2 Crows Brewing Roble – American Wild Ale at 4.2% ABV | 19 IBU (C$5.08 at Collective, 355 ml, packaged on 2-Mar-2021, acquired 25-May-2021, reviewed 3-Jun-2021)
Appearance: hazy straw with one fat finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thick persistent cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: tart stone fruit & pomes, orange peel, yeasty funk, leather, wheat, oak, light coriander. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (8/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mildly tart finish. (4/5)
The label says “FUN FUNKY FRESH”, and I’ll give ‘em the first two, but the third near-on enrages me. I absolutely hate seeing that on a label, though in their defence at least they use readable date codes, so it’s on the consumer if it isn’t actually fresh. They call this a wild-fermented witbier, and the wild definitely dominates, with a tart stone fruit character up front, and a pleasant yeasty funk through the mid. I like the fact that the label lists coriander as an ingredient (it’s supposed to be a witbier, after all) but its spice content is really mellow – oftentimes if you can smell the coriander at first, it’s overwhelming by then end, but this is nicely done. The name means “oak” in Spanish, and as a result I was expecting a little more woodiness, but again I’m finding that component even-handed and well-balanced. All in all, this is a very nice little experiment and a crushable, anytime, anywhere kind of beer. (15/20)
7.5/10 ryansbooze.com #ryansbooze
