Underbru
Speciation Artisan Ales

 

This was a really fun collaboration, and it is highly recommended to grab a bottle of Underberg to go alongside this to really get the full experience.

I took the Underberg shot first; a wave of bitter botanicals balance a clear predominance of anise and clove. It goes down warm, and its very long finish carries into the next few minutes.

The pour on Underbru cascades into the glass a hazy golden yellow. Frothy white carbonation rises up and settles to a comfortable level of head above the body of the beer.

The nose is a bright bouquet characterized predominantly by candied ginger, citrus peel, and cinnamon. There's an apparent warmth to the aromatics, and is very reminiscent to notes of a fresh-baked citrus tart. As the beer continues to warm, clove and anise really begins to creep to the forefront.

The palate, although considerably more subdued than both the nose as well as its counterpart Underberg, it does exceptionally well to bring balance to the entire experience. There's subtly tart citrus, mildly bittering hops, and an underlying presence of ginger and tarragon. With time, the nose and palate both open up to become much more floral; the earthy, mustier notes associated with gentian root and associated liqueurs really start to see parallels with Underbru, albeit with a much more subtle approach.

Light, effervescent body to this saison. The oak aging lends a bit of dryness, and works well with the level of carbonation. The bitterness from the profile is more abundant at the front of the palate, and the finish is surprisingly clean with pleasant lingering spice.