White Birch Barrel Aged Indomitus (Batch 1) - White Birch Brewing

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +28.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've been waiting for this one for a loooong time, thanks to Tim for bringing this down for me, which I shared with the Central New England BA Meetup. I still remember Bill sampling a small bit from the barrel with his thief for me, long before it was ready. It was not as wild at the time, but now it is, and I have to admit that I don't think I've had a better wild since Supplication.

A: Fizzy 1 finger head fades quickly over super clear copper orange color. I'm surprised at how clear it is for a wile, but once it gets stirred a bit it's cloudy as Los Angeles on a smoggy day.

N: Barnyard funk hits right away. A little musty old shelf like aromas, that brings me back to sitting in a rickhouse picking dusty bourbon barrels from the shelves for samplings. I get that warehouse like aroma with lots of wood, old dank wood with fresh woody esters, and a touch of oak. A slight bourbon aroma wafts out at first, and starts to get stronger as it warms. A little sour tangy fruit hides in there too, with more Brett like funk aromas that just take over.

T: This one starts with sour fruit! It makes my glands balk at the hit of the flavor, which was not expected from the nose. I think it's just the initial hit as it's not really that sour on the rest of the taste. Some tangy fruit flavors with that and sour mash. There is some metallic flavors that often come from the wild yeast. More juicy fruit flavors make my mouth water, which helps as it's very dry. More of that old wooden shelf taste that was apparent in the nose, with old funky wood, a very slight horse hair, barnyard funk, and a little tart sour wild yeast funk. More sour fruit comes again in waves, this time with some bourbon flavors. The bourbon is there, but not really strong, it just kinda sits there, and pokes it head out a little more as it warms. The Brett really shines on this one, and I can see why Bill was waiting so long to release it, until it was just the way he wanted it.

M: Medium to lighter body with good carbonation.

F: A nice dry finish, with a little barnyard funk lingering, with more old dusty wood from a farmhouse that also lingers. A little lingering tangy sour fruit, but it seems to have dulled a bit on the finish. The subtle oak and aged wood adds a nice touch to the finish. Actually, it's getting really dry now, wow. My mouth is begging for the next sip, wanting more of that sour delicious fruit and for some reason dank dusty old wood. It also has a strange bitter aftertaste that seems to come from the wild yeast rather than hops. The Brett shows itself on the finish as well.

If you like wild ales, especially barrel aged ones, you have to try this. More delicious than any other wild I can remember since Supplication. I can only imagine what this will taste like in a few years too.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2010 01:50:12 | More by jlindros

Photekut

Azerbaijan

2.5/5  rDev -22.1%

05-19-2013 01:33:40 | More by Photekut

JAHMUR

Connecticut

2.5/5  rDev -22.1%

04-08-2013 20:28:52 | More by JAHMUR

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev +9%

03-07-2013 03:26:09 | More by t0rin0

rowingbrewer

Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -14.3%

01-14-2013 16:23:53 | More by rowingbrewer

phingdong

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev +9%

01-14-2013 16:22:28 | More by phingdong

westcoastbeerlvr

California

1/5  rDev -68.8%

01-09-2013 22:53:35 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.05/5  rDev +26.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Acquired via trade from VanillaMike so a big “Thank You” goes out to him. Poured from a 750ml bottle into a chalice glass. Bottled on date of 5/27/2010, #99 of 154.

A: The beer is a dark gold color, with a thin off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains esters, apples, caramelized malts, Belgian yeast and a good amount of hops.

T: The taste starts out with burst of sourness that remains dominant with flavors of apples wild Belgian yeast and citrus. Then some mild sweetness comes in along with a complementary hops presence. The malt character is on the thin side and provides a decent balance. I didn’t pick up much of the oak aging. The after-taste is tart.

M: Smooth and very crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean and dry.

O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, good representation of style, it’s a solid sour beer to drink for a while.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 01:56:45 | More by TheManiacalOne

Bobbydigi

Kansas

1.5/5  rDev -53.3%

04-29-2012 00:43:29 | More by Bobbydigi

CharlieMurphy

New York

3.73/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Black with a chocolate brown head like a stout. Barely any carbonation. Thick, stagnent syrup.

S: Bourbon. Dark chocolate, port wine.

T: Chocolate -> candied whole spices -> flip the switch into sour (bell curve) -> faint dry roastiness

M: Low carbonation, a slight dryness from the roast and even some coffee aspects which I hate the idea of in a sour. Overall its pretty neutral.

