Centromere
Speciation Artisan Ales

 

 

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, 2018 vintage bottling. Pours slightly hazy pale straw yellow color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with decent retention, that reduces to nothing eventually. Slight spotty lacing with some clinging bubbles on the glass. Aromas of big tart/sour lemon, lime, citrus zest, peach, pear, red/green apple, melon, strawberry, white wine, chamomile, rose, elder flower, lavender, hay, straw, herbal, grass, oak, wheat, and cracker; with lighter notes of peppercorn, cinnamon, clove, leathery/musty funk, white wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, flowers, moderate oak, and light-moderate pale/wheat malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big tart/sour lemon, lime, citrus zest, peach, pear, red/green apple, melon, strawberry, white wine, chamomile, rose, elder flower, lavender, hay, straw, herbal, grass, oak, wheat, and cracker; with lighter notes of peppercorn, cinnamon, clove, leathery/musty funk, white wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Light-moderate lactic tart/sourness; light herbal/floral bitterness and yeast/oak spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of sour lemon, lime, citrus zest, peach, pear, red/green apple, melon, strawberry, white wine, chamomile, rose, elder flower, lavender, hay, straw, herbal, grass, oak, wheat, cracker, peppercorn, cinnamon, clove, leathery/musty funk, white wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, flowers, moderate oak, and light-moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; with a nice malt/tart/sourness and bitter/spiciness balance. Mild lingering pucker through the glass, but not overwhelming. Moderate increasing dryness from tart/sourness, and lingering bitter/spiciness. Medium-high carbonation and light body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, grainy/acidic/sticky, and fairly tannic balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol for 6.3%. Overall this is an awesome spiced sour/wild ale! All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, flowers, moderate oak, and light-moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and easy to drink with the moderately acidic/sticky/drying finish, not overly lactic. Well rounded Brett/Bacteria complexity with great balance of the floral spices; solid oak presence and pale/wheat malts against acidity. A really enjoyable offering, and spot on style example as expected. Lighter bodied than most of the solera series.