8 Wired Rendition

Total Score: 8.95/10

Hmmmm, “Dry Hopped Belgian Style Ale with Brettanomyces” sounds right up my Belgian alley, this should be a pretty decent drop to add to my many reviews of pretty decent drops. Now, I already know that this beer is going to be good, as I’ve already reviewed their Wireless 100% Brettanomyces IPA (even gave it a 9.1/10!)… plus Brett is great… unless you’re a wine-maker, in which case it can be a real problem… but ‘yay Brett!’ regardless. Pro tip for those of you who have never had a Brett yeast beer: Open it over the sink, trust me on that 😉. So let’s crack open this “rendition” of an age old monastery beer already, my throat is feeling parched with all this talk of Brett brews.

Poured from a 500ml bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: She’s a gusher as expected – my pro tip came in handy with some beer foam finding its way into the sink. When it settled the head was a nice cream-coloured affair with fairly large bubbles, with a cloudy orange body also pleasing to the eye. 8/10.

S: That classic nose-smack of funky/spicy Brett yeast that never gets tired (at least not yet for me), followed by floral and bubblegum notes, and a hint of medicinal herbs – for a dry hopped brew the hops are fairly in line with the yeast/malt characters, surprisingly so. Nonetheless the aroma is spot on full of Belgian goodness which is hard to fault. 9/10.

T: Exceptionally tasty! If you love a Saison with a bit of kick then put this review down right now and go out and buy a bottle of this. Flavours are funky/spicy/barnyard right from the get go, with floral/bubblegum notes, hints of caramel and a decent long dry finish. Aftertaste throws in a light medicinal herb bitterness, other than that though the Brett is a bit subdued with less tartness than usual – not that I’m complaining, this is trucking tasty. 9/10.

M: Brett beers tend to be highly carbed: This is no exception. Medium bodied. 7/10.

D: Let me get the dad joke out of the way first: This is one extraordinary rendition. Yikes, that was the worst kind of dad joke: A dad joke in bad taste. Overall as a Saison lover (my #4 beer of all-time is Dupont Cervesia) and Belgian beer lover in general (6 in my top 10 are Belgian) of course I am destined to fall in love with Rendition. The one problem I had with this is: It should be corked & caged in a 750ml bottle – then instabuy every time 8 Wired! 10/10.

Food match: This is a perfect pairing for a cheese platter.

Bridge Road Mayday Hills T

Total Score: 8.55/10

This one literally leaped right off the shelf and into my shopping basket: 100 percent Brettanomyces yeast fermented IPA aged in Oak Foeder barrels with green tea added… I. Love. All. Those. Things. So I guess a bigger part of my mind [than I care to admit] since the purchase of Mayday Hills T has been devoted to deciphering exactly what to expect from these seemingly random delicious things thrown together in a giant standing oak barrel: Sour character – undoubtedly, tea astringency – of course, vanilla notes – obvs, earthy/citric hops – one would think. But instead of me wasting time thinking what may come, I may as well simply pop a cap and hook in to the amber fluid inside *runs off to fridge*.

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Hazed perfect amber body with a nice white 1 centimetre cappuccino foam head on top… lacing on the glass rim isn’t spectacular (eg; leaving scrawling on the side) but it’s a fine looking beer to be sure (or if  you’re Irish “tubeesher”). 8/10.

S: Crazy interesting aromas happening here – Saison yeast spiced barnyard characters, over-ripe decaying apples/pear, white wine vinous notes, a floral scent, and even a hint of chocolate! Weird, I know, but what a complex and fruit ester driven fragrance resides in my glass right now. Literally cannot wait another second – must… drink… now… 9/10.

T: Well… it’s definitely an eye opener… the brett-ridden Oak Foeder gives it a heavy white wine vinous slant… sort of like how Rodenbach Grand Cru is the red wine version of a beer this is equally one of the most white wine versions of beer I’ve encountered (try Wolf of the Willows ISP for total Sauv-Blanc beer experience). Overall flavours are: White wine (Chardonnay grapes) Saison yeast spice, barnyard notes, pepper, cider apples, and the finish has a nice Champagne dryness. Overall the balance is between sweet/dry/bitter and none has the upper hand. 9/10.

M: Medium bodied with a thin but active carbonation. 7/10.

D: I’ve got to be honest but this was right up my alley what with me getting into really good French Champagnes lately (Billecart-Salmon is my favourite so far). However I can see other beer drinkers not being such a fan of a brew like this, which is driven by white wine flavours. Buyer beware in that respect. However if you love your Saisons/Flanders Reds you will know what to expect and be quite at home with a brew like this. Cheerio! 8/10.

Food match: Can I be indulgent and say something like truffle cheese? [Yes!].