#219: Brouwerij Strubbe » Ichtegem's Grand Cru (Flanders)

A high-end, Belgian sour adventure...

The Brewery: Brouwerij Strubbe (Belgium)
The Brew:  Ichtegem's Grand Cru (Flanders)
Availability:  Bottles, draft
ABV: 6.5%
Rating: 9.2/10
Location: Tap & Mallet (Rochester)

After my cousin's birthday, with kids, we decided it was time for the adults to unwind and headed to Tap & Mallet for a few rounds. Round #1 was Shmaltz's He'Brew Jewbalation 17, which I completely through it had a write up for, but C'est la vie.

Recalling a few other recently wonderful Grand Cru experiences, I decided to b-line it to Strubbe's Ichtegem for the second round.

The brew starts off with an potent nose of earth, funky cherry, and vinegar. The flavor is tart, with an unusual and blanketing mouthcoat. Every note seems to counter the next from a dry mouthfeel, augmented by sweet notes of sugarcane to herbal and savory spices peaking through determinedly astringent sour fruit flavors.

Ichtegem continues into Belgian extremes with notes of vinaigrette, red wine, funky raspberry, overripe fruit, all laced with a mild acidity and bitterness. This is wild Belgian style in expert hands.

An overtly complex and challenging, yet rewarding brew. Adventurers, sign up here.

#170: Victory Brewing Co. » Helios (Belgian-style Farmhouse Ale)

Victory's funky farmhouse...

The Brewery: Victory Brewing Co. (Downington, PA)
The Brew: Helios (Belgian-style Farmhouse Ale)
Availability: Bottles & Draft
ABV: 7.5%%
Rating: 9.0/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

The Story? I must have passed by this beer several dozen times. Why? I haven't the slightest. Maybe the old green/yellow/brown label just didn't strike me the right way. Victory has my trust with long-standing staples such as Golden Monkey and Storm King, plus their impeccable draft-only offerings, so again, I have no idea why this never made it to my beer basket.

Last week, I was having a few close friends over, whom I hadn't seen in months, for movies. While shopping for some session brews to share and on my way out, I saw Helios staring back at me from the cold case, rebranded and for just $4.99. I figured if nothing else, it'd be a nice way to ease into the session beers, unknowing the pleasant surprise I was in for.

The Beer? Nice and funky right out of the gate! Golden, pale yellow color with fluffy white head presentation with a complex, Belgian-style nose, prominent in wheat and yeast.

Helios is brewed up with Brettanomyces and a blend of specialty yeasts from the Victory vault, yielding a bustling, wide flavor palate of mild barnyard, basement must, soft red apple, wet hay, grass, smooth citrus, peppercorn, and lemon peel. Way too drinkable at surprising 7.5%, this year-round bomber may have just be come one of my new go-tos.

For a beer I wasn't even planning on blogging, this peaked my interest with it's lovely, smooth, and drinkable funkiness on first sip. Kudos to Victory on the new, eye-catching label too.

#104: The Lost Abbey » Saint's Devotion (Belgian Blonde Ale w/ Brett)

For the love of Brettanomyces...

The Brewery: The Lost Abbey (San Marcos, CA)
The Brew: Saint's Devotion (Belgian Blonde Ale w/ Brett)
Availability: 12.7 mL
ABV: 6.66%
Rating: 8.8/10
Location: Home
Found: Benny's (Chicago)

The Story? I'll jump at any chance to pick up one of The Lost Abbey's Belgian-inspired creations. This one in particular was one from my haul out in Chicago while on tour.

Saint's Devotion is one of the Abbey's small bottle seasonal offerings, specifically a Brett-finished version of their Devotion Ale. Let's dig in.

The Beer? This one is vigorously carbonated! After struggling with the uncaged cork for a second, I found some recompense in a satisfying "pop" and enticing, funky aromas. Voluminous head plumes in the glass even with a patient, soft pour. After sitting for a moment, the carbonation continues to bubble up from the bottom of the glass, while the head stays leggy for some time.

The striking, golden body is quite translucent for a wild yeast beer. That ever-staying head has a tart, dry taste to it with a nose of muted sour notes, crisp yeast, mild orange and a hint of must.

Finally getting around to tasting this beauty, its light at first, then tightening up with a distinct dryness and mild funk. Brettanomyces is up front with cellar must, slight mushroom, and tangy dry sour flavors, but there's a delicate hop balance, providing some citrus and bitter notes, along with elements of straw and grass.

As with most beers from Lost Abbey, Saint's Devotion is a delicate, enjoyable beer. The hoppy blonde is excellent support for the wild and sometimes temperamental Brett.

#065: Mikkeller » Invasion Farmhouse IPA

Gypsy brew masters invade Brett heaven...

