Brux Domesticated Wild Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

jmaharaj

Maryland

3.2/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- Golden orange. Fleeting head.
S- Easily its strongest showing. Crisp, clean and fruity-sour. Green apples, pears and a nice spicy backdrop.
T- A little dissapointing. The elements were there but they seemed flat together. Strong belgian yeast flavors dominate and the fruits make a brief appearance that trails of into a spicy dry tartness. Not much funkiness at all.
M- Delicately carbonated. Medium light body, maybe a touch oily.
O- Not bad. An average belgian, but a dissapointing wild ale. Perhaps I built myself up a little too much for this one. Sierra Nevada, Russian River and a Wild Ale? I was expecting a lot.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 21:39:58 | More by jmaharaj

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.73/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a flat golden orange, little white cap which quickly fades

S: The nose lends a nice little fruit bouquet; greean and red apples with a little pear and spice

T: A little funky, Belgian yeast, sweet and fruity with pears, apples and some allspice. It has lightly funked, Earthy and lingering sweetnes on the finish

M: Medium bodied, a little slick, flat on the tongue I felt

O: Good but not one I would pay $16 for again.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 13:55:36 | More by barleywinefiend

WYVYRN527

Minnesota

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

Poured into my Russian River glass from the corked and caged 750 ml. bottle.

A: Rich orange/amber in color with a thick head that quickly settles to a thin froth on the surface. Bubbles are big like soda, and lacing is minimal as to be expected from this style.

S: Some sweet caramel and orange peel, along with some barnyard funk. Not real prominent on the nose.

T: Begins a bit sweet, but tartness shows through quickly. Some sweet honey and dried orange peel, followed with grassy tones, yeasty funk, and a dry, somewhat floral finish.

Notes: Has more body than I expected. Great dry, clean mouthfeel with complex flavor that is sure to develop with age. Great now, but needs some time to improve. One of my favorite collaboration beers to come out in a long time. Well-done!

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 05:49:18 | More by WYVYRN527

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

SHODriver

California

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: poured into a Duvel Tulip to a cloudy golden orange with a two finger white head that recedes quickly to a small pool.
S: slight vinegar acidity in the nose with some citrus. bretty yeast smell but not a lot of funk or barnyard. some pale malt as well
T: funky horseblanket and band aid, very slight tartness, a bit of pale malt and some peppery flavor. more horseblanket toward the end. aftertaste is a bit more horseblanket, some spicey yeast, and a wisp of fruitiness
M: prickly and crisp with a fairly light mouthfeel. a bit drying as well on the finish.
O: pleasantly surprised. Maybe this bottle got funky faster or something based on the other reviews. We'll see what happens with the other three bottles I have.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 00:43:18 | More by SHODriver

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

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.55/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Russian River brewery. Pours a super cloudy and hazy yellow with a very nice white head around 1" in size, damn good lace and retention to it, very small bubbles.

Mild aroma, chunky fresh brett, really needs more time to get any funk, its not here yet, none of that wet dog in a phonebooth thing going. Double edged sword, sometimes I likes it clean, sometimes dirty. Some mild citrus aspects to it.

Taste, well it hides the alcohol nice, but is, I dunno, kinda pedestrian. A little lemon and grass in there, but really nothing in the way of real good tart or funk development. A little resemblance to belgian yeast esters in the mouthfeel. Really the description of a domesticated wild ale goes a long way, this one is in a weird spot, its price is high, which is going to seem to keep potential converts away, and for those who are already into this kind of thing, I dunno how apeshit people will go for this. Is it good? Yes. But its not knock your socks off spend $15 a bottle good. Nonetheless, yes, I am still holding onto a bottle to see what happens down the road.

I'd recommend to try, but don't buy more than one until you know whether this is your thing. For me, just so many more enjoyable options from both breweries that are so much cheaper.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2012 18:36:00 | More by Beerandraiderfan

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

jethrodium

California

2.55/5  rDev -33.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

750 ml bottle. Pours a slightly hazy golden amber with a small white head that disappears quickly and leaves no lacing. The aroma is green apple, apricot, and a light peppery note. There is a light funky brett earthiness, but not much. The initial taste is sweet with green apple, a bit of brett earthiness, and some apricot. The finish has a hint of brett and some lingering apple. Medium body. Low carbonation. This was quite disappointing. It's too sweet for the style and there is not much brett funkiness. It will probably improve with time, but I'm not going to buy more bottles to find out given the price.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 20:20:05 | More by jethrodium

FosterJM

California

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

1397th Review on BA
Bottle to RR Stem
750 C/C

2012
Purchased at Bevmo Chino Hills, CA for $14.99

App- The bottle was correct, was a copper color but more dirty. A two finger fast receding white head was present but fell to a canola oil like look without any lace or cling.

