Brux Domesticated Wild Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

paulfinocchiaro

California

4.93/5  rDev +28.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is a beer I was waiting for for a long time. Petes' Liquor in Tracy, check em out. Anyway, poured into a pint glass, served chilled. Pours with very little head, which dissipates quickly. It has a light amber color. Very bubbly, even after pour. Smells like an ale, and has a wonderful taste, almost a taste of cinnamon. It is a little dryer than expected, but still amazing. This beer is definitley worth the wait, and I highly suggest it to anyone.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 07:39:37 | More by paulfinocchiaro

rajendra82

Georgia

4.93/5  rDev +28.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Golden, clear body, and the vigorous carbonation streamers rising up from the etched nucleation site at the bottom of the Duvel tulip glass gave this beer an attractive appearance. The smell of brett induced funk mixed with green apples, honey, and lavender was very intoxicating. The taste provided everything promised by the smell, and then some. The palette was dry like a saltine cracker, with an initial sour apple and herbal flavor, that transitioned into white pepper, honey, and coriander. The finish had a hint of cheese from the aged hops and then faded into a cider like aftertaste. The funk of Brett was there, but did not overpower. This appears to be a beer made to enjoy both fresh, and after aging, and I would love to pick up a couple of bottles for the cellar, so to see how it evolves.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 04:59:44 | More by rajendra82

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +26.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A-cloudy gold with a hint of orange and a thin white head

S-smells very tart. The Brett is very evident. It has an artificial sweetness to it. Has a Belgian pale aleness to it as well. Strong scent!

T-comes in with a pretty awesome taste of a lemon lime crispness and tartness. It has crisp Belgian grains as well. It's actually a great flavor. It's not strong but it's very refined with a great matching after-taste.

M-heavy carbonation with a crisp finish. It's pretty good.

O-this is a great sour ale. It's really not too sour really but there is a subtle tartness and it has great flavor. I'm impressed with the fusion of these two breweries. This is a great drinker. The higher abv is not apparent either.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 23:02:31 | More by AdamBear

Greenmachine07

4.68/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

i will just flatout say i really enjoyed this beer. it was differnet and had layer upon layer of flavor especially as it began to reach room temp.

A-light brown light head. clear, very faint residue near the bottom

S-smell is similar to almost every Belgium i have tried, but there is a very fresh smell almost crisp. with age this may change

T-crisp taste almost similar to some triples i have tired. there is a spicy lemon taste and the end notes have a sour/grassy/bitter flavor.

O-this was a great beer, i really enjoyed the entire bottle and bought two more to age/review later in the next few years. It was unique and i feel it was worth the money. my next review may be different of this beer but i know for sure it will be excellent

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 23:04:59 | More by Greenmachine07

MadScientist

New York

4.63/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Be careful with that cork, my bottle was lightly chilled when I opened it and the pressure went out enthusiastic, sending a little particle into my eye. No damage so on the the review.

A: This pours a a medium gold with orange highlights a light haze which could have very well been a result of how the bottle was handled just prier to pouring. It has a rocky off-white head that persists for some time.

S: This smells like a good gueuze with sharp sour, somewhat acidic aroma dominating. There is a earthy brett aroma with some light barnyard funk in the background. There are some moderate fruit esters of grapefruit and apples. The three dominate aromas of sour, brett and fruit nicely balanced.

T: The first thing that strikes me is the moderate sour and low bitter flavors seem to play of each other with a slight malt sweetness giving some balance. The grapefruit and green apple aromas carry into the flavor as well. The bitterness and tartness linger past the dry finish.

M: This beer has a medium-light body with a moderately high level of carbonation.

I'd say this is sort of a Gueuze meets American Pale Ale which should surprise that much given the breweries collaborating on this fine brew. Despite the sharp sour and funk this is a well balanced beer and a couple of bottle definitely deserve a space in my cellar so I can so how this one ages.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 01:05:52 | More by MadScientist

Auraan

Arizona

4.6/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a beautiful orange, with a two finger white head that quickly receded. Abundant bubbles rose through the orange. No lacing was left on the glass. Pretty, but would look a bit better if the head stuck around. Scents of barnyard funk, slight bubblegum and light floral notes. Flavors of brett funk and sour notes, Belgian yeast, some fruity notes, including apricot and golden raisin. A tiny bit of spices, I cannot tell what type. Finishes a bit dry with sour brett notes. Mouthfeel is light bodied, with high carbonation. Easy to drink, hiding it's ABV quite well. A good beer. Not near as sour as I expected, but very similar to a tripel with a bit of a brett funk to the beer that makes it a good time to drink. I'd have it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 05:43:41 | More by Auraan

