Pinot Noir Wildwood
Bench Brewing Company

Nothing to look at, but aromatic and tasty across the board. Pours spritzy with no meaningful head. Has the appearance of sparkling hibiscus tea - just a purplish-tinged pink. Nose is beery and winey both, but dominated by the wine. Nose is grape and berry fruit, alcohol from a high ABV. Very flavourful. Dominated by wine grapes. Plenty of berry fruit as well. Comfortably boozy. Enjoyable to drink, leaves you with a nice warm buzz.

Looks like a carbonated rosé and has a similar light carbonation. It's fermented in foeders and refermented on wine grapes and those flavours really steal the show - a noticeable but far from overwhelming grape flavour and strong sour cherry notes that I'd normally associate with a Flanders red ale. There is quite a bit of complexity there and on the whole, it's a well-balanced beer, but I can't help but wish for a bit more of a malt backbone. Still fantastic, though.

2,000th review! Listed at 9.6% ABV (rather than 7.6%). This is probably a second batch that was bottled a year or two later than the original. 500 ml bottle purchased for $6.95 CDN at the local LCBO. Was looking for something unique and heftier for the milestone review. Served cold into a tulip glass and not aged at all since purchased from the LCBO.

Appearance - Fairly hazy pinkish, magenta brew. Pop has bigger and longer head retention than this. Lots of visible carbonation.

Smell - Complex. There's lots of grape character, some wood elements, cranberries, strawberries as well as some leafy floral bits. Not perfumey though.

Taste - Again quite complex. Grapes are leading the way, but there's and earthy mustiness, a gentle helping of wood, cranberries and a faint notion of strawberries. Not actually super sour, it's a very balanced refined sour that has a sweeter middle section that is more strawberry based. The wine element is there, but not boozy at all, drinks more like in the 6% ABV range than close to 10%.

Mouthfeel - Medium-light bodied, crisp and assertive carbonation, dry finish, but has a super smooth not quite creamy but very mellow center that lends itself to enjoying. I'm thinking the wood has imparted some smoothness there, it's quite a nice feature.

Overall - Pretty awesome sour to have a milestone review with. Pinot Noir Wildwood is a delicious brew that has lots of complexity and drinks like a much lighter beer than it is. Definitely recommended for sour lovers and those that want to see what quality barrel aging can do.

Barrel Fermented Golden Sour on Twenty Valley Pinot Noir

Appearance - Pours a blush pink with two fingers of bubbly white head.

Smell - vinous aromas, strawberry, cranberry, oak, sourness, biscuity malts, earthy and leafy hops, and brett yeast.

Taste - vinous aromas, strawberry, cranberry, and oak upfront. The sourness, biscuity malts, earthy and leafy hops, and brett yeast finish off the brew.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Finishes tart and dry with the berries and oak lingering.

Overall - A highly enjoyable barrel aged sour from the folks at Bench. This one is spot on with all pinot noir flavours alongside the oak making this a dangerously sessionable brew. A true gem of a brew found here in Cowtown!

 

Great fun beer here. Sampled at Brewery pours light rose minimal collar. Sweet tart taste with fine finish.