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Splinter Gold
Tröegs Brewing Company
- From:
- Tröegs Brewing Company
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- Wild Ale
- ABV:
- 12%
- Score:
- 94
- Avg:
- 4.25 | pDev: 13.18%
- Reviews:
- 72
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Oct 10, 2021
- Added:
- Dec 17, 2009
- Wants:
- 658
- Gots:
- 29
The transformation of Scratch #3-2007 to Splinter Gold has been a slow rest in oak wine barrels dosed with brettanomyces. During a two-year aging period the horsey flavors of the brett combined with the Westmalle yeast used during primary fermentation to create a complex blend of flavors. Bone-dry and 12% abv, Splinter Gold is highly carbonated.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by HopHead84:
Reviewed by HopHead84 from California
4.7/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.7/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2/5/2010
Big thanks to Deuane for telling me about this rarity and then hooking me up with it. I skimmed the reviews before-hand and saw the high carbonation warnings, so I opened this over the sink with the aid of another. The cork required a corkscrew, and when I finally removed it from the bottle the foam slowly crept upward, though none was lost thanks to my careful and detailed planning. After the initial pour, I left the glass for a span of 3 minutes before returning to my desk to find that the foam in the bottle had risen half the height of the 750ml and was threatening to peer over the edge. Be careful with this one.
The beer pours hazy gamboge and free of sediment. The billowing white head rises three fingers above the liquid, exhibiting a seemingly sempiternal retention and marvelous lacing.
The fruit character is vivid, with note of granny smith apples, ripe pears, lemon, and Chardonnay grapes. Oak is buttery and it imparts a subtle spiciness that plays off the wet leather Brett notes. The wood has conferred an evident tannic quality on the beer. Belgian yeast is apparent, and it works quite well with the bready malt foundation. Other notes are of sugar and earth.
The flavor is a piquant amalgamation of granny smith apples, pears, lemons, and Chardonnay grapes. Oak is spicy and there's a light tartness accompanying the tannins. The malt is bready and there's noticeable Belgian yeast, as well as a dash of sugar midpalate and an earthy quality. The 12% is masterfully hidden. The flavor is great, but with a little guidance and coaxing from Brett's steady, adroit, and practiced hand, Splinter Gold is propelled to the next level of deliciousness and beyond (from 4.5-5.0 in BA terms). The Brett imparts a light mustiness and a wet leather subtlety that greatly adds to the balance and finesse.
I think the major flaw in this beer is the over carbonation, but that's easily swirled out and it's died down to a nice level as I type these words. Bone dry is an understatement, the landscape that is my palate is a barren, arid, and desiccated wasteland. It's fantastic. This is exceedingly drinkable, immensely enjoyable, and definitely worth seeking out. Serve this at 55 degrees to best observe the many complexities.
Feb 06, 2010Big thanks to Deuane for telling me about this rarity and then hooking me up with it. I skimmed the reviews before-hand and saw the high carbonation warnings, so I opened this over the sink with the aid of another. The cork required a corkscrew, and when I finally removed it from the bottle the foam slowly crept upward, though none was lost thanks to my careful and detailed planning. After the initial pour, I left the glass for a span of 3 minutes before returning to my desk to find that the foam in the bottle had risen half the height of the 750ml and was threatening to peer over the edge. Be careful with this one.
The beer pours hazy gamboge and free of sediment. The billowing white head rises three fingers above the liquid, exhibiting a seemingly sempiternal retention and marvelous lacing.
The fruit character is vivid, with note of granny smith apples, ripe pears, lemon, and Chardonnay grapes. Oak is buttery and it imparts a subtle spiciness that plays off the wet leather Brett notes. The wood has conferred an evident tannic quality on the beer. Belgian yeast is apparent, and it works quite well with the bready malt foundation. Other notes are of sugar and earth.
The flavor is a piquant amalgamation of granny smith apples, pears, lemons, and Chardonnay grapes. Oak is spicy and there's a light tartness accompanying the tannins. The malt is bready and there's noticeable Belgian yeast, as well as a dash of sugar midpalate and an earthy quality. The 12% is masterfully hidden. The flavor is great, but with a little guidance and coaxing from Brett's steady, adroit, and practiced hand, Splinter Gold is propelled to the next level of deliciousness and beyond (from 4.5-5.0 in BA terms). The Brett imparts a light mustiness and a wet leather subtlety that greatly adds to the balance and finesse.
I think the major flaw in this beer is the over carbonation, but that's easily swirled out and it's died down to a nice level as I type these words. Bone dry is an understatement, the landscape that is my palate is a barren, arid, and desiccated wasteland. It's fantastic. This is exceedingly drinkable, immensely enjoyable, and definitely worth seeking out. Serve this at 55 degrees to best observe the many complexities.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by 4DAloveofSTOUT from Illinois
4.04/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
batch 1! Nice carbonation and fairly dry. Lots of oak in smell and taste. This is probably 6 years old or so by now. It is slightly one dimensional and not very complex, but it is still good beer.
Jul 19, 2015Rated by wethorseblanket from California
4.28/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Reviewed from notes. Shared by Richard on 1-14-12.
May 21, 2015Reviewed by Devman171 from Maryland
1.3/5 rDev -69.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
1.3/5 rDev -69.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
Bottle batch 2, aroma is heavy acetone and oak. Taste is thick and funky with a dry heavy oak finish. Tried a second day, heavy wood and nail polish still there
Dec 27, 2014Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado
3.75/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
i didnt love this one as much as others. its heavy on the wine barrel characteristics, which is almost a fruity double jeopardy with the belgian yeast, and the wild yeast, which is mostly brett from what i gather, doesnt make nearly as much of an impact as i was hoping for. still, the beer is good, almost like a tripel in its yeast and body, and in that its sweet all the way through it an unapologetic for that. carbonation is awesome, its very alive, and the wood on it is enormous. im not sure the wine barrel was the best choice though, neutral oak may have been more appealing, but the fruitiness is pleasant too. slightly tart and tannic, but never sharp. it also doesnt need to be so strong. i might have like this better around 8% abv, the extra booze does little for the beer and is distracting in some contexts. it improves as it warms though, and the funk comes out a bit more. this is fun beer, but i expected a lot more from it honestly.
Dec 23, 2014
Splinter Gold from Tröegs Brewing Company
Beer rating:
94 out of
100 with
168 ratings
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