DonDirkA

Arizona

4.55/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nose of white wine, grapes, pears, and a slight sharpness probably from the Brett. Taste is slightly grassy, pears, green grapes, white wine and I feel like there's a hint of plum. Its sharp and bubbly but not overly effervescent. This definitely has that Russian River taste.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 06:21:56 | More by DonDirkA

DenverLogan

Colorado

4.49/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Poured from corked bottle into Corsendonk chalice. Bottle: 2045609159
Loud pop of cork.
Pours an effervescent yellow gold with big head that goes down fast.
Aromas of straw, honey, sweet malts, slight horse saddle, pluots.
Modest carbonation and mouthfeel.
Flavors of light malts, slight honey, chamomile, tangerine rind, lemon grass, white pepper, banana, sourdough, apricot rind. Let's give it 5 minutes...
OK...head is nearly gone...and there's a touch more of the barnyard aroma. Hummm...I'll admit having this before but I don't remember it being so smooth...like an easy saison or almost like a Belgian blonde or golden. I actually waited quite awhile as I was hoping to share this, thinking it was a big brett bomb, but it's not! This is a smooth and easy drinking brew, slightly dry and earthy, crisp and making you wonder if you're missing something...it's far easier than the vast majority of the Russian River "tion" beers (e.g. Temptation, Damnation), which I also enjoy.
Fifteen minutes into this brew I've had over half and it tastes as good if not better than the first glass...yikes, the 8.3% abv is nicely subdued but the aroma and complex but compelling flavors are ever present.
Honestly, along with a Yeti and Ska Decadent, I wouldn't mind having, at least once, a home keg of this...I'd consider it in the farmhouse, saison category of flavors...very fulfilling, tasty, slightly challenging in a positive way on the taste buds.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 04:14:46 | More by DenverLogan

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy yellow color with a white head. In the aroma, sour and funky, yet a touch green. In the taste, a dry sourness, quite carbonated, and it tastes a bit green too. A sour like bite and a medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a dry sourness in the aftertaste. Nice sour and dryness, but a bit green, I want to lay one down for a year or two.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 16:27:50 | More by OWSLEY069

jjveverka

South Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got this beer from work, pours a hazy orange-gold with a good head. It has a light smell of yeast with some hints of orange. Excellent taste with a very long finish. Smooth on the tongue with good sour nodes that give the beer a fresh and crisp taste. will have to buy another and let it age for a year to see the changes. A nice mouthful but not as full as I had hoped. Overall a very good beer. i am definitively going to age a bottle and see what crazy taste it as in a year or so.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 04:53:23 | More by jjveverka

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 750 ml corked bottle into a Duvel tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy copper golden orange with a lot of rising bubbles. Solid three fingers of off white head that fade into a few thin patches. Leaves a decent amount of lacing on the glass.

Smell: A very interesting funky, fruity, and mildly tart aroma. Yeast with a Belgian like funk and a good scent of Brett. Some pepper spice. Big fruit esters including banana, orange, pear, apple, white grapes, lemon zest, peach, and apricot. Also some hints of mildly tart cherries. Mild bready presence of malt with a hint of cracker and biscuit. Big hints of grass and floral hops. Smells fairly dry and wine like. Pretty nice.

Taste: Just as complex and funky as it smells. Big yeast strains with Brett funk and a mix of pepper spices. A big mix of bright fruit esters with notes of pear, apple, orange, banana, white grapes, lemon zest, apricot, peach, and tart cherry. Very grassy tasting with a solid presence of floral and herbal hops lingering around. Mild taste of malt with some biscuit and cracker. Tastes like a cross between a Belgian Farmhouse ale and an American Wild ale. Nicely complex, drying, and tasty.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a medium to high level of carbonation. Spicy, crisp, and somewhat prickly. Finishes dry. Alcohol is hidden very well.

Overall: A really good tasting and unique take on a Wild ale. Good combination of funk, fruit, and grassy hops. A pretty good collaboration.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 07:29:57 | More by MattyG85

jjanega08

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

No freshness dating on the bottle.

A= Pours a nice yellowish orange color with a thick off white head on it that rises and falls relativly quickly with a little lacing on the glass.

S= Smells nice and funky. A little tart apple and some pear in it. A nice hay character to it and some malty sweetness. A little tarness in it as well.

T= Tastes great. It has a nice sweetness to it that holds up nicely to the funk. I was expecting something a little more dry but this is a nice balance of sweetness and funk. There is again a nice pear flavor as well as some tart apple. Hay and maybe a little hop character is present. A nice funk. Really reminds me of some of Russian Rivers beers.

