Verna
White Elm Brewing Company

 

Got in a trade with The-Adjunct-Hippie. 12 ounce can into tulip glass, no can dating. Pours lightly hazy deep orange/copper/amber color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy cream colored head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Nice spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big orange, peach, plum, pear, apricot, red apple, white grape, peppercorn, cracker, white bread dough/crust, and toasted biscuit; with light notes of banana, clove, caramel, nuttiness, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast, bready malts, and light-moderate earthy hop notes; with great strength. Taste of big orange, peach, plum, pear, apricot, red apple, white grape, peppercorn, cracker, white bread dough/crust, and toasted biscuit; with light notes of banana, clove, caramel, nuttiness, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate peppery yeast spiciness; and herbal, floral, grassy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of orange, peach, plum, pear, apricot, red apple, white grape, peppercorn, cracker, white bread dough/crust, toasted biscuit, light caramel/nuttiness, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, bready malts, and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness, and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium-plus body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready, and fairly crisp/sticky mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 6%. Overall this is an excelent biere de garde. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, bready malts, and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; very smooth and fairly crisp/refreshing to drink with the mellowly bitter/spicy/drying finish; great soft feel. Well rounded Belgian yeast complexity with rich Munich malts, and balancing earthy hops. Mild residual sweetness with crisp dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example. No complaints.

Poured from a can into a tulip.

Referenced here as "Biere de Garde" the actual name of the brew is "VERNA"

Pours a deep hazy copper with limited head, but excellent lacing. A nice-looking beer.

The nose presents plenty of classic Belgian notes--banana, clove, and yeast. Hints of white grape and funk.

The flavor is slightly sweet for the style, and muted compared to the nose. Banana and bubble-gum/Juicy-Fruit up front. Limited spiciness, although the yeast is present, and there is just a kiss of hops and toasted grain.

The mouthfeel is solid. Medium-bodied and decently carbonated.

This is a decent brew, but a bit lacking in flavor.