Cactus Pear Wild Ale
Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery

First thing to note is this ISN'T the prickly pear version of Rosie Pom. This is a whole new beer by Brian involving Berliner Weiss and Cactus Pears. Served in a tulip from a firkin at Smallbar Fullerton.

A - Pours with a big fluffy white foam that features good retention and leaves tons of lacing. The body is a hazy pale golden apricot color. Quite attractive.

S - Big tropical brett character, and more evocative of a funky Belgian golden ale (a la Orval). Some musty and earthy notes, with a touch of horse. Don't get much cactus pear in the nose. There's some light lactic sourness too.

T - The taste has that sweet ripe cactus pear flavor right at mid-palate. Initially starts with the musty Saison notes, and finishes with light Berliner-style sourness. There's a tannic quality, but I don't know if this was barrel-aged or if I'm getting it from the residual fruit. Some yeastiness in the aftertaste.

M - Surprisingly well-carbonated for a cask beer, although still on the medium-low side of things. Finishes with a mix of tannic husk and sticky fruit characteristics. Body is medium and definitely has some grit to it.

D - I was happy to have two glasses of this one, even though it wasn't at all what I was expecting (damn misleading name). It's a fairly tame wild ale, but a solid first attempt for Brian at Flossmoor. I wouldn't bike to Smallbar for it again, but it was much better than some of the other crap they had ((cough* Two Brothers, *cough*). Think a fruited up El Diablo Deluxe and you wouldn't be too far off track.

One time only pin cask at Smallbar Fullerton for Beermapping.com's 5th anniversary party.

Served in a tapered tulip glass, two 10-12 oz. pours.

Bright gold early on, 2nd pour was towards the end of the cask and slightly hazed. Two finger head at first, which settled to a wispy skim later.

Wet hay with a musty dose of minerality, lactobacillius and Berliner Weisse yeast, and dusty wheat in the background. Some woody spiciness, but it's honestly hard to tell if this has touched a barrel (guessing not).

Pretty clean and easygoing, some fullness and dry character that I automatically associate with Brettanomyces. Lemon peel, mild savory spice, somewhat spritzy for being on cask, low level tartness with a more restrained funk expressing itself. Super dry finish reminiscent of Orval or a wild Saison. Honestly after Dave said Bam Biere, it was a direct association from there on out. Put this on tap all summer and you have yourself a winner.

Good job Bryan!