Victory Wild Devil

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American Brett Ale
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 6.7%
Serving Type: 750ml Bottle

Look: 9.5
Deep amber/mahogany, cloudy, massive head with great retention & lacing

Smell: 9
Brett funk, citrus hops, sweet malt

Taste: 8.5
Up Front: Sweet and slightly tart, citrus. Finish: Nice blast of Brett funk, sweet malt

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Medium body and carbonation

Drinkability: 9
Very quaffable!

Overall Score: 8.9

Value: 7
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.29

Overall Impression:
I have done a complete 180. A while back, this was my first Wild Ale, and I hated it. Since then I have taken quite a liking to American Brett Ale, so I decided to give this beer another chance. I'm glad I did. This is a very tasty American Brett Ale. Want to know the impact of yeast in brewing? Compare Hop Devil to Wild Devil, and see for yourself. Brett is an interesting little creature indeed!

Ommegang Ommegeddon

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American Brett Ale
State/Country: New York
ABV: 8%
Serving Type: 750ml Bottle

Look: 9.5
Straw yellow color, cloudy, creamy head with great retention & lacing

Smell: 8.5
Lemon, sweet malt, brett funk, earthiness

Taste: 8.5
Up Front: Sweet and tart, citrus. Finish: Mild brett funk, bready malt

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Medium body and carbonation

Drinkability: 8.5
Very quaffable!

Overall Score: 8.7

Value: 6
Cost/12 oz serving: $7.07

Overall Impression:
I had this right after Ommegang Hennepin, and I very much prefer this over that. It is more complex, more interesting and more flavorful. It is also a lot more expensive, and there are other American Btrett Ales / Brett Saison's out there that I like better. If you have the coin, go for it!

Russian River Supplication

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American Brett Ale (Barrel Aged)
State/Country: California
ABV: 7%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Standard Tap

Look: 9.5
Deep amber, slight haze, thin head with no retention little lacing. No surprise though.

Smell: 10
Brett funk, cherry, oak, and malt

Taste: 10
Up Front: Tartness, cherry. Finish: Brett funk, oak, an almost Pinot Noir like flavor at the end

Mouthfeel: 10
Light/crisp body with a light carbonation works perfectly here!

Drinkability: 10
Simply amazing

Overall Score: 9.9

Value: 6
Cost/12 oz serving: $12.00

Overall Impression:
This beer is beyond amazing!!! I enjoyed this even more than Consecration, and I was not sure that was possible. It's very hard to find, and it's expensive, but you simply MUST buy it if you see it. Once you taste it, you'll forget all the price.

The Bruery Saison Rue

Reviewed By: Herr Rick

Style: American Brett Ale (Saison)
State/Country: California
ABV: 8.5%
Serving Type: 750ml Bottle

Look: 10
Orange yellow color, cloudy, huge dense fluffy head with uber good retention and lacing

Smell: 9.5
Blast of Brett funk, with cloves, pepper, citrus

Taste: 9
Up Front: Brett funk, spices. Finish: Alcohol, sweet malt, citrus

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Medium body with high carbonation, and dry finish

Drinkability: 8.5

Crisp & refreshing

Overall Score: 9.1

Value: 7

Cost/12 oz serving: $6.06

Overall Impression:

This is the second American Brett Ale I have reviewed from The Bruery this week. This one is even more complex with intense flavors, particularly the Brett and spices. Although it is well balanced, it does learn toward sweetness a bit. It is not as sessionable (is that even a word) as Saison De Lente due mainly to the higher abv. I have a really nice Belgian Buzz going on after quaffing down this bottle.Yet another excellent American rendition of a Belgian classic from The Bruery!

Allagash Interlude

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American Brett Ale
State/Country: Maine
ABV: 6.5%
Serving Type: 750ml Bottle

Look: 8
Light copper color, slightly cloudy, not much head with little to no lacing

Smell: 9
Wine, brett funk, oak, vanilla, apple

Taste: 8
Up Front: Sour apple, oak, Brett funk.
Finish: White grape, white wine, Belgian yeast

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Creamy, medium body with low carbonation.

Drinkability: 7.5
Slightly tart with a dry finish

Overall Score: 8.2

Value: 3
Cost/12 oz serving: $10.10

Overall Impression:
A very complex beer that had too much of a wine-like flavor for my palate. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood? It is no doubt an excellent beer, but the flavor combination did not work for me. At $19.99 + tax, I would advise against trying it unless you're big on wine.

