Oenobier: Chardonnay Juice
Trillium Brewing Company

 

 

I'm sure that for a segment of the beer drinking populous the quandary to choose beer or wine comes up often. For such an occasion, Trillium Oenobier settles the debate with one part sour ale and the other part chardonnay.

In full celebration of the chardonnay grape, this unique version of Oenobier makes quite an introduction with a billowing, sparkling champagne-like sprite. Breaming with the glitz and glam of expressively carbonated streams, the spritzy foam dies eventually. A mouth watering scent of white grape is nearly candied in its aromatic display as a mellow perfume of cider, melon, pear and grape brings a highly floral aroma remiss of pulled candy. Powdered sugar, agave, cotton candy and a delicate honey character rolls onto the tongue with a first taste of malty-sweet charm.

While the sweetness dies down quickly on the middle palate, the unique flavor of those prized chardonnay grapes offer an green apple, sugar pear, honeydew and lemon medley that offsets the grape's natural vinous acidity for a richer taste and bolder texture on a white wine frame. Trending pleasantly grassy and woodsy on the late palate, a peppery character comes with elements of burlap, balsa and bitter melon.

Strikingly light in texture for sour ale, the beer's full grape flavor has the mind registering a crisp, clean and highly refreshing palate sensation. Trailing into a swift and acidic finish, the sourness wins out over any malt influence as the racy bubbles carry the grains effortlessly from the tongue. An arid refreshment with echoes of hay and cotton candy roll gently into a quick after palate.

 

 

330ml bottle.

Pours clear yellow with a quickly fizzling head of white. Zero lacing with some minor retention. Vineous in the nose with shades of grapeskins, white wine, apples, and cloves. Light bodied with a crisp mouthfeel. Dry and crisp on the palate with apples, white wine, and a light tartness. Finishes with a lingering vineosity and lingering white grape and apple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poured from a 11.2 oz bottle that I bought at the brewery taproom.

L - Extremely effervescent, in fact a bit of white foam climbed out of the uncapped bottle before I could pour it into a glass. It just as quickly disappeared and did not reappear, even as head in the glass, which was totally lacking. Beer was a very light straw color and just a tiny bit hazy. Minuscule bubbles were constantly rising through it, making it look for all the world like hazy champagne.

S - Aroma is sharply funky with classic Brett. barnyard character that then turns into a strong tropical fruit note like over-ripe mango. No other aromas can compete with these enough to assert themselves. I was expecting some grape character, but don't detect it.

T - Strong lemon-like sourness blends into barnyard and tropical fruit, with the emphasis on the funk.

F - Thin body with strong sourness that hits the back of the throat. Moderate carbonation is prickly and effervescent. Alcohol is well hidden by the sourness. No hops bitterness notable.

O - This is a good, strongly sour beer but I feel it's lacking in depth and complexity. I do not get any particular perception of the Chardonnay grapes it was made with.

Gusher - lost half the bottle. Served at room temp so I imagine that's the cause.

Straw colored and translucent. Very thin cap and collar. Slow moving, sparse visible carbonation. Nose brings white grape, perceived minerality, green apple, and funk. Wood underlying. Taste starts with white grape, peach, and lemon. Middle of the mouth brings some minerality, funk, more citrus, and a touch of tart apple flesh. Finishes with bright citrus and tart white grape. Funk and a touch of oak lingers. Minerality and citrus sticks to my tongue.

Tastes and feels like a dry, lightly carbonated Chardonnay. Really tasty stuff.

Fresh white grapes, white wine, kiwi, tart green apple, sweet bosc pear, lemon, lime, barnyardy funk, spice, oak barrel, dried mango, tropical fruit, biscuity malt, some pie crust, grassy hops