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Pinot Fresa

California
United States
Pinot Fresa, Angel City Brewery
Judges Ratings 
1 Review
94
Aroma:
23 / 24
Flavor:
38 / 40
Appearance:
6 / 6
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Description 

Monterrey County strawberries and Pinot Noir Barrels take the spotlight in this tart, barrel aged fruit sour. We aged a golden ale in Pinot Noir barrels with California strawberries for 6-months for a burst of bright, fruity aroma and flavor. Once in the barrels, Angel City Pinot Fresa undergoes a secondary fermentation where wild yeast and lactobacillus are added, resulting in a complex, aromatic sour bursting with California flavor.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
5.8%
IBUs: 
5
Served at: 
40 - 45º
Hops: 
Chinook
Malts: 
Pilsner, Wheat
Judges Review 
Randy Scorby's picture
Judges Rating:
94
Aroma:
23 / 24
Appearance:
6 / 6
Flavor:
38 / 40
Mouthfeel:
9 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Pinot Fresa from Angel City Brewery is being evaluated as a Specialty Wood Aged Beer (Category 33B) from the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines.

Pinot Fresa is a golden ale aged in pinot noir barrels with strawberries added. The strawberries are evident in the aroma as a soft, candied strawberry and are the first element to greet the drinker. Light vanilla and earthy horse blanket Brettanomyces quickly follow like a pleasantly aromatic barnyard. A tartness is also noticeable in the aroma. Light bready malt emerges late to round out the complexity, along with a light red wine-like character.

The flavor follows with a moderately high and clean lactic sourness and more candied strawberries. The strawberries are again soft and not a dominant character, but contribute to the overall complexity. Light strawberry seeds weave their way in along with a light bready malt character that emerges mid-palate, lasting into the dry finish. The Brettanomyces is a bit lighter in the flavor and quite complementary.  A light red wine character develops in the aftertaste. The complex fruit, sourness and wild yeast combine to create a complex and quite enjoyable barrel aged beer.

Pinto Fresa is a well-brewed barrel-aged fruit beer. Perhaps a slight taming of the lactic sourness would create a more balanced beer, but only slightly. Quite refreshing and one that should not be passed up.

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