Westfield
Cellar West Artisan Ales

 

i like this one, its complex in a simple way, and its really well done, probably as close to a flagship type beer as these guys have, at least as i interpret it, however, next to the meager, their table saison, its hard to love this one as much. i think meager is brilliant and probably their best beer, so this one i sort of measure against it, for better or worse. this has a lot more of a multigrain complexion to it, wheaty and pilsy and with some obvious rye too, which i really like with the funky yeast. to me the yeast isnt as bretty and mature as in meager, and there is more of a belgian estery element to it, candied orange peel, white grape, white pepper, and lemongrass, a neat juxtaposition to the super rustic and earthy grain, highly refined in all areas. the brett is subtle but nice, drying and interesting, dried flowers and tea, some bitterness at the end with the funk and the rye spice, and finally a huge rush of carbonation so close it out. i like this a lot, its complex but basic and old worldy at the same time, just not quite at the overall level of meager, but that one is going to be tough to top! worth the asking price on this one.

 

Appearance: Pours cloudy and goldenstraw colored with a massive head; excellent stickage and clumps of lacing all over

Smell: A melange of bready grains, with the wheat and rye prominent; oaky, with a vinous, rather funky aspect

Taste: Bready, with vinous and pear tones developing; through the middle, the funky spice from the rye and the Brett tones over, with just a light barnyard character; the finish is funky and yeasty

Mouthfeel: Medium body with buoyant carbonation

Overall: A very interesting Brett beer here, with an unusual malt bill that adds complexity to the backbone