Phylum
Speciation Artisan Ales

 

 

 

A - Pours a lightly hazed straw yellow with no head. No lacing whatsoever.

S - The aroma is lime, lemon, leather and oak.

T - The taste is lime, lemon, green apple, straw, oak, leather and rum.

M - Medium body with low carbonation. Soft mouthfeel with a crisp dry finish.

O - Another killer beer from Speciation. The lines add a bright acidity to the base beer. The rum barrel adds a depth to the finish. Great beer.

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, 2018 vintage bottling. Pours slightly hazy pale golden/straw color with a minimal foamy cap that reduces to nothing pretty quickly. No lacing with some clinging bubbles on the glass. Good appearance. Aromas of big tart/sour key limes, zest, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, melon, green apple, white wine, rum, oak, hay, straw, and grass; with lighter notes of wheat, cracker, leathery/musty funk, white wine vinegar, pepper, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great complexity and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, limes, rum barrel, and light-moderate pale/wheat malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big tart/sour key limes, zest, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, melon, green apple, white wine, rum, oak, hay, straw, and grass; with lighter notes of wheat, cracker, leathery/musty funk, white wine vinegar, pepper, and yeast/oak earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tart/sourness, fruit tang, and light yeast/oak spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of sour key limes, zest, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, melon, green apple, white wine, rum, oak, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, light funk/vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a while. Touch of acetone. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, limes, rum barrel, and light-moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; with a nice malt/tart/sourness and tangy fruit balance. Mild puckering sourness, but not overwhelming. Minimal carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, grainy/acidic/tangy, and lightly tannic balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Minimal warming alcohol for 5.8%. Overall this is an excellent fruited sour/wild ale. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, limes, rum barrel, and light-moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the modestly acidic/tangy/drying finish, not overly lactic. Normal crisp carbonation would have definitely scored higher, but this was still very impressive. Awesome balance of vibrant key limes, Brett/Bacteria, rum barrels, and solid pale/wheat malts against acidity. A very enjoyable offering, and well made style example as expected.