M= Great carbonation and weight.

O= This is up there with Russian Rivers great wild beers. Not the most sour thing in the world but it has a Damination type of funk. Worth trying for sure and worth buying several if you can.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 04:05:42 | More by jjanega08

nickthegun12

Alabama

4.38/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

appearance is orange hazy with a fast fading head that eventually dissipates

smell like lactic acid bacteria....i smell some light fruit such as pears

taste is hard to swallow....rich with lactic acid....bitter on the front then a light fruit note, then a burning from lactic acid in back

feel is crisp and dry

overall this one is a great version of an american wild ale

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 01:03:17 | More by nickthegun12

bum732

Maryland

4.35/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

S: Grass, apple peels. White pepper, slight mustiness, some floralness.

L: Fairly clear, golden yellow, carbonated white head. Great retention.

T: Fresh apples, slightly honey malt. Medium light spicy bitterness leading to some grassiness and mustiness. Some stone fruit plays on the palate. Finishes slightly fruity and semi-dry. Some funk opens up as it warms.

M: Medium bodied, medium high carbonation.

Solid, one of the better Brett beers I've had. I just wish it didn't cost so much.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 01:52:57 | More by bum732

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a hazy golden-orange with a big finger of frothy white head. The head fades down very slowly leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of sweet pale malts, tart light fruits, some funk, sourness, oak, Brett, and light spices.

T - Starts off with a mix of sweet pale and grainy malts with some lemon zest, tart light fruits, and a bit of funk. Through the middle, some oak comes through with some Brett, sourness, and a hint of spice. The finish is a mix of tart light fruits, funky Brett, some sourness, oak, and some lemon zest.

M - Medium bodied with moderate-heavy carbonation. Feels smooth with sour, tart, and dry finish.

D - Very drinkable. Nice complex and balanced Wild Ale with good funk and tartness.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 05:05:51 | More by ngeunit1

dgilks

Australia

4.31/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Slightly hazy golden orange colour with a big, off-white head that dissipates quickly. Good.

Solid stonefruit and Brett aroma. Lots of earthy funk and peaches. Lots of peaches. Nice and easy.

A lovely flavour. There is a lot of stonefruit and some orange. The funk is subdued but earthy and delicious. Very mild tartness but there isn't much at all. A delightful wild rather than sour ale.

Medium-light body with moderate carbonation. Crisp.

A wonderful beer. Crisp, refreshing and tasty. It is a beginner's wild beer but it works really nicely.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 08:12:12 | More by dgilks

Ghenna

California

4.28/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

quickly dissipating white head, amber color.

Pleasant saison funk (that is to say mild funk), bit of citrus, but of mildly sweet smelling malt.

First thing that shows up when I taste it is the champagne like carbonation. Following that there is a nice belgian spice, mild caramel malt, and dry finish. Almost has a persistent aspect of soda water.

All told, a nice beer- though at the moment not quite justifying the ~$14 price tag. However, once the bret works its magic in a year or two I really think this beer with shine. I'm glad I've got three more bottles of this sitting in my beer cellar and cant wait to try them again later.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 02:38:35 | More by Ghenna

dwilkins

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Dark gold and hazy, but lighter and less hazy as it warmed, so there is some chill haze. I don't care and prefer unfiltered beer, so this is fine.

S - Subtle tangerine or other rich citrus sharpness - tangerine lifesavers.

T - Mustiness like Chimay white, but understated. Finishes with a tart bite at the back of the tongue. If there is any hop bitterness here, it is lost on me.

M - Creamy due to a whole bunch of carbonation. Dry feel as if it evaporates before swallowing.

This is really a wonderful beer. Except for the crabonation, it has subtle expressions of sourness, fresh fruitiness, and the earthiness that makes a traditional Saison a joy (No idea if they think of this as a Saison, but I do). No one component overpowers the other and they all compliment each other nicely. A gentle introduction to the beauty of the funk for anyone who might be curious yet bashful.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 22:13:30 | More by dwilkins

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Slight white head over cloudy amber liquid.

S: Honey, grass, leaves, earth, marigolds, sour funk.

T: Grass, biscuit malt, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, earth, leaves and some sour funk in the finish.

M: Thin mouth feel with a medium to high level of viscosity.

O: I see where they were going with this one, and I like it. The citrusy and fruity presence of Amarillo and Cascade hops give this wild ale a quality different than the European varieties. However, due to the price point I think I would rather go for a Cantillon Vigneronne instead.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 23:40:38 | More by DaftCaskBC

Boneheadmx

California

4.26/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours out to a hazy orange-amber with a thick off-white colored head that subsides slowly.

