Prime Mover
Speciation Artisan Ales

I think (?) this might be the 2023 version, but I don't know if I picked it up in the summer of '23 or '24 while on vacation. Anyway, the label of the tallboy says: "oak aged saison with orange zest and ginger." Can't find a date anywhere. Has been sitting in my refrigerator for awhile, and this afternoon seemed like a good time to finally crack it open. Poured into a tulip. Slightly chilled haze of honey gold, with a thin 1 finger of head that recedes quickly. Nose: wet hay, a little citrus zest, and then just kind of modest but fresh grassy/meadowy and floral notes; if I didn't know from the label or the subsequent taste, I wouldn't be able to pinpoint the ginger, but just going on the nose there is something distinctive there. Fresh and interesting, but not very clear or pronounced. Taste: I get a much clearer sense of what this one's about: the ginger pops in a fun way on the back half, but it isn't too much; there is a kind of basic (pilsner?) malt that provides a nice backbone, and then some good saison peppery and bright citrus notes. Feel: at first I thought it was a little heavy and not quite prickly enough, but it is growing on me. Distinctive, nicely constructed, and very tasty and refreshing.

 

 

 

A - Pours straw yellow with a large fizzy white. The head recedes quickly leaving some light soap lacing.

S - Aroma is lemon, lime and green apple.

T - The taste orange, lemon, lime, green apple & pale malts. The ginger appears very subtlety in the finish.

M - Medium/light body with medium carbonation. Soft mouthfeel with a crisp dry finish.

O - Great beer. The ginger is nice and subtle and adds a nice touch of spice to the finish.

 

 

On tap at Brewskival 2018.

Pours an unclear yellow with a bit of soapy head.

Smell is tart, with oranges and lime upfront, and some soft ginger in the back.

Taste is between tart and sour, very balanced with nice acidity and a hint of citrusy bitterness. The oranges are in the driving seat, with the ginger complementing the nicely.

Mouthfeel is thin to medium, well carbonated.

Overall, a very well executed sour. Ginger can sometimes overpower other flavors, but here it's just right.

I've only gotten to know Speciation very recently, but my impression has quickly grown to viewing them as one of the premier wild ale brewers in the country. This offering is no exception from that view. Strongly tart and acidic from the Incipient base, but not over the top or one-dimensional. The addition of orange zest and ginger is skillfully done, accenting the primary flavors but, again, without pulling the beer too far in any one direction.

 

750 ml bottle into tulip glass; no bottle dating, but is a recent release. Pours slightly hazy pale golden/straw color with a 1-2 finger foamy white head with solid retention, that reduces to a thin spotty lace cap that lingers. Some clinging bubbles and light spotty lacing on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big tart lemon, lime, orange, ginger, citrus zest, peach, pear, red/green apple, melon, white wine, hay, straw, grass, oak, wheat, and cracker; with lighter notes of pepper, vanilla, leathery/musty funk, white vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, orange, ginger, and moderate oak/pale malt notes with great strength. Taste of big tart lemon, lime, orange, ginger, citrus zest, peach, pear, red/green apple, melon, white wine, hay, straw, grass, oak, wheat, and cracker; with lighter notes of pepper, vanilla, leathery/musty funk, white vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tartness; light fruit tang, and ginger/yeast/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart lemon, lime, orange, ginger, citrus zest, peach, pear, red/green apple, melon, white wine, hay, straw, grass, oak, wheat, cracker, light pepper/funk/vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, orange, ginger, and moderate oak/pale malt flavors; with a great malt/tartness and ginger/oak spiciness balance; with zero puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from tartness, tangy fruit, ginger/oak spiciness, and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, grainy/acidic, and lightly sticky/tangy/tannic balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol for 7.2%. Overall this is an awesome fruit/spiced sour/wild ale! All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, orange, ginger, and moderate oak/pale malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and easy to drink; with the modestly acidic/drying finish, not overly lactic. Great well rounded Brett/Lacto complexity, balanced orange/ginger spice vibrancy; solid oak foeder presence and pale/wheat malt backing against acidity. A really enjoyable offering, and spot on style example as expected. Always consistently impressive.