Thursday, August 26, 2010

First lambic tasting - 8 months old

Just this past week we decided to get together and draw the first sample from our lambic barrel project. Part of the reason we wanted to do this was because we are impatient and excited, but the main reason was to decide whether we want to brew another barrel this winter so we have stuff to blend. Based on the results, I would totally be down for brewing another barrel, but it might also be interesting and fun to try something different like a Flanders Red.

So far our young lambic seems to be showing some promise, but the acidity isn't there yet. It has come down to 1.011 (from 1.058, so it's at 6.1% abv right now). Here is a review of the 8-month old sample we took (keep in mind it was flat as it came straight from the barrel):

Aroma - Seriously potent stuff, we could smell it across the room. Big, bretty nose wafting everywhere. Sour fruits, bready, lemon, and some cider/apple juice. The nose is really fantastic and definitely getting within the ballpark of how a lambic should smell.

Appearance - Well, it's totally flat, but it is extremely clear. The clarity was a little surprising as we used lots of raw wheat. I guess the Brett has really been going to town. The color is much more pale than I had anticipated, paler than any Belgian lambic I've seen.

Flavor - No sourness. Drying oak finish, but faint and not overpowering at all. Certainly some chardonnay character (no surprise as it came from a chardonnay barrel). Light malt. A little sweet. Overall pretty bland.

Mouthfeel - Flatness aside, the mouthfeel is thin, maybe too thin. Hard to judge with no carbonation and no acidity, as dryness with no sourness just leaves a thin and lifeless beer.

Overall - So far so good. Was a little surprised at the lack of acidity, but this beer is still very young, and we are hoping it will develop given time. It seems that the Pedio hasn't done squat yet, so I am thinking it might be wise to pitch a couple more packs, as the conditions should be ideal now (low pH, low oxygen environment).