Escoffier Bretta Ale - Brewery Vivant

qthompso

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a tulip from a 16oz can. No date to be found anywhere.

It pours a really clear light caramel orange. A finger of cream head that didn't stick around long.

Good funk on the nose. Aside from the Brett, there's a really nice sweet, tropically nose to this beer. I'm a big fan of the smell.

The funk that I would expect up front is definitely there are pretty strong. If you're a fan of the barnyard dankness of Brett, you'll enjoy this. Acidic, sweet, and maltier than I would've guessed. The tropical nose led me to believe that this would be a rather bitter beer but its breadier in the finish. The hops are certainly still there but don't add as much as I was expecting.

Good carbonation, pretty full mouthfeel on this beer. It's a 9.25% ABV beer, which is surprising. There's definitely a noticeable heat to the beer but not as much as I might've expected given the high ABV. For the style, pretty drinkable but I don't know how many more I could have in one sitting (if any).

Overall, a solid collaboration between Vivant and New Belgium. I had the chance to try both the Vivant version and the NB version side by side at Darkness Day and I would certainly say that Vivant's release is more interesting, which was also the consensus of my group.

Serving type: can

11-05-2012 00:10:33 | More by qthompso

merc7186

New York

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Thanks to thedarkestlord for this great can.

16oz can into snifter glass.

A: Hazy Amber Hue, Passes Some Light, Very Thin Off White Head Ring, Mild Lacing

S: Funky, Earthy, Oak, Mild Sour Cherries

T: Brett, Tart Cherry, Red Plum, Oaky

M: Mediocre Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Tart

Overall, a really nice brett mild sour, just my can lacked proper carbonation.

Serving type: can

06-16-2013 02:27:45 | More by merc7186

six7vdub

Nevada

4/5  rDev +2.6%

06-15-2013 22:28:05 | More by six7vdub

mattvandyk

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

06-14-2013 02:26:33 | More by mattvandyk

linnymtu

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -16.7%

06-12-2013 01:24:49 | More by linnymtu

PincheNorteno

Michigan

4.86/5  rDev +24.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

I drank this when it was very fresh, and didn't know what to expect. I'd first tasted only one wild ale prior to this and was intrigued.

Mine poured a simple brown from the can, with a slight hue of copper if held to the light, a tad cloudy. Immediately you know that this brew is special. Medium bodied with a complex earthy woodish aroma, there's a great dryness and subdued tartness that hit your nose. The flavor is totally unique, it just reminded me of something rustic like stables and hay, Brett is not overpowering but it's funk is beyond words.

I still have a single can of this that I intend to cellar at least another year.

Serving type: can

06-10-2013 18:41:21 | More by PincheNorteno

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.91/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

16oz can poured into tulip - thanks erikkoppin

Hazed golden pour with some copper hues, topped by a fluffy, building white head which leaves streaked webs of lacing littered all around the glass.

Funky and slightly tart in the nose with fresh cut grass and wet hay. Bretty with hints of citrus fruit and spice, soft floral note and warmth.

Powerful brett presence up front, coupled with lemon peel and tartness. Funky yeast, spice, cut grass and floral notes punctuate the profile on top of a mild malt backbone. Dry, bretty finish with soft warmth.

Fuller medium body, higher carbonation, bubbly and full on the tongue. I was a little worried this would be over the top, but couldn't believe this was over 9% once I actually drank it. Perhaps a little strong with the brett, but still a decent wild ale.

Serving type: can

05-28-2013 14:40:47 | More by xnicknj

Treebs

Illinois

2.84/5  rDev -27.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

16 oz. can served in a Brewery Vivant snifter.

A: Pours a grapefruit like color with a white head forming on the pour. It recedes to a thin collar that leaves some sticky lace down the glass.

S: A good amount of Brett is present in the nose. A little funky with some slightly cheesy undertones. Orange sweetness and fruitiness as well. Pale malt sweetness.

T: Oaky and dried grass with a good deal of Bretty funk. Grape-like with a very drying texture. The booze is sweet and not that well hidden. A bit of newspaper as well. A rotten plum flavor sort of creeps up on the back end. Not terrible, but not that appealing.

M: Medium to light bodied with a very drying texture. Medium high carbonation.

O: Very imbalanced and the Brett overtakes everything. I've been disappointed from Vivant lately. Hopefully they pick it back up and make some more balanced beers.

Serving type: can

05-23-2013 00:25:18 | More by Treebs

alpenglocken

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -16.7%

05-18-2013 23:30:21 | More by alpenglocken

TreyIsWilson

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

05-17-2013 04:34:05 | More by TreyIsWilson

wyatt13

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

05-15-2013 04:48:17 | More by wyatt13

SpdKilz

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

05-13-2013 20:10:57 | More by SpdKilz

HarmonMW

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +9%

05-12-2013 01:02:05 | More by HarmonMW

ehammond1

California

4.14/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Can (2012)

Acquired via trade
Thanks, Spartan213!

(Aged for 6+ months)

Clear dark orange and amber. Moderate near-white head. Decent retention. Standard, irregular lined lacing left down the glass. Pretty.

While the aroma is certainly yeast-forward, there's some definite candied, mandarin orange character as well. Some grass and farmhouse elements play nicely. I like this quite a bit.

The flavor is similar, with yeast and mandarin orange notes playing nicely, decent amount of barnyard and dry grass, and low bitterness. Incredibly drinkable. Alcohol is exceptionally well hidden. As it warms, this becomes a touch too sweet.

Medium bodied with fairly high carbonation.

Easily, the best saison I've ever had from a can!

Serving type: can

05-08-2013 01:36:31 | More by ehammond1

outoffocus

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.6%

04-30-2013 00:55:29 | More by outoffocus

Mag00n

New York

4.25/5  rDev +9%

04-29-2013 15:42:43 | More by Mag00n

PopnLoads

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

04-29-2013 03:16:23 | More by PopnLoads

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

04-28-2013 22:30:43 | More by spycow

Thaddeus

Michigan

2.74/5  rDev -29.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Appearance: Clear amber color with an average head, foamy and white.

Aroma & Taste: Had a weird smell and taste I couldn't place. Reminded me of a marsala wine I tried earlier in the year. Had some notes of soy sauce, but also had a sweetness and earthiness to it.

Serving type: can

04-26-2013 16:21:57 | More by Thaddeus

MichaelNickerson

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - pours a light copper with semi cloudiness

Smell - not sure what I truly think about the smell, but I relate it very much like clean carpet. It's a very fresh smelling beer

Taste - fruity including apple and lemon with some sweetness to it. Finishes with a nice toasted bread

Mouthfeel - extremely thick beer with mild carbonation

Serving type: can

04-25-2013 16:09:09 | More by MichaelNickerson

finstadp

Michigan

4.18/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I recently had the pleasure of trying the Escoffier Bretta Ale from Brewery Vivant. This beer had a wonderful light bronze appearance. The aroma was very fruity and pleasant. The flavor was light bodied with delicious fruity notes. This is definitely a refreshing beer that would be great on a hot summer day.

Serving type: can

04-24-2013 19:18:44 | More by finstadp

baybum

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.6%

04-18-2013 00:49:26 | More by baybum

enelson

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

04-09-2013 12:57:34 | More by enelson

beergorrilla

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

04-09-2013 06:11:41 | More by beergorrilla

cfrances33

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

04-08-2013 03:19:47 | More by cfrances33