Trimorphic
Speciation Artisan Ales

 

Poured into a tulip glass. The color is striking. A pale pink-rose out of the bottle, forming a bright, slightly hazy dark pink/ruby red color in the glass. Carbonation was low - not sure if this was intentional - but a vigorous pour produced only a small head that quickly left. The first thing I noticed on the aroma was the barrel. Big oak notes that were musty and slightly sweet. The cherry was there but the barrel was front and center. The taste differed greatly, as the tart cherries were there immediately. The tartness gave way to a slight sweetness from the fruit, which played well with the sourness. The oak notes were there throughout, but in the background allowing the fruit to shine. Complex cherry notes reflecting the different additions. There was also a funky undercurrent which added to the complexity. Carbonation was low - halfway between still and medium - but this did not detract much from the beer. I found it hard to believe that this was an 8% beer. Overall an outstanding beer.