The smell is fragrant and sweet, and I can detect hints of honey and fruit.

The flavor is slightly sweet and bready, just as how the smell hinted. There's a light citrusy bite that goes along well with the carbonation. The hops taste warm and blunt, and remains in the mouth for a subtle, lingering finish.

The mouthfeel is balanced, fairly watery but with a decent bit of carbonation that goes well with the citrusy bite of the flavor.

This is a very drinkable beer that's flavorful and smells great (which is really important to me).

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 00:31:30 | More by Boneheadmx

cichief

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Split a 750ml bottle with my girlfriend.

A- Pours a very clear golden with a nice white head.
S- Yeasty and bready, subtle hop aroma.

T- Somewhat malty and bready without being too sweet, well balanced by the hops.

M- Smooth on the tongue, not overly carbonated, nice medium body.

O- A very good beer, a bit expensive to drink regularly, but a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 23:13:37 | More by cichief

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I was pleased that tenderbranson69 was able to share this bottle with me -enjoyed chilled in a double-walled tumbler.

The color is deep golden with light haze and quick falling white cap with tight bead and no lace. The smell lightly tart with slight funky and tropical tinge with subtle sweet bubblegum notes and slight spice. The feel is great - the way it transitions from first sip to last is graceful and very nuanced. The slight tanginess of the brett with subtle earthy and spicy tinges w/ mild bitterness in the peripheral adds the complexity texture with some moderately spritzy carbonation up front and light creamy middle with a somewhat dry and spicy finish.

The Flavor of Brux is very developed and yet simple and enjoyable in that sense it has slight green hop elements and light melon notes up front which transition to a subtle tangerine and tropical note from the yeast. .The accent of funk is gentle which translates to spice on the palate with a mild toasted grain flavor with wheat taste and mild apple skin which adds complexity to the subtl bretty flavor in the dry finish. I was pleased with the overall drinkability of this beer - I think if you go into it thinking of Brett instead of sour you wiil like it, it is a 'domesticated' wild ale so it is exactly what I expected it to be -satisfying in every regard, Congratulations Russian River and Sierra Nevada on an excellent collaborative beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 18:44:08 | More by Slatetank

elNopalero

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked this one up in bottle form but I had the opportunity to try it on draught too. So it will be fun to compare my notes down the road.

This poured light, clear, golden and capped by a tremendous avalanche of cloudy white foam—but as it rested not a trace remained. The aroma has a whisper of Brett breath. Very muted, very nuanced, and it is not evident without really searching for it. Some floral notes complement it. The flavor is nicely rounded with some slight sweet notes and a floral finish.

This is exceptionally smooth and can only get better with some time.

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2012 07:38:49 | More by elNopalero

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very warm orange/gold. Not much head or lace lowered the rating.

Apple and pale malts lead off the smell. Small ammount of funk in the back. Being that this is not aged and the Brett is added to the bottle, I'm not surprised.

The taste is very interesting. Sour apple and Brett start it off nicely. The sour fades into the slightly bready malts next with a mineral and bandaid kick near the middle. There are some hints of pear and earthy hops as well. Goes down very easily.

I think this would age very well. Can't wait to pop one in the cellar. Wouldn't label it as a wild ale at this point, more of an experimental farmhouse ale. Liked it quite a bit though.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 01:57:11 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

Jesse13713

Ohio

4.23/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Really excited for this beer. I am huge fan of both Russian River and Sierra Nevada. I shelled out $16 for this brew, so I am expecting a lot.

Appearance - Wow. What an impressive looking beer. Not much of a head at all - very light carbonation. The froth disappears rapidly, leaving a white circular line around the rim of the glass.The center fountains up with a light torpedo of carbonation, but it does not add to the head. Light lacing. The beer is deliciously opaque. The color is a sparkling goldenrod amber.

Smell - Brett-yeast that adds sourness and fruity qualities. Mango and pear in the nose. A spritzy tingle on the nostrils. Both sour and sweet. A bit weak.

Taste - Sourness overcomes the sweetness by a tremendous amount. Delicious brett yeast backed up by orange/toffee malt. An extremely impressive display of tastes. Pear is the most prominent fruit, while mango is also apparent. Nice sour hops with a bit of a tangy pine zing.

Mouthfeel and Drinkability - I downed this beer in no time. Flows over the tongue with extreme pear sourness. This beer is medium-bodied, fruity, and fresh. Sourness greets you at the front, while sweetness takes over midway and carries you to a fruity, tangy, aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 02:30:10 | More by Jesse13713