Kumpeni
Kemker Kultuur

Pours a cloudy, golden amber coloration with a medium, fluffy head. Smells of doughy, bready malt and strong herbal notes, with what I take to be the wormwood standing out particularaly here, as well as fruity hints of grapefruit and tannic oak as well. Taste is an excellent balance of doughy, bready malt, fruity grapefruit notes and strong herbal components, with lighter spicy accents as well and distinct musty and tannic oak and hints of funk coming through as well, with a mild underlying tartness. Finishes with a light/medium tartness and bitterness, with some herbal notes, grapefruit and oak lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

This is another very impressive Wild Gruit Ale coming from Kemker here, an approach that they have really made their own and is pretty unique throughout Germany and probably beyond. There are a lot of strong flavors going on here, with nothing really muscling in too much though and an excellent balance of herbal, fruity, bitter and lighter spicy notes, making for a rich, yet subtly balanced brew that is full of character. The herbal notes really stand out here, with the wormwood providing a profound bitterness and the bog myrtle adding those typical anise hints. The distinct tannic, musty oak fits great with that, while the soft, zesty grapefruit accents are the perfect counterpoint here, with the rye malt and esters giving hints of spice to this as well, all this being underlaid with the perfect, mild acidity and subtle funk. This is world-class stuff indeed.