Byrd Brain
Jackie O's Taproom & Brewery

Chill haze pale amber with an off-white foam head quickly settling to a thin chain.

I'm definitely getting lemon pepper, oak, and maybe eggshell that comes across as lactic? Anyway, the effervescently fizzy medium body expresses additional notes of tart grapefruit that's almost balsamic and becomes a bit too sour with time, while a touch of white wine barrel comes up through the nose.

It's very oaky, which is a nice quality, and again while not too sour to start, but it builds to an overly assertive acidity with time, finishing semi-dry. As it warms, a touch of funk emerges, but not much.

 

Poured from a bottle into a wine glass

Look: Straw gold with a fizzy white head that dissipates quickly.

Smell: Salty funk on the attack with notes of lemon zest, floral hops, and bright acidity.

Taste: Bright lemon notes, medium acidity, a nice salinity, clean floral notes, a hint of black pepper, and drying oak.

Feel: Light plus body, medium acidity that balances really well, balanced, dry finish, bright and zippy carbonation.

Overall: A very tasty sour made by two pro sour makers. The rare collab that is worth the time!

 

 

500 ml bottle into tulip glass, 2018 vintage bottling. Pours slightly hazy pale golden yellow color with a small fairly dense and fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big sour/tart/tangy lemon, lime, orange, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, apricot, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, oak, black peppercorn, salt, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, and white bread; with lighter notes of nutmeg, leathery/musty/lacto funk, white wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, lemon, black pepper, salt, wine barrels, and moderate pale/wheat malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big sour/tart/tangy lemon, lime, orange, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, apricot, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, oak, black peppercorn, salt, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, and white bread; with lighter notes of nutmeg, leathery/musty/lacto funk, white wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tartness, wine tang, and yeast/oak spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart/tangy lemon, lime, orange, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, apricot, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, oak, black peppercorn, salt, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, bread, light leather/funk/vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, lemon, black pepper, salt, wine barrels, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; with an awesome malt/tart/sourness and tangy wine balance; with no puckering flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering tart/sourness, wine tang, and yeast/oak tannin spiciness. Medium carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately grainy/acidic/tangy, fairly crisp/tannic, and lightly saline balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 6%. Overall this is an awesome fruited/spiced wild saison. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, lemon, black pepper, salt, wine barrels, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth, easy, and fairly crisp to drink with the modestly acidic/tangy/tannic/drying finish. Not overly lactic or salty. Outstanding balance of lemons, peppercorn, Brett/Bacteria complexity, and wine barrel presence/integration; with a nice pale/wheat malt backbone against acidity. A really enjoyable offering, and spot on style example as expected.

 

16.9 ounce (500 ml) bottle, 2018 vintage. Served in a Teku glass, the beer pours a slightly hazy gold color with about an inch off-white head. Head retention and lacing are both decent enough. Aroma is nice, the brew smells like lemon, lemon peel, black pepper, oak, white wine/grapes and salt. For the most part I think the taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also the addition of some peach, vinegar, nutmeg, mint, and funky flavors too. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's slick and smooth, and easy enough to drink. There's also a moderate amount of carbonation. I liked this, it's nice and sour, but still easy and enjoyable to drink. Recommended to anyone who likes sours and/or saisons. It's a good and unique brew, glad I bought this one!