Gradualism
Speciation Artisan Ales

 

 

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, 2018 vintage bottling. Pours slightly hazy/cloudy pale golden straw color with a 2-3 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Thick foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a good amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, melon, red/green apple, white wine, peppercorn, pine, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light leather/musty funk, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, citrus hops, peppercorn, and pale/wheat malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, melon, red/green apple, white wine, peppercorn, pine, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light leather/musty funk, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate pine/herbal/floral/grassy bitterness, peppery yeast spiciness, and slight Brett tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, melon, red/green apple, white wine, peppercorn, pine, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light leather/musty funk, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, citrus hops, peppercorn, and pale/wheat malt flavors; with a great malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and no astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from bitter/spiciness and carbonation. High carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, creamy/grainy/sticky, and slightly acidic balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol for 5.8%. Overall this is an awesome dry hopped wild saison. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, citrus hops, peppercorn, and pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and refreshing to drink with the modestly bitter/spicy/drying finish. Perfectly balanced Brett/Saison yeast complexity, citrus hops, peppercorn, and pale/wheat malts. A really enjoyable offering, and spot on style example as expected.