Chifafa On the Side
Fifth Hammer Brewing

From the bottle, it pours a clear raspberry color and looking dark ruby red in the glass. A large head quickly dissipates and leaves a thin film and rings of lacing.

The nose is funky, fruity and oaky. Aromas of currants, cherries, red grape, kiwi and lime. The Cognac barrel aging yields notes of wood, vanilla and bubblegum. The Brett yields rustic and funky notes, tart fruit and sour aromas of dry cider and red wine vinegar.

The taste is sour with a moderate mouth puckering and bone dry palate. Complex and well balanced with a doughy wheat and caramel malt base that yields some sweetness. The Brett aligns with the funky, rustic and fruity notes from the aroma, while the Cognac barrels yield oaky and earthy notes. Flavors of currants, musty grape, cherries, dry cider, vinegar, lemon, black pepper, tea leaves and a subtle earthy bitterness.

Medium bodied with a semi smooth mouthfeel. The acidity is moderately intense but well integrated with other flavors and accessible. The carbonation is lively.

Wonderful sour beer, very complex. Great use of Brett, Cognac barrels and fruit adjuncts. I can’t believe the high ABV considering how easy it is to drink. I would have again.

Mostly opaque purply red brown rust color, touch of rust color to the white head that dissipates quickly and doesn't leave much lacing on the glass. Noticeable brett character on the nose, peat, straw, band-aid... followed by warm fresh jam like off the pot it was cooking in. Floral, grapefruit bitterness, chamomile dryness up front... followed by more of that jamminess and a little lemon to end the aftertaste. Medium body with champagne like carbonation. Yeah, I'm a fan.