The Bruery Saison De Lente

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American Brett Ale (Saison)
State/Country: California
ABV: 6.5%
Serving Type: 750ml Bottle

Look: 9
Bright golden color, slightly cloudy, fluffy pillow-like head with great lacing

Smell: 9.5
Brett funk, lemon zest, cloves

Taste: 9
Up Front: Lemon zest, apple, malt. Finish: brett funk, earthy

Mouthfeel: 9
Light body with medium carbonation.

Drinkability: 9.5
Silky smooth, with a dry finish. Very refreshing!

Overall Score: 9.2

Value: 7
Cost/12 oz serving: $6.06

Overall Impression:
This is complex ale with delicate flavors that are really well balanced. It's classified as a Saison, but it's made in California AND they used some Brettanomyces yeast, so I am classifying it as American Brett Ale. Since the Brett Funk is present like some of the others I reviewed recently, I feel that it's a better fit. I'm really falling in love with this style of beer. As is usually the case, the 750ml bottles are on pricey side, but well worth it IMNSHO!

Ommegang Bière De Mars

Reviewed By: Herr Rick and Herr Mike
Style: American Brett Ale (Bière de Garde)
State/Country: New York
ABV: 6.5%
Serving Type: 750ml Bottle

Look: 9
Bright golden color, cloudy, big fluffy head with great lacing

Smell: 8.5
Brett funk, apples, malt

Taste: 8.5
Up Front: Apple, brett funk, white grape. Finish: Malt

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Medium/light body with a medium/high carbonation

Drinkability: 9.5
Thirst quenching, slightly dry finish

Overall Score: 8.7

Value: 6
Cost/12 oz serving: $6.06

Overall Impression:
The brett funk was definitely noticeable, but not over-the-the-top. It's a very clean, crisp, refreshing ale that you enjoy year round, but I think it would work even better in the Summer. Although it's on the pricey side, it's still definitely worth a try if you have the coin.

Russian River Consecration

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American Brett Ale (Barrel Aged)
State/Country: California
ABV: 10%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Monk's Cafe

Look: 9
Deep crimson, slight haze, thin head with little lacing

Smell: 10
Brett funk, dark fruit, caramel, oak, and malt

Taste: 10
Up Front: Lemon zest, white grape, malt. Finish: brett funk, oak at the end

Mouthfeel: 10
Medium body with a light/medium carbonation. It got even creamier as it warmed up!

Drinkability: 10
Tart, incredibly smooth, and refreshing! Does not get more drinakble than this?

Overall Score: 9.8

Value: 8
Cost/12 oz serving: $8.40 - $7 for a 10oz glass, but I would have paid $10. Then again, with tip included I did - haha

Overall Impression:
This was the first American Brett Ale I've had since Victory's Wid Devil - a beer I disliked so much I almost dumped it. Almost. Having said that, I was unsure how this would beer would go over with me. Upon the first sip, my skepticism was gone! This is without a doubt the most complex beer/ale I've ever tasted!!! First the aging in Cabernet Sauvignon Barrels was obvious. The brett was a perfect compliment to the complexity of this amazing ale. It's kinda like a cross between a wine and a beer, and not a cheap version of either. If this is not Nectar of the Godz, I don't know what is.

[EDIT: I tried Victory Wild Devil again on 03/25/10 and I rather enjoyed it. I have acquired a taste for American Brett Beers]

Russian River Temptation

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American Brett Ale (Barrel Aged)
State/Country: California
ABV: 7.2%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Monk's Cafe

Look: 9
Bright golden color, slightly cloudy, thin head, and little lacing

Smell: 9.5
Oak, vanilla, brett funk, lemon zest

Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Lemon zest, white grape, malt. Finish: brett funk, oak at the end

Mouthfeel: 10
Medium body with a light/medium carbonation. Like Consecration, it got creamier as it warmed up.

Drinkability: 9.5
Incredibly smooth, crisp, and refreshing!

Overall Score: 9.5

Value: 7.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $8.40 - $7 for a 10oz glass, but worth every penny!

Overall Impression:
This was a fantastic and complex ale. You could definitely pick up the aging in Chardonnay casks. Again, the brett was not over-the-top, but rather a compliment to its overall complexity. Methinks Russian River has this American Brett Ale thing down! Regarding Newbeez: I think this would appeal to ladies more than dudes, due to its sophisticated wine-like qualities.