Smell- When it 1st opens you get a bit of apple on the nose and finally this was intentional and not infection apple. Clean with a bit of funk but still young. Lacks a certain depth and pop.

Taste- You really get most of the base beer. Its a Belgian Golden with a nice yeasty flavor. A small bit of funk and a bit of pear on the flavors. Dry on the back and has more of a wine tannic finish.

Mouth- I liked this the best about said beer. It wasn't as light as most AWA are and I can appreciate that. A bit of a fuller medium body with a medium carbonation. Nice bubbles on it. Residual spice, fruit and grass.

Drink- Well I will say that I thought it was good. Wasnt great. I wanted to be blown away and I want to say I am a bit jaded by Wild Ales after having a ton of GREAT ones. For the $$ I wanted more but was still tasty.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 15:36:59 | More by FosterJM

avalon07

South Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a tulip glass. Had an orange color and a hazy consistency. There was a small amount of foamy head that quickly dissipated. Not much lacing.

S: A very fruity aroma, with hints of yeast in it as well.

T: Tasted of light fruit (citrus, apricots, bananas), a bit of malt, and a good amount of yeast. This is one of those flavors that tends to grow on you the more you drink it.

M: A fair (could have been better) amount of carbonation with a smooth finish. Medium-bodied.

O: While this beer is bumpy in spots, it is generally drinkable. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 12:09:56 | More by avalon07

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

One hell of a wild collaboration from two incredible breweries – and with a style of yeast I’m not too familiar with. Love new beer territory like this.

A: Oddly bubbly; there’s a ton of white fizz as soon as the beer is poured, but a violent surge of popping sends all the bubbles down in a hurry. A thin layer of retention is sustained by big jets of carbonation from the glass’s bottom, though lacing is essentially nonexistent. Bright orange-golden color to the body, shimmering in direct light.

S: Smells fruity, acidic, and only lightly funky: tart, sweet lemon, grassy grains, fresh cherry and pineapple, all layered in with a prevalent scent of caramel and candi sugar. Sweetly aromatic, but full of natural character, you might say. The yeast makes a beautiful appearance, remarkably herbal and acidic. You might say it smells a bit “young;” full of estery barnyard scents, but with a noticeable brightness.

T: A gorgeous blend of light malt and intriguing funk, mainly: crisp, grassy grains, apple skin, pear, and a touch of oat take center stage first. Barnyard is there in force, of course, with lemon pulp and earthy esters that give this palate a green flavor (akin to the “youth” of the nose) – it’s all very distinct, but not strong enough to overwhelm the senses. Touches of honey and vanilla from the malts come through, with some clove and orange peel from the yeasts. The aftertaste is very grainy, with tastes akin to the grain husk flavors of a pilsner (mixed with the peppery aftereffects of Belgian yeast, too).

M: A body that’s definitely thin, but with tons of bubbly character – almost like champagne. Light and dry on the end, but balanced all-around.

O: Wow – what a year would do to this beer. It’s already excellent as is, but I would love to see what would happen when the brux has its way with this palate. And that enthusiasm, my fellow beer-lovers, is a sign of a truly good beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 00:03:40 | More by BarryMFBurton

Kromes

Georgia

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

A: A slightly hazy gold with a soda-like head from the high carbonation.

S: A tart and sour aroma. A bit of spicy funk and a bit of pear.

T: Very interesting flavors in this beer. At first there is a strong alcohol and pear flavor that transitions to a funky, bitter and sour flavor with a bit of clove and then some grain and hop.

M: peppery carbonation and medium body. Finishes dry.

O: Very well crafted beer here. Flavors are all over the spectrum, but have a certain harmony and smoothness. Brett is tame, of course, but I really enjoyed it as all of the flavors were present, but none dominated.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 23:15:49 | More by Kromes

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

3.6/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pour is highly carbonated. Light yellow with small white head. The smell is funky. touch of apple cider, white grape tannins. Even a hint of acetic sourness as well. This thing smells really good.

The taste is a let down. Chalky type taste with grassy dryness from the young Brett. The Brett flavors really need some time to grow and shine. I get that light dry citric grassiness characteristic of Brett, just not enough of it. Base beer is clean and crisp. With age, that will allow the Brett to shine.

