Found In Space
Lost Grove Brewing

2023 vintage on tap at their brewery location, way cool. i think this has been aged in gin before, but the bartender informs me this vintage is in wine barrels, although i swear i still get gin out of it, not double barrel aged is it? in any event, this is a neat beer, somewhat of a departure for these guys although i know they did some cool barrel stuff in the past, this is funky and good, woody and strong, interesting on the ferment without really being wild, and the barrel treatment is cool, and as much as i kind of get gin elements, i get the wine aspect as well, berries and vanilla from the oak. some malt color to this, brassy toned and short headed from the tap but fine on carbonation overall, some body, some shine, looks a tad tired but not unexpected with the age. the nose is sweet for the style. honey and toffee, maybe some of that is from oak, more wood than either wine or gin, but i get a botanical lush aspect as well as some tannins from the wine part, red cherry and red currant as nuance, but also a hint of spruce and acid, rather complex, and the flavor is too, with vanilla from the wood, malt sweetness, plum and light spiciness, coriander and white pepper esters to me, white winey too sort of in the ferment anyway, belgian also, and it warms up boozy but good. this doesnt feel like a saison, it feels almost like a wheatwine meets a saison, grainy and full, lightly tart and astringent but not a sour beer or anything, more red wine fruitiness as it warms up too, original and strange, tasty and different, i swear i somehow get a little gin too, maybe its a head trick, but its good. i like this side of lost grove in limited exposure and wish they would explore it a little more. need to track the gin one down now and compare...

500ml bottle from HomeBrewStuff. Caramel colored pour with a small bubbly head. Strong notes of gin lead the aroma, grassy, Belgian yeast. Taste balances the saison and gin, each complimenting the other, mildly sweet, savory notes. Really nice.