Brett is a hell of a thing. Brett funks things up. It’s the funkin’ bomb. It is funking delicious. How many funk-isms can I make? A funkin’ shit-ton. Brett lends funky qualities to beer, is what I’m trying to get at. A wild and crazy yeast, it’s like your one wacky uncle, (the one with the pet snake and the pony tail), when compared to the standard Saccharomyces. It takes your normal thoughts about yeast and heaves them right out the window. Seventh Son decided to wield the unique and delicious power of 100% Brett fermentation with their aptly named Feral, a double IPA that delivers massive flavor, and a unique drinking experience.
A base of ripe pineapple hits begins your olfactory experience, alongside a melange of mango, caramel, and hop spice. A mild touch of damp earth lingers at the back before being washed away by a prickly fruit edge. It is a dry aroma, quick to fade, but sharp at the onset, a characteristic of brett (specifically the aroma-heavy claussinni strain). At the end, a gentle wave of mildly leathery (think of an anthropomorphic pineapple wearing a leather jacket) earth and buttery smoothness sneaks out from beneath the caramel tones, before fading beneath a wave of overripe fruit. Seriously, the end of this beer is funky in a way that is wholly reminiscent of walking past a ripe fruit grove on a hot day – it rolls over you in waves.
Taste-wise, this beer dry-humps your tongue from start to finish. A smooth base of caramel supports hop spice and pungent resin, while overripe pineapples and pears work their juicy bits all over the place. A bright citrus tang arrives at the back, while some deep earthen notes slip in beneath and add complexity. As a double IPA, the bitterness takes a backseat to the brett character (it’s still there, but not nearly as up front as a standard IIPA). As the flavors continue, a mild tartness arrives at the sides of the tongue – not sour, but a continuation of the tropical bomb that the combination of hops and brett has created. Near the end, a slight hint of peppery spice brings the hops themselves back into focus, but the dry finish helps wipe everything from the tongue in between tastes, allowing you to take the crazy ride all over again.
The world of brett is diverse and full of alchemic wonder. Feral allows you to spend some time in that world, without all of the crazy funk that this different yeast can deliver being thrust into your face at once. This is a great beer to begin your brett journey if you’ve yet to do so. Inviting, aromatic, and delicious, Seventh Son’s Feral is, in my professional opinion, funkin’ awesome.
photo credit: Seventh Son Brewing
