Beer Tasting: New & Eclectic

June 7, 2017 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

 

Now that the madness of Craft Beer Week 2017 firmly in the rear-view, we can finally think critically and logistically about beer events without immediately lapsing into a twitch-fit. To wit: check out these awesome beers you can come and taste next Wednesday.

Trois Dames Foret Noir – Dark Sour Ale – 6.8% abv

The label for this thing says “imperial stout,” but whatever. It’s a dark sour with sweet cherries, and it’s really freaking good.

Trois Dames Saison Vieille – Barrel Aged Sour Ale – 7.5% abv

Similar situation here. Front label: saison. Back label: strong sour ale. Real talk: mid-strength saison, fermented in foedres, then aged in sherry barrels.

Mystic Saison Renaud – Farmhouse Ale – 6.5% abv

To date, we’ve mainly featured Mystic’s more off-kilter beers: a sour table ale and a weirdo wheat-wine. This, their flagship beer, is a welcome departure, simply made but brilliantly executed: Pilsner malt, Saaz hops, and a house yeast.

Mystic Kanzu – Farmhouse Ale – 5.4% abv

Back to the weirdness. This saison is made with single-origin Rwandan coffee, which actually works surprisingly well: the coffee lends a light, fruity note to the beer, and is a fantastic, if unexpected, complement.

Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2015 & 2009 – English Strong Ale – 8.5% abv

One of the classic strong ales. Fuller’s has been brewing this for an even 20 years, so we figured now was as good a time as any to feature them. The newer vintage will be brighter, with still-noticeable marmalade hop notes; the aged bottles exhibit nutty sherry flavors, port, caramel, and toffee.

Alvinne Kerasus – Wild Cherry Ale – 6.9% abv

From their tiny brewery in Moen, Belgium, Alvinne is quietly churning out some of the best oak-aged sour beers in Europe. For them, Kerasus is relatively tame: a wild ale aged on cherries, it is fleshy and fruity, with a slight balsamic note and bone-dry palate.