The Great Filter
Speciation Artisan Ales

A - Pours a lightly hazed gold with a large fizzy white head. The head fades quickly leaving some very light soapy lacing.

S - Aroma is lemon, green apple skins, white vinegar and oak.

T - The taste is green apple, lemon, lime, white wine, honey and oak.

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

O - Very solid. The honey adds a nice touch of sweetness to the base golden sour. Tasty stuff.

 

 

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, 2018 vintage bottling. Pours lightly hazy pale golden/straw color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with solid retention, that reduces to a minimal ring of lace eventually. Minimal lacing on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big tart lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, citrus zest, peach, pear, melon, red/green apple, white wine, oak, hay, straw, grass, honey, wheat, cracker, and white bread; with light notes of oaken vanilla, peppercorn, leathery/musty funk, white wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aroma with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, honey, pale/wheat malts, and moderate oak notes; with great strength. Taste of big tart lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, citrus zest, peach, pear, melon, red/green apple, white wine, oak, hay, straw, grass, honey, wheat, cracker, and white bread; with light notes of oaken vanilla, peppercorn, leathery/musty funk, white wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Light-moderate lactic tartness, and light yeast/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, citrus zest, peach, pear, melon, red/green apple, white wine, oak, hay, straw, grass, honey, wheat, cracker, white bread, light vanilla/leather/funk/vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, honey, pale/wheat malts, and moderate oak flavors; with an awesome malt/tartness and yeast/oak spiciness balance; with no puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Moderately crisp/clean finishing. Light-moderate increasing dryness from tartness, lingering yeast/oak spiciness, and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy, fairly acidic, and lightly tannic mouthfeel that is fantastic. Minimal warming alcohol for 7%. Overall this is an outstanding sour/wild ale! All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, honey, pale/wheat malts, and moderate oak flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink for the ABV, with the mellowly acidic/tannic/drying finish, not overly lactic. Outstanding balance of Brett/Bacteria complexity, honey, and pale/wheat malts; with solid oak foeder presence. A highly enjoyable offering, and spot on style example as expected. The foeder aged golden sour series has been extremely consistent and impressive across the board.