O: I don't see the need for the hate.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 02:32:28 | More by CharlieMurphy

Arbitrator

California

1.78/5  rDev -44.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

After being led to believe this was one of the worst beers ever made by larga "I can only communicate in hyperbole" deer, I approached this beer with trepidation and excitement at the last big Peninsula tasting.

A: Pours a hazy goldenrod body capped with a small wisp of off-white head.

S: This changes as it warms, going from earthen / dirty notes to more expression of brett (must, funk) and lemons. I really want to hate this, considering everything I've heard about it, but at best it's just sub-par.

T: It's not super flavorful, but it combines flavors of lemons, must (reminding me of an attic), slight funk, and a noticeable metallicity in the finish. Again, I want to hate this, and I'm annoyed that this wasn't the dirty pond water it was hyperbolically claimed to be.

M: Oddly unsettled and uneven in flavor, resulting in some sips that are earthy / funk and others that are more metallic, without a general sense of integration. There may be a good beer here waiting to get out.

O: On hand, were 4 people who had had Indomitus before (3 whose tastes I trust, and largadeer), and the former 3 all agreed: the beer had improved substantially since its amazing trainwreck showing in their last encounter with it. I, having no prior experience, am left disappointingly undisappointed. White Birch, you are somehow... improving?

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 06:40:00 | More by Arbitrator

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +24.6%

01-02-2012 01:05:35 | More by InspectorBob

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.8/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From the Black batch bottled August 16, 2011 no. 156. Sampled on December 25, 2011. The pour is more like a stout than anything else with its pitch black color and thick foamy head. The aroma is full of dark grains, malts, wood, and earthy hops. The body falls into the medium to heavy range. The taste is wild and hoppy with a pucker-up sourness. The yeast seems to come out more as it gets to the end of glass.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 00:34:34 | More by puboflyons

jophish17

Georgia

2.5/5  rDev -22.1%

12-24-2011 07:50:42 | More by jophish17

Exiled

Texas

3/5  rDev -6.5%

11-24-2011 19:42:23 | More by Exiled

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +24.6%

11-18-2011 19:00:19 | More by Rochefort10nh

Patrickbrusil

Massachusetts

4.8/5  rDev +49.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is from an August 2011 bottling not to be confused with the may 2010 bottling.

This beer is AMAZING.

Pours a deep dark mahogany color that borders on black with a 1 finger mocha head.

Smell is heavenly combination of freshly picked wild raspberries, dark chocolate, coffee, and some Brett.

The taste is sublime, complex, and smooth. It has wild ale all over it but never becomes abrasive. The coffee and chocolate rule the day with deep subtle fruit notes and dew drops from fresh cut hay coming to the party.

Bought direct from Bill at the new store in Hooksett.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 00:36:45 | More by Patrickbrusil

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +27.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one was quite a surprise, got it via the tickers BIF from womencantsail, thanks!

Wonderful pour, kind of orange colored with a nice head and some lace, but overall a really nice looking beer.

Tasted and smelled downright sour, in a wonderful way. Sour crabapples brought forth a pungent tart fruitiness that comes right out and stays in your face the whole time. Funk and vinegar accent this great beer creation all the way. Finish was sour and dry.

Body was pretty light but right on par for the style.

This was a really tasty beer. I'd very happily have this one again anytime, and don't really understand the wild swings in the reviews so far. Its clearly a wild ale and has all the features that I look for in this style. As far as I'm concerned this one is "Great job White Birch!"

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 12:09:53 | More by AlCaponeJunior

scottfrie

California

3.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks for sharing Mike. Bottled 5/27/10, Batch 1.

A: Pours a glowing pumpkin color with a thin white head.
S: I get a bit of cucumber and melon on the nose. Strange.
T: Notes of melon, brett, and a grapefruit pith sourness to the finish. It’s also a bit solventy and rough. I also get note of oak and some else more sinister that I’m not a fan of but cannot put my finger on.
M: A clean mouthfeel with fluffy carbonation and a pleasant sourness to the finish. The alcohol and acidic make it a bit uncomfortable to drink though.
O: Odd, but not as bad as some make out. I was content with just one pour. I could not drink a whole bottle of this.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 02:16:02 | More by scottfrie

Mora2000

Texas

2.4/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Thanks to Exiled for sharing this bottle. Bottled May 27, 2010. Bottle number 31 of 154.

