Conservatory
Speciation Artisan Ales
- From:
- Speciation Artisan Ales
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- Wild Ale
Ranked #329 - ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #9,173 - Avg:
- 4.23 | pDev: 5.91%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 10, 2024
- Added:
- Mar 15, 2019
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding
We've long talked at the brewery about canning our base beer, and we finally had an opportunity to do that this month! Conservatory is a 50/50 blend from our two foeders, one of which contains our golden sour base, and the other contains our house wild saison base. (Genetic Drift/Incipient) We simply blended the beer and canned it, so you can really taste our house cultures without any fruit or hops in the way.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Roy_Hobbs from Connecticut
3.56/5 rDev -15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.56/5 rDev -15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Undated can, but I believe this is from 2019.
The beer is relatively unremarkable looking. Mostly pale yellow with some fizzy white head. Excellent clarity. As far as the aroma, I'm not sure if this has picked up some funk over the years or if it always smelled like this, but I'm really digging the light, earthy funk with a lemongrass undertone. It's not in your face, but it smells nice up close.
The taste is almost cider-like, with really clear notes of green apples. Is this supposed to taste like this, or is this a function of 5 years in the cellar? It's not that it tastes bad, just not what I was expecting. Little to no evidence of the foeder aging, which isn't a surprise at this point. Light carbonation and relatively easy drinking .
Overall.....I should have had this fresh!
Feb 10, 2024The beer is relatively unremarkable looking. Mostly pale yellow with some fizzy white head. Excellent clarity. As far as the aroma, I'm not sure if this has picked up some funk over the years or if it always smelled like this, but I'm really digging the light, earthy funk with a lemongrass undertone. It's not in your face, but it smells nice up close.
The taste is almost cider-like, with really clear notes of green apples. Is this supposed to taste like this, or is this a function of 5 years in the cellar? It's not that it tastes bad, just not what I was expecting. Little to no evidence of the foeder aging, which isn't a surprise at this point. Light carbonation and relatively easy drinking .
Overall.....I should have had this fresh!
Reviewed by buschbeer from Ohio
4.25/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
ONE PINT can
Served in a stemless wine glass
This beer pours a brilliant golden hue and is topped with a fleeting white head that leaves no lacing.
Funky aroma. Get some dank basement. Lemon and stonefruit. Smells nice and sour.
Great sour flavor. It is not quite mouth puckering. I get the funk. Lemon flavor. Stonefruit in the aftertaste. Sourness lingers and persists throughout the taste.
Medium bodied with a dry mouthfeel
Another excellent sour from Speciation. I love sour beer. This has great sourness and is not too sour to have a second. Speciation has become a "must stop" for me when in the Grand Rapids area.
Sep 18, 2021Served in a stemless wine glass
This beer pours a brilliant golden hue and is topped with a fleeting white head that leaves no lacing.
Funky aroma. Get some dank basement. Lemon and stonefruit. Smells nice and sour.
Great sour flavor. It is not quite mouth puckering. I get the funk. Lemon flavor. Stonefruit in the aftertaste. Sourness lingers and persists throughout the taste.
Medium bodied with a dry mouthfeel
Another excellent sour from Speciation. I love sour beer. This has great sourness and is not too sour to have a second. Speciation has become a "must stop" for me when in the Grand Rapids area.
Reviewed by TreyIsWilson from Michigan
4.32/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A - Pours a hazy bright gold with a large fizzy white head. The head fades away fast leaving not much lacing.
S - Aroma is lemon, white grapes and oak.
T - The taste is lemon, green apple, white grapes, white pepper, oak and some light lactic funk.
M - Medium/light body with medium carbonation. Soft mouthfeel with a nice crisp finish.
O - Really nice. Nice mix of funk and fruit. Very refreshing and easy drinking.
Jul 11, 2020S - Aroma is lemon, white grapes and oak.
T - The taste is lemon, green apple, white grapes, white pepper, oak and some light lactic funk.
M - Medium/light body with medium carbonation. Soft mouthfeel with a nice crisp finish.
O - Really nice. Nice mix of funk and fruit. Very refreshing and easy drinking.
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado
4.06/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Light yellow body; very lively carbonation; very little head retention, pours with a very quick, one-finger thick and fizzy head that disappears in about five seconds with a very thin ring of foam appearing a few minutes later around the glass. Excellent wild ale and sour aroma; a bit vinegary with very ripe fruit notes; grapes. The taste follows along the lines of the smell; tart and tangy; white wine; lime. Medium body; tart and acidic; coarse on the palate.
A very fine wild ale, hitting most of the notes one would expect within the taste and aroma departments.
Jul 23, 2019A very fine wild ale, hitting most of the notes one would expect within the taste and aroma departments.
Reviewed by CanConPhilly from Pennsylvania
4.39/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.39/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
L - 1.5 finger bright white head rapidly recedes, leaving behind a translucent yellow body.
S - citrus, floral, vinegar.
T - vinegar soaked-citrus, garnished with flower petals. No bitterness. Low sweetness. Low booziness.
F - medium-light body with high carb.
O - very refreshing.
Jun 25, 2019S - citrus, floral, vinegar.
T - vinegar soaked-citrus, garnished with flower petals. No bitterness. Low sweetness. Low booziness.
F - medium-light body with high carb.
O - very refreshing.
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina
4.35/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.35/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned in 3/2019. Pours lightly hazy pale golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with solid retention, that reduces to a minimal spotty lace cap that lingers. Minimal lacing on the glass, some clinging bubbles and streaming carbonation. Aromas of big tart/sour lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, guava, strawberry, mango, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, oak, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, and white bread; with lighter notes of peppercorn, oaken vanilla, leathery/musty/lacto funk, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast; and moderate pale/wheat malt, oak notes; with great strength. Taste of big tart/sour lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, guava, strawberry, mango, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, oak, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, and white bread; with lighter notes of peppercorn, oaken vanilla, leathery/musty/lacto funk, and yeast/oak earthiness. Light-moderate lactic tart/sourness, Brett tang, and yeast/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart/sour lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, citrus peel/zest, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, guava, strawberry, mango, melon, red/green apple, white grape/wine, oak, hay, straw, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, peppercorn, oaken vanilla, leathery/musty/lacto funk, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Amazing complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast; and moderate pale/wheat malt, oak flavors; with an awesome malt/tart/sourness, and tang/spiciness balance; with no puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Fairly crisp/clean finishing. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering tart/tang/sourness, yeast/oak spiciness, and carbonation. Medium-plus carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy/acidic, and fairly tangy/tannic balanced mouthfeel that is fantastic. Zero warming alcohol for 6.5%. Overall this is an amazing foeder aged sour/wild ale! All around incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast; and moderate pale/wheat malt, oak flavors; very smooth and fairly crisp/clean/refreshing to drink with the modestly acidic/tangy/tannic/drying finish, not overly lactic. An absolute perfect balance between their base golden sour and wild saison. Amazingly well rounded Brett, Bacteria, Saison yeast complexity; with a nice pale/wheat malt backbone against acidity, and solid overall oak presence. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazing style example as expected.
Mar 15, 2019
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