White Chocolate possibly infected; Patrick Rue responds

Last years WC is one of my favorite bruery beers. I maxed allocations on it, haven't opened one yet so I'll formulate an opinion on it after I do. Got only one bottle left from last year

 

Has anyone ever had a sour/tart White Oak? I had my first bottle of this year's White Oak last night. Delicious. No tartness, and tasted just like I remember from last year.

Just curious since White Oak is 50% White Oak Sap, you'd expect some tartness there, unless they saved all the tart White Oak Sap for this year's White Chocolate

 

LOL way to lash out at someone who was supporting you...

 

See the extra posts. I was hung over and had my panties in a bunch. Things look more clear after a few cups of coffee

 

The 2011 White Oak I drank when it was released was quite tangy/tart to the point where I did not care to have it again and felt like something slightly wild was going on in it. A friend recently shared a newer bottle with me and I thought it was a completely different beer. If white chocolate this year is like that tangy version of white oak, than i am very glad I did not buy white chocolate when given the opportunity this year.

 

Out of the 12 White Oak I went through from last year I don't recall any of them being tangy. Just lots of coconut, however, I always looked for the coconut flavor and some tang could go well with that. That being said, I think this year's White Oak is better than last years.

 

I opened one last weekend with a couple of friends and we didn't finish more than 3-4 ounces of it total. I was telling a friend today about how disappointing it is this year compared to last year's, and he says "haven't you seen the white chocolate thread?" Nope. I don't know if it's infected, but it was more sour than sweet and just not good at all.

 

That's a bummer. I know what last years tasted like, and thew ones I have opened so far from this years batch have been excellent. Going to pop another in the fridge and open it tonight and let you know how it goes. Just wondering if it's from a barrel?, particular bottling date, etc.. Hoping I don't have one of the off ones!

 

So anybody hear anything yet?

 

I think the Belgium trip has slowed down any form of formal response(hope they enjoyed and learned a bit on their trip) and I would imagine given the sporadic nature of the issue complicating things further. Hopefully soon though.

 

This is a prime example of customer service and quality control that many breweries (whos name I won't mention) can learn from. Another reason The Bruery is on my list of top breweries in the country. Cheers Patrick.

 

Flight this weekend at the tasting room with White Oak, White Oak Sap, and White Chocolate.

 

Oh I thought they got back already... Well hopefully we get the same treatment they did with the Ebony and Oak...

 

Cracked a '13 tonight at a tasting. Def got a tart green apple flavor early on, then it dissipated as it warmed up. Got White Chocolate which was fantastic. Then as I dropped the last remnants in the bottle into a few glasses (IE yeast shots) the green apple returned. Didn't taste an infection but I'd wager an unanticipated flavor from the brewer. Green Apple tartness was def present. Everyone agreed though, no one would have even thought it was a sour.

 

I'm strongly convinced this is acetylaldehyde not getting cleaned up. If this were bottle conditioned, it would definitely go away.

 

Was last years bottle conditioned, I don't remember if the '12s had that on the label.

 

I'm not sure. Not bottle conditioning doesn't guarantee freedom from Acetylaldehyde, but it can clean it up if the main fermentation didn't take care of it. The '12 definitely didn't have it.

 

Ah, thank you.

 

Just checked one of my 2012 does not say bottle conditioned. Don't know how to add a picture of the label

 

Yeah, I've been watching this thread and as a homebrewer and beer judge I keep thinking its acetylaldehyde blending with a slightly tart batch of White Oak Sap. I bought one 2013 and plan to do a SxS with 2012. This thread is making finding volunteers to help more difficult though.