Incipient - MI Chinook, MI Cascade, NZ Galaxy
Speciation Artisan Ales

 

 

 

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, 2018 vintage bottling. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy medium golden yellow color with a 2-3 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice dense soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big tart/sour lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, red/green apple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berry, citrus peel/zest, white wine, hay, straw, grass, oak, wheat, cracker, and white bread; with lighter notes of peppercorn, pine, leathery/musty funk, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, citrus/fruity hops, pale/wheat malts, and light-moderate oak foeder notes; with big strength. Taste of big tart/sour lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, red/green apple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berry, citrus peel/zest, white wine, hay, straw, grass, oak, wheat, cracker, and white bread; with lighter notes of peppercorn, pine, leathery/musty funk, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tartness; light herbal/grassy bitterness, and yeast/oak spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart/sour lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, red/green apple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berry, citrus peel/zest, white wine, hay, straw, grass, oak, wheat, cracker, white bread, light pepper/pine/funk, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, citrus/fruity hops, pale/wheat malts, and light-moderate oak foeder flavors; with an amazing malt/tart/sourness balance, and zero puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from tartness and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, bready/grainy/acidic, and lightly sticky/tannic balanced mouthfeel that is fantastic. Zero warming alcohol for 6.3%. Overall this is a fantastic dry hopped sour/wild ale! All around outstanding complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, citrus/fruity hops, pale/wheat malts, and light-moderate oak foeder flavors; very smooth, crisp, and refreshing to drink with the modestly acidic/drying finish, not overly lactic. Amazingly well rounded Brett/bacteria complexity and balanced citrus/fruity hops; citrus/fruity hops; nice malt backbone against acidity, and solid oak foeder presence. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazing spot on style example as expected.