Lunaire
Forest & Main - The Brewery

3yo (2017) bottle...

 

750 mL bottle. Clear golden body with an ample white head. Smells very floral, like dandelions or something. White wine and some dried grass. Tastes like dandelions as well. Lots more wine here. Oak. Grassy and floral finish. Light lemon tartness. Medium body. It's a very good wine barrel saison maybe without being standout in the category.

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a slightly hazy dark golden orange color with bright tangerine edges and a two finger frothy white head that quickly settles into thick, lasting ring. Excellent retention lingering throughout with streaks of soapy lacing left begin.

Earthy aroma with sweaty, musty funk, strong farmhouse character and prominent brett along with delicate oak and vinous wine barrel. Barrel is there but not quite as strong as I expected. Delicate oak/wine tannins, vinous fruit notes of strawberry and cream, grape and dark berry sweetness. Farmhouse yeast with earthy funk, grass, straw, hay and sweaty brett effervescence. Very subtle lactic character along with minimal acetic acid yet not solvent-like at all. Pretty nice aroma but I was hoping for a stronger wine presence.

Fuller end of medium body with tart acidity, lactic funk, acetic vinegar, jammy vinous fruit, musty wild bugs and farmhouse yeast. Pretty complex but again, the wine presence isn't as strong as expected. Dry charred oak with subtle toothpick hints but not harsh or acrid. Jammy berries, grape skin, currant and more dark fruit sweetness. Citric acidity makes it tart, dry and puckering and there's a subtle acetic quality that strengthens a bit as it warms. Still, it's not harsh or solvent-like with delicate balsamic/red wine vinegar that nicely compliments the wine and vinous fruit flavors. Prominent funk with prickly Brett effervescence and lactic cheesiness. Delicate tangy yogurt cultures with pungent blue cheese. Some melon sweetness in there as well. Farmhouse yeast character with earth/grass, straw, barnyard soil and light resins. Some peppery, gingery spice with bready yeast, light fruit esters and subtle bubblegum. Pretty complex but well rounded and decently drinkable. Could use a bit more wine character/vinous sweetness but overall another solid BA saison from these guys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The grape must on this was so present you felt like you were going to cough out dust, and yet it didn't crush the flavor of the delicate wild critters. The bretty kick was sharp, balanced, and played very nicely with the wine barrel flavor. A surprise favorite at a bottle share last night.