Guest of Honor
Bow & Arrow Brewing Co.

500ml bottle from Tavour. Cloudy golden with a small foamy head. Yeasty, funky aroma. Taste is sweet, light tartness, more yeast and funk, orange peel, grassy.

Look: This beer is translucent with a slight haze and a pale gold color. Active carbonation and an effervescent appearance. Off white head that quickly rises and spills over the side of my glass. Streaks and spots of lacing at the beer settles down.

Smell: First impression is sweet and tart peach aroma mixed with acidic lemon juice and some white vinegar. Some earthier peach tea. Vinous and a bit musty. Prominent Simcoe with some catty and citrusy grapefruit pith. Some bubblegum. Very nice aroma. Everything described on the label shines.

Taste: On the tip of the tongue a gentle lemon acidity and dry lemon pith. I wouldn’t expect these characteristics from the Brett so perhaps some additional bacteria picked up during the time spent in oak. Mid palate a definitive grassy and bay leaf herbal bitterness. Shifts to some spicier and sweeter Belgian yeast notes. Some bubblegum and spearmint. Bitter, lemony, grassy and dry on the finish. There is a slight chalky note that reminds me of Piraat and some other beers that makes it definitively Belgian for me.

Feel: Carbonation is low to moderate and slightly prickly. Less than expected based on the appearance. Bright on the palate due to the lemon acidity, with a dry finish.

Overall: I really enjoyed this beer. I was hoping I would since it contains so many favorite descriptors: “Belgian-style pale ale,” “Brettanomyces” and “Simcoe Dry Hop.” If this combination sounds appealing you should check out this beer. It delivers. A soft acidity and prominent Simcoe hop bring some bright and lively character to sweet and earthy yeast driven beer that finishes with some nice bitter dryness. An enjoyable and complex beer meant for drinking.

Piraat meets Orval meets a slightly acidic Belgian table pale ale, if you will.

Belgian-style pale ale, aged with brettanomyces in oak barrels, dry hopped with Simcoe, bottle-conditioned... Reminds me of a saison/IPA hybrid - has some dryness and funk and tang, but also a juicier, meatier undertone... Herb and spice and fleshy fruits all present, medium-full-bodied, moderately sweet up front; turns drier and tangy on the finish...

 

Bought a bottle while in Santa Fe. Beautiful bottle!

Poured into a tulip glass. Hazy golden yellow with a short lived white head and light lacing. A bit of a funky smell and taste. Slifgtly sour but nice sweet finish. Pleasant hop bitterness.

Overall, a good beer!