Genetic Drift - Second Use Cherries
Speciation Artisan Ales

 

Pours a hazy orange hue with a tight band around the shoulders and a thin, foamy forth across the surface. Nose expresses citrus and medicinal notes. Taste consistent with nose with the addition of citric acid. Mouthfeel is light and lively. Overall, decent but nothing particularly interesting to my sensibilities.

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, 2018 vintage bottling. Pours fairly hazy medium golden yellow color with a 2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big juicy/lightly tart/tangy cherries, fruit skin/pits, lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, and white bread; with lighter notes of peppercorn, musty/lacto funk, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of cherries, citrus/earthy hops, fruity/funky/acidic yeast, and pale/wheat malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big juicy/lightly tart/tangy cherries, fruit skin/pits, lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, and white bread; with lighter notes of peppercorn, musty/lacto funk, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tartness, fruit tang; light herbal/floral/grassy bitterness, and yeast spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of juicy cherries, fruit skin/pits, lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, hay, straw, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light pepper/musty/lacto funk, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of cherries, citrus/earthy hops, fruity/funky/acidic yeast, and pale/wheat malt flavors; with an awesome malt/tartness and tangy fruit balance; with no puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from tartness, tangy fruit, and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, fairly crisp/acidic/tangy/tannic, and lightly sticky mouthfeel that is fantastic. No warming alcohol for 6.6%. Overall this is an incredible fruited sour/wild ale. All around fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of cherries, citrus/earthy hops, fruity/funky/acidic yeast, and pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and refreshing to drink with the mellowly acidic/tangy/drying finish, not overly lactic. Amazing balance of nicely jammy cherries, Brett/Bacteria complexity, and citrus/earthy hops; with a perfectly balanced pale/wheat malt backbone against acidity. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazing style example as expected. A bit more malty than most of the series, but not a bad thing at all. They always nail it.