All in all, it needs age. After a year of Brett growth, this thing will taste fantastic, just not yet.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 20:38:40 | More by VncentLIFE

mdaschaf

Washington

3.93/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a hazy orange color with a small white head, rather fizzy, with minimal retention. No lacing on any of the glass.

S: Better as it warms. SOme faint aprcito, a little peach, pear, and pineapple. There is slight green grassy aroma as well. Slightly funky, not really tart though. Slight generic lacto aroma.

T: More pear/apple than apricot, which was slightly the reverse on the aroma. The beer is slightly spicy with a little bit of clove and a bit of biscuity malt.

M: Medium bodied, slightly heavier than most AWAs I have had. Lively carbonation, but very sour/tart.

O: A pretty good beer, with the Brett shining through. I guess I was hoping for more of a sour. I think this beer has some aging potential, but only grabbed one bottle. At $15, a little steep IMO.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 03:52:10 | More by mdaschaf

CTBeerPope

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a glowing copper color with less than a half finger head. Slightly hazy.

Aroma is of light pears and lemons with a vinaigrette like aroma underneath. It has that Brett funk but its very subtle.

Taste is lemon, banana and peppery. Finishes pretty dry. As I go along it reminds me of those sour brite worms. Sweet and sour. Definitely lighter than other beers of this style I've had which is pleasant to me. I also got some hoppy citrus notes going on in there.

Mouthfeel is champagne like. Nice soft body with lively carbonation that works well with the flavors of the beer.

For some reason I've never really enjoyed brews of the same style as a lot of them were much more tart or sour than this which I usually can't get past to really enjoy. This is very young and a bit hoppy and more restrained than the others I've had and in the end I really liked it. This may be a beer that opens me back up to revisiting this style again.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 01:56:35 | More by CTBeerPope

champ103

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a hazed copper/orange color. At first a two finger white head forms, and gently recedes to nothing. Not much lace is left behind.
S: Plasticy, phenolic Brett yeast. Cracked pepper, biscuit/doughy malts. Citrus and tart lemons.
T: Follows the nose. Phenolic, funky yeast. Peppery spice. Biscuit malts and tart tangy lemons. Finishes very dry.
M/D: A medium body that is very crisp and dry. Not hard to drink, the bottle is enjoyable. Don't know if I would purchase another though.

Enjoyable enough. The Brett is really apparent and makes this a little to phenolic and plastic for my tastes. Still worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 00:43:17 | More by champ103

alpinebryant

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours an Orange goldenrod colr with a milkshake head that is less than a finger. no lacing left on my Duvel tulip

S: Aroma of light pineapple, golden pear, strong isolated brett only "wild ale" presence, no lacto to make this a sour. Caramel, a bit of green apple and a belgian ale yeast strain underneath the brett finish.

T: Mostly pear with a bit of grapefruit on the fruit side of flavors. Backbone of a light caramel crystal malt in the 40 range. A bit of biscuity bite but very smooth and well rounded. There is a sweetness to this that does well with the brett flavors leading me to believe that over time, this will continue to age and change a little however with the amount of pressurization already present, that could be dangerous if there is enough unattenuated sugar left in here. Base beer flavors seem to be basically half pale ale taste and half Belgian ale.

M: Medium to heavy for an American Wild ale, good high level of carbonation that seems right for the style.

O: Two great breweries coming together to create a pretty good beer. This beer was made to accentuate the brett flavors and I think it has accomplished that goal pretty well. Much better so than some of the others that have made a straight brett beer with that goal in mind. Recommended , and curious to see how this ages

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 22:40:55 | More by alpinebryant

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

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

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

750 ml cork and caged bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada tulip.
8.3% ABV, numbers printed on shoulder of bottle.

A - Brux is gently hazed, pouring a golden honey color with an effervescent light ivory head that diminishes to next-to-nothing pretty quickly. Not a trace is left on the glass, sadly.

S - Potent earthiness flourishes through Brux from the maltiness, hops, and yeast with suggestions of shaved, fresh oak. Dry biscuit with little more than a dribble of honey sweetness lays the groundwork for the complex yeast to work. Light citrus notes lap at the olfactory senses gently while a very mild, "domesticated" wild aroma subtly emerges, providing toned-down barnyard notes and a vanilla cream Yankee candle-like scent from a vigorous swirl.

