Stillwater Artisanal Rio De Sauvin

Brewed By: Stillwater Artisanal at Dog Brewing Co. in Westminster, MD  

Purchased: 22oz bomber bought at Bottles & Cans in Chicago, IL; 2015

Style/ABV: Saison/Farmhouse Ale/Fruit Beer, 7.7%

Reported IBUs: ?

How about dem Sauvin hops. And how about a Farmhouse Ale brewed with mango juice and passion fruit juice. MMMM. 

About Stillwater Artisanal Ales: 

Stillwater Artisanal Ales are a Gypsy Brewery based out of Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 2009-ish, the beer is brewed by Brian Strumke. You can find more info at the brewery's blog or their website. 

This beer was inspired by Against the Grain's Rico Sauvin, and the bottle reads:

Stillwater Artisanal Rio De Sauvin

"The boys at against the grain made a beer based on a fictional 'sexy man' and uhh, his sheep friend.. so sticking with the theme and the fact that we have been spending some time in Brazil lately, we decided to amp up the sexy and host a tropical orgy of fruit flavors, hops, malt and yeast..umm, yeah."

-Brian (Stillwater Artisanal)

Rio De Sauvin is part of the remix series, and not only features dat base Sauvin IPA, but tosses in mango and passion fruit juice. This pours into a hazy, sexy orange body. In brighter light this takes on lemon hues...hue. There's good head retention, good carb, dat bottle. Dat glass. Dat beer appearance experience. 

This smells fantastic....like a fruity farmhouse ale/saison. I'm getting a ton of clove, white sugar, wheat funk, and lots of juicy mango and passion fruit. This has clean lines and potent fruit, and smells exactly how I want a fruited Saison to smell like. There is some subtle lemon rind action going on in here too.

This is baller. The fusion of the fruit juice with the base beer could not have been done better. This drops Juicy Fruit on a solid Saison base with lemon, mild wheat, mild clove, and tons of passion fruit and mango. 

This is light-bodied, refreshing, and way too drinkable. At 7.7% I'm not getting any alcohol, and palate depth and complexity are both spot on. This is just juicy and delicious, I really have nothing to complain about. If they threw some wild yeast into this beer, it would elevate into that Divine category. As it sits now, it's just an Above-Average fruited saison. Which isn't a bad thing.

Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Decent Above-Average on this. This is another solid entry from Stillwater. Would buy again.

Random Thought: This really needs that barrel/sour treatment.

Pipeworks Passion Abduction

Brewed By: Pipeworks Brewing in Chicago, IL  

Purchased: 22oz bottle (Batch #477/478) bought at Binny's in IL; 2014 (bottled 08.10.2014)

Style/ABV: American Imperial Stout/Fruit Beer, 10.5%
Reported IBUs: ?

I've been holding onto this one for almost a month, so it's high time we crack into the Passion Fruit Abduction for Unofficial Pipeworks Thursday™. About Pipeworks:

Pipeworks has humble roots. The brewery was founded in Chicago in 2011 by Beejay Oslon and Gerrit Lewis. The duo were both homebrewers that met while while working at West Lakeview Liquors. In 2011, they began to raise money for their brewery using the online Internet site, Kickstarter. Olson and Lewis were both educated at De Struise Brewery in Oostvleteren, Belgium. With that knowledge, and the money from their kickstarter, Olson and Lewis created a unique brewery that is smaller in size, and intended to brew smaller batches of beer. The company's motto is "small batches, big beers." And indeed, since the brewery has been around, they've been releasing a lot of one-offs and small batch releases. The goal is to release a new beer every week. You can read more about the brewery at their website HERE.

The Passion Fruit Abduction is an Imperial Stout brewed with cacao, vanilla, and passion fruit. In one of the longer winded descriptions, the bottle reads:

""Now, listen alien braj, I haven't done a fracking thing in my fracking life, but you aliens are privileged and I hate you. Seriously though, alien invaders, you're seriously invading my privacy. I'm just trying to wash the stinks off. Braj, if you want to play games, try flying your spaceship with your tentacle. Ha! I just left a #voicemail with my friends Zahm, Nagel, and Meheen. They're coming over here and they'll mess you UP, aliens. Seriously though, hang onto your d!ck$. #cats #passionfruit #abduction" -Dylan, abductee"

Pipeworks Passion Abduction

This pours like every other Abduction: into a black, opaque body, kicking up a finger or two of tan colored head. I can see nice streams of carbonation in the glass suggesting that this is properly carbed, and there is good head retention, glossy alcohol legs, and some lacing to boot.

