Oculus Sauvage

This unabashedly complex beer was presented as a Specialty Wood-Aged Mixed-Style Beer: a Belgian Tripel and Double IPA aged with Brett in red wine barrels. A very ambitious order to fill, but this beer does so in spades. Beginning with an appearance that combines a well-retained rocky white head with an orange/amber color, it moves on to an aroma dominated by Brett sourness with underlying evidence of its red wine cooperage and plenty of grapefruity hop notes. The flavor, both initially and through to the finish, includes plenty of Brett sourness complemented by juicy, high-IBU citrusy hop flavor. If anything, the intense hop aroma and flavor seem to soften the contributions of barrel-aging and higher alcohol strength normally associated with Belgian tripels and American double IPAs. The finish is predominantly sour with some hop bitterness to balance, and the alcohol strength is only moderate. The red wine barrel contributions are notable but not overpowering, enhancing this beer’s drinkability and overall character.