Embrace The Funk - Ciel Natal
Yazoo Brewing Company

There was once a time when sour ale were not solely done in the kettle, were more involved than simply used in a single organism, that once took patience in barrel aging to achieve. For those who miss those days should be delighted with Yazoo's Embrace the Funk series.

Pouring with a hazy straw appearance, Ciel Natal billows quickly to the rim with a loose honeycomb froth. With the souring, earthen and pungent scent of oak, wine, cider, citrus and dried fruit drifting from the glass, a sense of sea air, weathered woods, saddle leather and create a cellar-like musk in scent. But its taste is short and sweet with a terse malt profile based around wafer, cracker and a hint of honeysuckle.

But story of the beer is about sourness and that strong acidity that comes along with it. With a rise of branch dried fruit, the taste of grapefruit, lemon, pear, peach and apple all carry a dehydrated character. Dusty, musty and rife with gamey scents, a hint of oak, moss and leather lead to a brisk sourness that tightens the jaws and activates the saliva glands. A light but present bitterness is peppery, woodsy and redolent with dried fruit peels.

Light bodied and racy with carbonation, the lively beer is a thirst quenching experience with high drinkability in a true Zenne Valley Lambic way. A quick finish of fruit and sourness is lasted only by the bitter hay-like hops that extend slightly onward.