The Brewery: Mikkeller (Denmark) brewer / Anchorage Brewing Company
The Brew: Invasion Farmhouse IPA
Availability: 750 mL
ABV: 8.0
Rating: 9.4/10
Location: Home

The Story? My mind nearly melted when I heard one of my favorite brewers would be brewing at one of my favorite breweries. Mikkeller's bold adventures with IPAs plus Anchorage Breweries' Brettanomyces expertise. This is either going to be a train wreck or a mind-bender.

The Beer? The eyes spy a finger of fluffy white head and a hazy, unfiltered body - reminiscent of a wheat. Drawing the glad in, there's a brilliantly bright citrus nose, filled with hot hop heat and that unmistakable mild funk of the Brett.

I can't wait... first sip and my palate is already bursting with various sour and funk spectrum notes and a firm taste of musty grapefruit married with mild hop heat. Initially, the brew is wet up front and moderately juicy. The grapefruit and other sour and bitter citrus nose are all fruit, not rind or pith-like. The inaugural glass finishes minerally with distinct, but subtle notes of pine needles.

As I continue through, the complexity of this one really takes off. It's a train to full-blown funk land. Earthy, farmyard elements dance with perfume, maybe lilac; but all is kept in excellent balance through the bold hop fruit and flavors flavors. This one is always on the verge of running off, but kept on course wonderfully. Unrestrained, but focused delivery.

Easy recommendation for any Brett enthusiast and any fan of similarly minded brews from Anchorage, Evil Twin, and Stillwater.

#047: Evil Twin - Femme Fatale Brett (IPA)

Birthday beer on draft...

The Brewery: Evil Twin (København, Denmark)
The Brew: Femme Fatale Brett
Availability: bottles and draft
ABV: 6.0%
Rating: 9/10
Location: Ithaca Coffee Co. (Triphammer)

The Story? My birthday was last weekend and amidst a flurry of shows, rehearsals, a myriad of bands and people coming by, through and sleeping at the house. On my actual birthday, I decided to take a 15 minute break alone and reflect on the last year with a quality drink before things got too crazy. Ithaca Coffee Co.'s Triphammer location has one of the more unique draft selections (while only 12 taps) in town. I'm usually there for a quick drink after work when there's something especially intriguing on tap as I'm rarely in that area during usual evening hours. So, with a day off and 15 minutes to kill and need to be in that area anyways, I figured there'd be something available to wet my whistle.

The Beer? Served on draft with a pinky finger of fluffy white head topping the liquid gold. Anyone venturing in to Coffee Co. will be blessed with James' deft pouring skills. Beautiful aesthetics are followed by a wonderful mouthfeel and incredible citrus hop and brett flavors.

Silky smooth and refreshing. Just enough Brett without overpowering the delicate balance of hops and mild malts while build the backbone of this mildly wild one.

Draft makes quite the difference on this one, having had the bottle version early in the year. Very fresh hop taste on tap. Through the glass a dry funk begins to emerge. An musty complexity, slowly rising amongst the fresh, citrusy hops.

The "brett" tag may leave some looking for an extreme, puckered, or heavily funked ale, but that's not what Evil Twin's aiming for on this one. Firm citrus notes, fresh hop bitterness, with mild sweetness and breadiness; all with a subtle lace of funk woven in. Not for those looking for an "extreme" brew, but for those seeking a unique, quality variation.

#027: He'Brew Funky Jewbelation #8 2013 (American Strong Ale)

One of the most complex aged blends I've ever encountered...

The Brewery: Shmaltz Brewing Company (Brooklyn, NY)
The Brew: He'Brew Funky Jewbelation #8 2013 (American Strong Ale)
Availability: Bottles
ABV:  9.4% | IBUs: ?
Rating: 10/10
Location: Home

The Story? BeerStreetJournal put this one on my radar and it immediate went to the top 5 on my "Must Have" list for 2013. Why you ask? This beer is a blend of...

Jewbelation 15 (aged 7 and 10 months)
Origin Pomegranate Strong Ale (aged 11 months)
Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A. (aged 12 months)
Messiah Nut Brown Ale (aged 6 months)
Coney Island Lager (aged 12 months)
Albino Python (aged 3 months)

After blending, 55% of the batch is aged in Bourbon Barrels and the remaining 45% is aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels. Obviously, this beer will be intense... but will it work?

The Beer? Wow, I can smell this beer from the table! Booze and huge malts on the nose. Fruity too - bright with a hint of citrus.

This one is a sipper. Earthy, delicious sourness with raisin and sour apple notes. Very sweet. The Origin Pomegranate is very present, giving the beer a juicy mouthfeel. The Albino Python heaves the finish with a touch of dry spice.

Halfway through it starts to pick up strong notes akin to a winter/holiday warmer. Carrying on, bold tartness of cherry, molassas and bourbon continue to swell - even going so far as to pick up nose characteristics of Bourbon County. The final dredge brings peaks of the Rye Whiskey with sweet Bourbon finish.

Overall, a strikingly bold, adventurous beer. A rewarding experience for the price. Recommended.