Sauvage
Dwinell Country Ales

bummer these guys are no more, still some of their beer around though, and i plan to keep procuring and enjoying until it isnt. this one is great, a well worn combination of nelson hops and sauvignon blanc grapes, must in this instance, spontaneous ferment, really nice can of beer, funky without being sour at all really, just a little of that white grape acidity, but this is ripe fruity not pithy and tart fruity, very true to the wine itself, wild in a way others of theirs have been, clean and lighter than expected, so minimal on the grain side, could just be a pils type malt, its dry and mineral forward but light in flavor and in body, mild haze to it, washed out straw color, fizzy beer but just a short patchy white head, that can felt pretty tight, some conditioning happening i would assume. the nose and taste are just killer, real wine grape forward, pleasant bretty funk, barnyard weirdness, dry as a bone, light cereal character from the grain, notes of lemon, green plantain, and white coconut flesh, maybe a little tangy guava, summery and tropical and rustic, but also kind of brisk for a wild beer like this, maybe no oak involved, this isnt woody really to me, even with the vinous character, too light for that. it warms to green pear and white currant and even a hint of pineapple, more hop fruitiness than wine at temperature, so obviously nelson, and so decidedly compatible with the grape element, no bitterness here really at all. carbonation is ample, finish is fast, and there is just a little light hoppy dankness left on the palate after each sip. really good stuff, not their most refined presentation but i cant complain, i love beer like this and miss these guys already, one of the great unsung operations of the northwest in their time...