Worth seeking out.

 

 

 

 

Clean, funky tart white grape, juicy white wine, flowery, crisp citrus, peach, starfruit, biscuity malts, wet oak, grassy hops, medium plus bodied, smooth, rounded