Barrel Aged Dripping Saison
Half Acre Beer Company

On-tap at Memphis Taproom, served in a tulip

A golden, bright orange with minimal white head. No discernable lacing. Sits very still in the glass.

White wine dominates the nose. Lactic sourness, damp hay, and tart wild cherries. Not overly broad, but damn is this beer deep. Pinot for days.

Tart cherry juice first before a sweeping pinot flavor. Dry oak and vanilla dry everything out before a finish of sour cherries, white wine, and lactic sourness filling up in the finish.

Light bodied, amazingly refreshing. The wine notes are complemented by the cherries nicely.

Sour, dry, refreshing, barrel aged....this guy delivers. Solid on all fronts.

 

 

 

 

On tap at Local Option, 12/14/12. Poured into a snifter. Not sure this if this is a new batch sans cherries, because if not, their inclusion provided no characteristics.

Pour: Mostly clear orange with a finger os white head. Leaves no lacing, and the head fades rather quickly to a rim.

Smell: Nice burst of tart pear skins, some lemon pith, and a clean yeasty breadiness. Finishes with a lactic sourness on the nose.

Taste: Follows the nose big time, with some lactic sourness and pear juice. Some grapefruit sneaks in. A light funk, and some bready/biscuity sweetness. Finish with more lactic sourness.

Mouthfeel: Incredibly drinkable. Sourness is not cloying, nor does it stick around on the finish. Very refreshing.

Overall: An amazing beer, and easily Half Acres best offering yet. I would love to them make this again, and even bottle it as part of their large format bottle line.

Draft pour into a mini-nonic pint, full glass with about an inch of off white foam on the surface. Hazed golden orange body, not entirely opaque. Lasting retention and a halo of dripping lace (natch) crowns the rim of the glass.

Aroma is intricate and balanced, notes of vanilla from the wood, citric acid, and fruity chardonnay. Moderate funky wet hay notes.

Bright and tart with more fruity vinous notes that the nose hinted at, citrus, lemon, vanilla, wet hay, tannic cherry skins. Not much flavor from the cherries, but enjoyable and fruity nonetheless. Cleanly tart and citric at first, it finishes dry with a lingering pucker to savor. Well balanced and extremely drinkable. Hope they continue making this, it shows a marked improvement from their first barrel-aged beers a few years ago.

 

 

Thanks to WLV staff for hooking this one up.

A - Pours a mirky golden color, white head, thin collar.

S - Tart fruity notes up front, light funk, oak, and hay. The cherries are there and the light tartness works perfect with the sourness of the cherries.

T - Mostly oak, cherries, and tart funky/light acidity. The base beer is pretty well-hidden and has been overtaken by the barrel-aging process...I'm not complaining here. No alcohol notes. Finish is fruity tartness all the way down.

M - Light body, good carbonation, dry tart finish.

O - The best barrel-aged beer I've had from Half Acre by a long mile. I hope this continue to make this beer and keep experimenting with the saison as the base. Good stuff!

Poured from a 16.9oz bottle into two small tulips. Thanks to HeatherAnn for the assist! Extra special thanks to the HA crew for the hook up!

Name: Dripping
Process: Cherries/Roeselare Yeast
Time: 8 Months
Bottle 35 of 94

A: Popped the cap and was greeted with a mighty pffft and a slooow moootion guuuusher. Slow enough to capture all of it in the glasses. The beer in the bottle quickly calmed down and we were able to get down to business. Bright gold with a slight sliver of white foam. Lace was kept to a minimum and a few flecks of suspended sediment were seen floating in the glass.

S: Loads of bright & fruity white wine, tart Traverse City cherries, vanilla, citric tang, and damp oak.

T: As above with more emphasis on the delicious cherry and vanilla flavors. Mild lactic flavors. Awesome.

M: Bright, lively, and refreshing. Smooth and balanced with just the slightest bit of sour tanginess.

O: I hope this is shades of things to come with the barrel aging program at Half Acre. This was excellent.

 

 

Bottle generously shared by WLV staff. Bottle #50 of 94. Served in a tulip.

A - Quick-dissolving white foam settles to a thick collar, leaving a few wisps on top but minimal lace. Hazy dark orange-yellow body.

S - Super funky, with a moderate amount of sulfur and baby diaper. Underneath that there's a nice blend of vinous oak, white wine, some lactic yogurt, and a touch of lemon. The sulfur is a tad off-putting, but should dissipate over time.

T - Taste is a nice mix of vanilla malts, cherry cobbler, oak, and vinous acidity. Cherries are a tad understated, and there's a mild seltzer quality from the wet oak. Reminds me a little of Upland's lambics.

M - Pleasant carbonation, medium body, low acidity, and no alcohol. Dry and mildly tannic finish. Quite refreshing and style-appropriate.

D - This is definitely the best barrel-aged beer I've had from Half Acre. Other than the sulfuric note this is a solidly done wild beer, and it should improve over time. I wish the cherries were a tad more present. Hopefully I get to revisit this in the future.