On the aroma: holy crap. This smells like fruit! Wow, you get a ton of passion fruit on the aroma. Some people have suggested that this smells like weed or bong water...I would say it smells very similar to chocolate-dipped cherries or strawberries, or a chocolate cake with a fruit topping. This has cakey chocolate notes, cakey roast, cocoa, some vanilla, some coffee, and big chocolate-strawberry, chocolate-cherry, and passion fruit. The fruit on the aroma rides the line between real fruits and candy fruits....I'm curious how this is going to taste.

This might be the most simple and straightforward Abduction beer yet. This is pretty much a mirror of the nose, with intense roast, cacao, and coffee up front, that gives way to huge fruity notes that coat your mouth, lips, and tongue. You get cherry-chocolate, strawberry-chocolate, cherry and strawberry jelly candies, passion fruit, some vanilla and coffee, creamer, and a nice finish that has a hint of alcohol. [EDIT: I figured it out! The fruity notes in this beer really remind me of the fruit notes you get in store bought ice cream, or even in something like a Dairy Queen banana split. It has that same cherry/strawberry note straight from the ice cream. Werd].

This is full-bodied and very nice. Palate duration is fantastic, with each sip lingering for 30-60 seconds. This isn't overly complex, but it unravels with a layer of the Stout base and then a passion fruit injection. This is really throwing me for a loop because I'm enjoying this a lot, despite the lack of integration between the Stout base and the fruit notes. Up front: roast, cacao, coffee, vanilla, passion fruit, cherry-chocolate, strawberry-chocolate; that rolls into cherry and strawberry gummy candies, passion fruit, more roast/vanilla/coffee; the back end drops lingering fruit and chocolate, with some booze that wraps things up nicely. 

Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd) 

I'm feeling a Light Above-Average here. This is up there with the Raspberry Truffle Abduction...it might even be better. The passion fruit injection in this beer isn't subtle and borders on being candy sweet and artificial...but I think it really works well with the Abduction base. Having said that...I think you need to pair this beer with some vanilla ice cream, or strawberries dipped in chocolate.

Random Thought: As this beer sits in my glass, I'm getting waves of dank as weed from the aroma. Complete: whatttt. I guess this really does smell like weed.  

Pipeworks The One Horned Wonder and His Fanciful Flying Fresno

Brewed By: Pipeworks Brewing in Chicago, IL  

Purchased: 22oz bottle (Batch #276) bought at West Lakeview Liquors in Chicago, IL; 2014 (bottled 12.27.2013)

Style/ABV: Spice/Herb/Vegetable, 9.0%
Reported IBUs: ?

It's an Unofficial Pipeworks Thursday™...and I'm drinking a beer that I probably camped on for a little too long. But what can you do. This one instantly reminds me of the Founders' Mango Magnifico, so let's see how she stacks up. About Pipeworks:

Pipeworks has humble roots. The brewery was founded in Chicago in 2011 by Beejay Oslon and Gerrit Lewis. The duo were both homebrewers that met while while working at West Lakeview Liquors. In 2011, they began to raise money for their brewery using the online Internet site, Kickstarter. Olson and Lewis were both educated at De Struise Brewery in Oostvleteren, Belgium. With that knowledge, and the money from their kickstarter, Olson and Lewis created a unique brewery that is smaller in size, and intended to brew smaller batches of beer. The company's motto is "small batches, big beers." And indeed, since the brewery has been around, they've been releasing a lot of one-offs and small batch releases. The goal is to release a new beer every week. You can read more about the brewery at their website HERE.

Tonight's beer is a "big ole pale ale with Fresno Chiles and passion fruit added." This one was brewed in conjunction with The Aviary, and punches in at a big 9%. The back of the bottle reads:

"It's a bird! It's a plane! No, It's the One Horned Wonder and His Fanciful Flying Fresno!!! This dynamic duo is taking off with Citra and Galaxy hops. But wait, this flight's just getting started. The pilots at The Aviary have turned off the fasten seat belt sign. This in-flight pale ale features a passion fruit puree and a hint of Fresno chile to bump it up to first class. Please, sit back and enjoy the flight."

