Ardi
Fair Isle Brewing

piquette inspired saison here, super cool second use red wine grapes and foraged elderflower in this, very complex, and seriously it ranks as one of my all time favorite fair isle beers, which is saying a lot because pretty much everything they do slaps. the label is also one of the best ive ever known in beer, the raised texture, the subtle art, its just a stunning bottle, only fitting for a beer this good, thanks to my buddy for sharing, far too kind! not much color from the fruit but a very excited pour, maybe just faintly stained, straw colored, high headed, looks belgian and pretty. the aroma here is wild, surprised how forward the elderflower is, delicate but bold at the same time, an intense dosage of this it seems, really pollen forward and sort of the defining element for me. fruit is secondary, tannic and tangy with a soft wine vibe but more cranberry and red currant to me, medium acidity, but some fruity sweetness in the mix too on top of a fuller wheaty type grain base, earthy minerals, and enough oak. the fermentation is cool in the flavor, this seems really mature, but then also fresh with the radiant elderflower, less bretty, more tangy, still with fruity saison esters of green pear and white peach, which compliment the grape aspect well, subtle as it is. some herbal bitterness against some residual sugar, smoothing oak but never heavy, grippy at the end from the grape skins it seems, which makes it finish quicker than it otherwise would. not too woody, only subtle funk, neat and familiar fair isle esters as well, the elderflower is an amazing addition to this. splendid beer, wish i had one to age awhile, but this is really choice. one of my favorite breweries in the country!