Macromutation
Speciation Artisan Ales

 

 

 

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, 2018 vintage bottling. Pours lightly hazy pale golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big tart/tangy limes, lemon, citrus zest, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, red/green apple, guava, gooseberry, white wine, oak, gin, juniper berry, spruce, peppercorn, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, some leathery/musty funk, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, limes, citrus/tropical hops, gin barrels, and moderate pale/wheat malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big tart/tangy limes, lemon, citrus zest, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, red/green apple, guava, gooseberry, white wine, oak, gin, juniper berry, spruce, peppercorn, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, some leathery/musty funk, and yeast/oak earthiness. Touch of oaken vanilla as it warms. Light-moderate peppery yeast/gin/oak spiciness; herbal, floral, grassy bitterness; and light Brett/lime tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart/tangy limes, lemon, citrus zest, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, red/green apple, guava, gooseberry, white wine, oak, gin, juniper berry, spruce, peppercorn, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, leathery/musty funk, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, limes, citrus/tropical hops, gin barrels, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; with an awesome malt/bitter/spiciness and light tart/tangy balance; with no puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Fairly crisp/clean finishing. Light-moderate increasing dryness from bitter/spiciness, carbonation, and fruit tang/tartness. Medium-plus carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy/sticky, and fairly acidic/tangy/tannic balanced mouthfeel that is fantastic. Minimal warming alcohol for 6.7%. Overall this is a fantastic fruited wild saison! All around outstanding complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/spicy yeast, limes, citrus/tropical hops, gin barrels, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth, easy, and fairly crisp/clean to drink; with the modestly spicy/acidic/tangy/tannic/drying finish. Amazingly well balanced vibrant limes, Brett/Saison yeast, Citra hops, and Gin barrel complexity; with a nice pale/wheat malt backbone. Minimal residual sweetness from lingering dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and spot on style example as expected. Gin barrels work really well with saisons.

A - Pours a hazy golden range with a large fizzy white head. Heavy amount of soapy lacing.

S - Aroma is lime, citra hops and white pepper.

T - The taste is lime, lemon peel, citra hops, gin barrel, white pepper and some nice earthy funk on the finish.

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

O - Another winner from Speciation. The flavors are perfectly balanced making each swallow a pleasure.