Wow...this beer pours out with some thick viscosity, and it pours into a golden-yellow-orange body that is hazy as hell. The beer kicks up a several fingers of orange-tinged head, and head retention is really good. In bright light this beer is a super hazy orange color, with tons of streams of tiny, effervescent carbonation rising upwards. It looks like unfiltered juice. A pinky of head has settled in and there is plenty of lacing.

The One Horned Wonder and His Fanciful Flying Fresno

Aroma: When I popped this open I was blasted with tons of resinous citrus and pineapple hops. This beer has GIANT hops on the nose. And then you stick your nose into the beer, and it's like, "oh, hello, Fresno chili peppers." The aroma is a mixture of giant hops and giant chili aromas. The Fresno chili peppers impart some serious salt aromas, jalapeno, ballpark nachos, green and red pepper, and earthy peppery goodness. The hops on the nose here are tropical and citrus, with giant orange, tangerine, resin, pineapple, grass, and some mango. Good times...

Despite the towering 9% ABV, this tastes a lot like the promised Pale Ale mixed with passion fruit and chili pepper. The chili pepper is also surprisingly balanced and not overly spicy. It's more of an earthy, green pepper type of flavor. I'm getting a lot of pepper mixed with passion fruit, orange, tangerine, and tropical fruits. There's green pepper, jalapeno, and earthy pepper goodness. The hops are absolutely banging in this...juicy and dank orange, pineapple, passion fruit, and yeah. Just lovely.

How is this 9%? This really drinks like a Pale Ale, and yeah. I'm amazed at how refreshing this beer is, with a medium-light mouthfeel and tons of carbonation. The hop profile is super juicy, and the pepper character is more of an earthy addition rather than a full-on spice assault. Up front: a big assault of juicy hops, citrus, mango, passion fruit, tangerine, and big green pepper, Fresno pepper, and not-spicy jalapeno; mid-palate continues with the hop juicy goodness as the pepper fades into some earthy green pepper on the finish; the back end is lingering green pepper and Fresno pepper, some hop bitterness, and dry. This has a dry, peppery finish.

Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Decent Above-Average on this...I kind of want to buy another bottle because I am crushing the bottle that I have right here. This is just a fantastic marriage of nuanced pepper with giant hop goodness. Do you like hops? Do you like chili peppers? Okay, buy this beer. Food pairings: Mexican food, specifically tamales, quesadillas, pork tacos, BBQ pork, maybe some dry chicken wings? This beer has fantastic food potential, but it's also pretty fucking delicious in general. Recommended.

Random Thought: FULL DISCLAIMER: I love spicy foods and I love hot peppers. I'm the kind of weirdo that will eat a whole pepper plain. You've been warned. 

Jolly Pumpkin Sobrehumano Palena’ole

Brewed By: Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales in Dexter, Michigan  

Purchased: 750ml bomber bought at Jolly Pumpkin in Ann Arbor, MI; 2012

Style/ABV: American Wild Ale (with cherries and liliko'i), 6.0%

Reported IBUs: ?
Blend 7, Bottled 5-16-2012

Tonight's beer is a collaboration between Jolly Pumpkin and Maui Brewing Co. The Maui Brewing Company was founded in 2005 by Garrett Marrero and Melanie Oxley, and is one of Hawaii's fastest growing microbreweries. The Sobrehumano is a collaboration with Maui Brewing's head brewmaster, John Walsh, and Jolly Pumpkin's brewmaster, Ron Jefferies. About Jolly Pumpkin:

Jolly Pumpkin has three enterprises: a restaurant, brewery, and distillery located in Traverse City; a cafe and brewery in Ann Arbor; and a factor for their Artisan Ales in Dexter. The brewery itself was founded by brewmaster Ron Jefferies. Ron began brewing professionally in 1995, and quickly became known as a respected brewer among the Michigan craft beer scene. In 2004, Ron opened Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales. Jolly Pumpkin is known for brewing beer that is aged in wine barrels containing brettanomyces. Brettanomyces is a naturally occurring yeast that is typically unwanted in beer because it imparts a "sour, leathery, barnyard, horse funk" profile. When used properly, beers made with brettanomyces can have desirable flavors. These flavors are often found in Lambics and Geuzes, and more recently in American Wild Ales.

