All Funked Up - You Brett Your Ass IPA
Against The Grain Brewery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22oz into a flute.

A: Pours a hazy darkish orange with a big off-white head.

S: Claussenii pineapple notes dominate, along with some citrusy hops, a bit leafy, white cake sweetness.

T: Wow, this fermented really dry. Bitterish resin, a bit musty, sourdough, mild chalk note, hint of citrus, bright grain.

M: Medium-bodied and frothy. Brett did work with the bottle conditioning.

O: I'd say this is a good recipe, but it came out over-attenuated and way too dry.

 

ABV: 6%

Appearance: Clear orange amber, with golden honey yellow around the edges. The beige head diminishes quickly to a thin layer, with lacing that coats the side of the glass before sluggishly sliding back down into the beer.

Aroma: Bright aromas of white grape, champagne, tart lemon, and apple juice mingle with a clean, herbal, grassy scent.

Taste & Mouthfeel: You’ll immediately notice fennel/black licorice on the tongue, with buttery, biscuity malts backing it up. The fennel flavor stays present throughout the tasting, and is joined by spicy hop and alcoholic warmth in the finish. The flavor isn’t boozy, but you do get a warming sensation after swallowing. As the beer warms, you’ll find the malt character really blossoming as it shifts from buttery biscuit to toasted nut/nutshell, like a nut with a bit of husk bitterness in there. The texture is thick and smooth, and the finish is just dry enough to keep the experience crisp. It’s very balanced and easy on the tongue, especially for an IPA.

Final Word: Absolutely try this brew out, as it will surprise you with its unique take on what an IPA can taste like, as even the aroma is brighter and sweeter than many IPAs I’ve tried. The fennel flavor and spiciness of the brew were definitely unexpected, given how fruity the aroma was, but the black licorice taste in particular seemed to muscle its way to the top, and was a bit out of balance with the other ingredients. That’s not to say that it didn’t taste great, quite the opposite in fact, but anyone with an aversion to black licorice probably won’t be able to get past it. However, it doesn’t get in the way of the real star of the show, the malts! While great from the start, the malt character continued to bloom as the beer warmed, creating an extremely rich, complex, and satisfying backbone that meshed perfectly with the spicy, earthy, dry notes in the rest of the beer. Throughout the tasting, I never found the use of Brettanomyces yeast to be very apparent, much less overwhelming. Brett yeast is known for producing flavors of earth, spice, and even barnyard, so the fact that it is kept so well in check in this beer is a testament to Against the Grain’s talent. This brew also avoids the overwhelming bitterness present in many hoppy beers, which makes this a very accessible IPA, but might also leave some hop lovers wanting a bit more of said bitterness to round the beer out. Also, there is surprisingly little citrus flavor on the tongue, considering that both varieties of hop used (Amarillo & Citra) have very citrusy profiles. Don’t let these atypical characteristics cause you to skip this beer, or pass judgment on it, because the break from the norm is exactly what makes this brew so intriguing! In fact, don’t even read the label, don’t form any expectations, and instead just let You Brett Your Ass IPA introduce itself on its own terms.

 

With the explosion of brettanomyces infused, hop balanced beers infiltrating the market, Louisville's Against the Grain brewers go with the grain and follow suit with a tantalizing ale to tease hop heads and seduce the sour palate at the same time.

Its hazy peach color suggests both IPA and farmhouse, and so does its nose- Pure citrus links up with a light bread taste and texture for a medley that's mostly fruit but dryly sweet. Esters and wood work in tandem for a marriage of fruit trees- fructose, stem and leaf all together; bracing against a peppercorn rebuttal.

Blooming over the middle, the beer relinquishes dried citrus and dried tropical fruit to suggest a musty, weathered, and dehydrated form of pineapple, mango, orange, apple and grapefruit. As its subtle attic-wood character offers oaken taste and powdery texture, the finish looms with verbena and tea.

Trending bitter and dry, the ale forgives its malt and seems winy late. Its acidity, tannic and musten character takes hold and sheds light on a briny, sod-like and sweaty character.

Pours a golden amber with a big white head. Aroma seems to be lead by the citra hops offering tropical fruits like guava and mango, but the amarillo hops are there giving off their nice citrus, a touch of bread, a nice funkiness, and pineapple also presents. As does some alcohol and a decent level of bitterness. Flavor follows suit. A crisp, active mouthfeel that finishes dry. Overall,alright little rough around the edges, preventing it from being as smooth and drinkable as it otherwise could be.