The beer pours a golden orange color with a white head. The aroma is bread and citrus, with a little bit of cardboard. The flavor is not good at all. I get a ton of cork and cardboard, as well as a little bit of brett, grass, grain and some nasty fruit notes. Not sure what went wrong, but the beer cannot taste like the brewer intended. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Gross.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 01:35:06 | More by Mora2000

Overlord

California

1.98/5  rDev -38.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1

I know that Bill can brew world class beers. I've had them from him. This isn't a world class beer. Then again, it isn't quite as awful as other reviews make it out to be.

I will say this: if you have this beer at a temperature below a comfortable 70 or so fahrenheit, you will find it undrinkable. The person who was kind enough to send me a bottle indicated I should let it warm up. Chilled, it's a bracing, curdled ball of oaked dirt, urinal caked dirt, and dank slightly funky dirt with some scorched plastic dirt.

With some heat, the aroma and flavor opened up, and some bracing lemons, a bit of dancing ... I don't know ... cobwebs of metallic zestiness ... and different nuances of soured dirt appeared.

It's a bad beer. Couldn't finish the bottle. Not really sour, though there are hints. It's mostly striated earth/dirt funk with heaping bits of randomness.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2011 09:33:18 | More by Overlord

Brez07

Maine

4/5  rDev +24.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brought this to the recent SMBDC sour tasting. Opened it later in the meeting after some people left, so I ended up with around 8oz. Batch 1, bottle 140/154

A: Light goldenrod in color. Some visible carbonation. Left a thin white layer of head

S: Interesting nose. Very musty, earthy. Lots of horse blanket. Has a mossy smell about it

T: Musky funk. I'd also say this was dusty in a way. Light fruit in the finish (apricot, peach). Not a terrible amount of tartness

M: Light to medium bodied. As stated, light tartness resulting in a smooth drinking wild. Funky, dry finish

D: Overall, everyone seemed to like this one. Not the greatest or most sour wild out there, but definitely not a drainpour as others have mentioned. Would like to see a 2nd batch made

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2011 01:06:33 | More by Brez07

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.53/5  rDev +41.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had at Hobo Tasting #2 with mikesgroove. Big thanks to Mike for bringing this one out to share with me. Bottle #153/154, bottle on May 27, 2010. Served from bottle into a Duvel tulip. Poured yellow-orange with a half finger off-white head that subsided to a minimal amount very quickly. There was no lacing evident throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, sour, tart, oak, and big funk. The flavor was of sweet malt, sour, tart, big oak, and skunky funk. It had a medium feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a very nice brew. Definitely had a big skunky funk going on here. Excellent flavor and aroma though. Really glad Mike shared this one with me. A must try!

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2011 17:47:36 | More by thagr81us

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +38%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

hobo tasting number two at the main street pub. shared with calton as always. bottle 153/154

i really dont get what is going on with the reviewing of this beer. it seems east of the mississippi its a great beer, west its worst then natty light, i just dont get it. maybe some people dont know a good sour? ii think the real reason is some people are all hyped up on the fruity sours an lambics and this is not that. this is just deep horse funk and in your face sour without that fresh fruit. its a love it or hate it i guess but i loved it.

poured out a nice amber color with minimal cloudiness and a small white head that would soon fade. aroma is just downright sour. so much critters in here. lacto like i have never seen. reminds me of the early batches of the rr sours when they were fresh. just raw vinegar and straight funk, gorgeous. carried right over into the flavor which again was no holds barred and just deep sour and funk that was incredibly vibrant and tongue lashing. dry finish is an understatement as all sense of flavor is zapped from the mouth and cotton mouth is what you are left with.

overall loved it, its nit a fruit or lambic sour people. this is pushing the envelope of the style and done very, very well.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 05:14:40 | More by mikesgroove

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

1.78/5  rDev -44.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

Color is a hazy gold. Has a white head to it.

Aroma: Funky, bretty, vinegar, cat-piss. This is an abomination.

Taste: Lemon, funky, garbage, cat-piss. Acidic notes with some oak. This beer is terrible. What the hell was White Birch trying to brew?

Mouthfeel: Creamy and funky. Lighter bodied, medium carbonation. Ends acidic and medicinal. Not good.

Overall, this is a terrible beer and I could hardly drink much of it. I had enough it to jot down some notes, but after that I stopped drinking it. A definite drain pour. I sure hope they never make this one again.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2010 00:10:41 | More by mothman