If you check out Jolly Pumpkin's Sobrehumano page, you can read up on this beer. This beer is described as a "red ale" brewed with liliko'i and Michigan cherries. Liliko'i is the fancy name for passion fruit. The Jolly Pumpkin version of this beer is open-fermented, barrel aged, and bottled conditioned. This is a sour beer that utilizes naturally occurring wild yeasts. The bottle has two quotes, one from each brewmaster. They read:

"Yes, Michigan and Hawaii are connected. It should be obvious to you now, as you hold this beer, and read this label. John and I designed this beer with two noble fruits from tow noble states. Michigan & Hawaii. Cherries & liliko'i. Starting to see the connection? I feel it. So does John. 4391 miles may separate our breweries, but not our thirst for the exquisite. Hipa! -Ron 

 Working with Ron is something I've wanted to do since I had my first Jolly Pumpkin beer. Years later, it's a reality. Being involved on this project was an honor and a privilege. Mahalo to my MBC crew and to you, fans of craft beer! -John 

This one pours a hazy amber/brown color in low light, with some gold and orange on the outskirts of the glass. I kicked up a finger's worth of toffee/caramel-tinted head, as I judiciously took my time pouring this. Surprisingly, this one just smoked when I opened it, with nary a rise in carbonation. In bright light, this beer is a juicy orange color. You can't see through this, but there is quite a bit of lively, tiny, peppery carbonation bubbles. The head has settled into a funky, Saison/Wild Ale-looking coating, with a centimeter of thin bubbles. Overall, it's quite nice looking.

Sobrehumano Palena’ole

The nose on this is really nice, almost veering into Lambic or Flanders territory. I'm getting a ton of tart cherries, cherry pits, cherry skin, cherry juice, cherry jam, rich tropical fruits (mango, papaya), a hint of grape/passionfruit, tons of caramel, molasses, sugar reduced in a pan, a nice wave of vinegar/acid/lemon, and some nice barnyard/funk. This one is really bringing on the musty cellar. I'm also picking up some oak and apple cider vinegar on the nose.

This has really nice sourness going on, with some nice bready molasses on the back end, honey, some caramel, and cooked sugars. I'm belching up straight up passion fruit. You get a blast of band-aids and funk on the tip of your tongue, and this just blasts you with sour and tart cherries, lemon, apple cider vinegar; it goes from sour to acidic, with a transition into nice acidity, acidic fruits, cherry pits; and then it mellows into lingering sugars and finishes sweet,  lightly bready, and dry. As my palate adjusts to the sour and acidity, I'm picking up some nice subtle fruits in passionfruit, grapefruit; I'm also getting some nice wood, and a hint of elusive oak/wine barrel.

I'm still belching straight up passion fruit, which is kind of nice. This is a fun beer, and has a nice balance of fruit, wood, acidity, and sour. It's not the most complex Sour/Wild Ale, but it brings dynamite palate depth to the table, and really highlights the Michigan cherries and Liliko'i. It also drinks well, with biting acidity, really tart sourness, and a medium-light mouthfeel supported by a ton of tingly carbonation bubbles. This is effervescent, and finishes more bready than anything....it doesn't quite hit champagne levels of dryness. Up front is some funk, musty cellar, barnyard, and then tart, fruity, sourness; the middle is acidic, with a bunch of fruits (cherry, passionfruit, berries, grapefruit), and some wood/oak/wine barrel; the back mellows out into some molasses and caramel and bread. Good stuff...

Rating: Above-Average

I'm feeling a Strong Above-Average on this...maybe higher, with caution to complexity. I've heard a ton of mixed reviews for this, which leads me to believe there is a ton of variability between batches, blends, and age/time of drinking. Oh well...it is what it is. There's a really nice floral aftertaste to this, with hints of flowers, rhubarb, and tea. And I'm still belching up passionfruit! This is nice, and I'm glad I picked it up. I would pair this with some cheeses, maybe a pita with humus, a nice sandwich, or some fruity desserts. I don't remember how much this cost, but I do recommend it.

Random Thought: They are forecasting a big ol' snowstorm tomorrow...so this is evidently the winter that keeps on giving/won't die. With that said, I'll probably bust out the Noel de Calabaza tomorrow, the perfect night cap to a snowy February evening.