Aoltbeer Blend 2019-02
Kemker Kultuur

 

 

Pours a slightly cloudy, golden amber coloration with a small, frothy head. Smells of slightly bready, grainy malt, fruity yeast esters of green apple and apricot, as well as some hay and funk and oak. Taste is an excellent balance of slightly bready and grainy malt, grassy hay, fruity and slighty spicy yeast esters of tart green apple, apricot and clove, musty, blue cheese funk and earthy, slightly tannic oak, with a soft, underlying lactic, citric acidity. Finishes rather dry, with a light/medium tartness and some fruity esters, funk and oak lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth, somewhat effervescent mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

While this labels itself as a "Münstersch Alt", it also says "Historical Sour Ale" on the label, which is what should be expected here, as this has very little in common with a traditional Alt and actually feels a lot more like a Geuze with its rather dry, tart and funky character and estery, woody notes, almost bringing to mind a certain white wine vibe, although it is perhaps just a tad more heavy on the bready, grainy malt than your average Wild ale. Overall, a fantastic balance of flavors going on here, proving once again that Kemker is one of the finest makers of Wild Ales in Germany, not that there is much competition specializing in this area. Still, every brew I've had by them so far has been outstanding.

 

Pours a clouded, light amber to yellow color with a small head, collapsing to a thin layer of lacing immediately.

Smells of red apples, peaches, fresh cut grass and funky blue cheese. Offers a prominent tartness on the nose, which gently blends into mellow crackers with a note of mushrooms.

Offers a powerful sourness, which gets embraced by a truly mellow, soft and finely nuanced mouthfeel. This creates a wine-like impression, bringing this close to a Lambic.

Tastes of old, dried hay, mushrooms, basement and leather with pithy peaches and lime zest. Turns a tad dryer then, with more hops rising up, together with a light, earthen note of toffee. Finishes heavier on the herbs with lingering potato peel, blue cheese and a light, effervescent sourness.

This is closer to a lambic than any AWA I‘ve had so far. This features a stunning complexity, far away from tasting like an Alt, but with a compelling, well balanced flavor composition. Its tartness blends marvelously well into the prominent funk of the beer, creating an astonishing complex and tasty beer.