Cambrian Explosion
Speciation Artisan Ales

 

So tart that it was not even enjoyable.

 

Incredible beer befitting the name. Best grapefruit sour I’ve ever had. Worth the extra expense over some of their more widely available/frequent offerings. So bright and bubbly, beautiful rich citrus, awesome pink hue.

 

 

 

A - Pours a lightly hazed golden orange with a one finger fizzy white head.

S - Aroma is grapefruit rind, lime and some light yeast.

T - The taste is sweet and tart ruby red grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange peel, white pepper and oak.

M - Light body with medium carbonation. Soft mouthfeel with a nice crisp finish.

750 ml bottle into tulip glass; no bottle dating, but is a recent release. Pours fairly hazy deep golden amber color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with decent retention, that reduces to nothing eventually. Minimal lacing on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big juicy/lightly tart ruby red grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, pineapple, melon, white grape, hay, straw, grass, oak, wheat, cracker, and white bread; with light notes of pepper, oaken vanilla, leathery/musty funk, white vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, grapefruit, and moderate oak/pale malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big juicy/lightly tart ruby red grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, pineapple, melon, white grape, hay, straw, grass, oak, wheat, cracker, and white bread; with light notes of pepper, oaken vanilla, leathery/musty funk, white vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Light fruity/lactic tartness, fruit tang, and yeast/oak spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart/tangy grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, pineapple, melon, white grape, hay, straw, grass, oak, wheat, cracker, white bread, light funk/vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of ruity/funky/acidic yeast, grapefruit, and moderate oak/pale malt flavors; with an awesome malt/tartness and tangy fruit balance; with no puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from tartness, tangy fruit, and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp/grainy/acidic/tangy, and lightly tannic balanced mouthfeel that is fantastic. Zero warming alcohol for 7.2%. Overall this is an outstanding fruited sour/wild ale. All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, grapefruit, and moderate oak/pale malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and easy to drink with the modestly acidic/tangy/drying finish, not overly lactic. Awesome Brett/Lacto complexity and balanced fruit; solid oak foeder presence and pale/wheat malt backbone against acidity. A highly enjoyable offering, and spot on style example as expected. Always consistently impressive.