T - The first sip quickly splashes a surprising banana Runts-like flavor on the tongue despite the lack of fruity esters on the nose! More malt-driven, biscuit and sweet pilsner attributes blend for a healthy backing capable of supporting wild development while a light citrus touch follows up with, once again, very mild yeast characteristics. Brux is complex but very subtle, finishing pretty cleanly, especially for a wild ale. After a few sips, Brux leaves a gentle, interesting tropical fruit blend-like flavor on the tongue.

M - Bright carbonation sparkles on the tongue while this medium-bodied wild smoothly crosses the palate with next to no trace of wild sourness, though faint tartness emerges gently. Earth and citrus notes add a balancing dryness to the finish which cleans the tongue while bringing you back for another lip-smacking sip.

O - Color me surprised, I had imagined this beer to be a little more assertive and wild but Brux is odd in that it's extremely subtle; something neither Sierra Nevada nor Russian River seem to output on a regular basis. Then again, the beer does call itself a "Domesticated Wild Ale", aka, something a little more suitable for the masses; a "training-wheel wild" if you will. After the initial, "huh" shock subsided, it became clear this is a damn fine beer that's incredibly well made suitable for aging, and I'm pretty excited to see what time does with the yeast!

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 23:38:02 | More by BeerFMAndy

t420o

California

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sierra Nevada/Russian River Brux

$14.99 @ BevMo

A- pour produces a 1 finger fizzy white head quickly disapating leaving no lace. Beer is a hazy golden and burnt orange color 4

S- lemongrass, green apple, begian yeast, a very nice fruity aroma, Brett, dry. Smells excellent 4.5

T- very nice mix of Belgian yeast, spices, green apple, grain, lemongrass, Brett, and finishes dry. Very nice. 4  

M- lighter on the carbonation. Good body. 4 

O- a tasty, and well crafted brew. I'd like to get a few more bottles to see how this progresses over time. 4

A-

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 02:03:10 | More by t420o

Richard33

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy golden orange. The 1/2 white head dissapates quickly.

The usual brett nose is there, but not in a big way. Mild funk gives way to notes of grass, citrus, and green apple.

Tart green apples and black pepper up front with pear and earthy funk on the finish. This beer is very young so I expect that the brett will come into it's own in the bottle I'm aging. That being said, still very tasty. incredibly balanced, and easy drinking. Sounds odd, but I was hoping for less balance!

There is a sweetness there that I'm sure the brett will eat up in 6-12 months time. Great beer, looking forward to reviewing again.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 23:21:31 | More by Richard33

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

MatthewWilde

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sample: 1 bottle 2012

A: Golden orange in color, heavy internal carbonation, pours a mild white foamy head, translucent

S: Moderately fragrant, notes of citrus and mild tropical fruit, very yeasty and quite apparent wheat elements, even a bit of grape must is present

T: Much akin to the nose, wheat and grape must dominate mixed with citrus, traces of clove and mint are present, very light alcohol, not incredibly flavorful, definitely needs some age

M: Very smooth, light in the mouth, not lingering or overpowering on the palate, almost no aftertaste

O: A complex and interesting wild ale, would have been nice if it had more sour elements, without a doubt needs to be aged

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 01:00:10 | More by MatthewWilde

Sunhunters

California

4.03/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Serving Type - Draft at Russian River Brewery

Appearance (3.0) - Hazy orange liquid. Fairly clear while still a little cloudy. Thin head less than half a finger dissapates almost immediately, no lacing to speak of. Very thin ring of fine bubbles around glass. Haziness and color are pleasant while the rest is underwhelming.

Smell (3.0) - Not much going on here either. Faint smell carries whiffs of Belgian yeast, bread, apricot, and a hint of clove. Underpowered in my mind, but perhaps that's intentional. Wild yeast is unapparent.

Taste (4.5) - Here the beer begins to shine. Mild balanced flavor belies the 8.3% ABV. Pleasant notes of farmhouse, tart fruits - especially sour kiwi, light golden cherry, and faint tangerine. Yeasty breadiness throughout. Satisfying and refreshing, with a very smooth character that is quite nice. Good stuff.

Mouthfeel (4.5) - Another point for Brux, the mouthfeel is extremely pleasing. Creamy, round, medium bodied, this brew has balanced carbonation with a crisp, dry, mildly acidic finish. At the same time the feel is watery enough to prove very refreshing.

Overall (4.0) - An interesting and enjoyable beer, though not life- changing. Drinkable and refreshing, crisp and mildly tart, Brux is a smooth operator. It's drinking very well young.

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2012 23:41:01 | More by Sunhunters