Epic / Crooked Stave Elder Brett Saison-Brett Golden Ale

Epic Brewing Company’s latest barrel-aged beer brings something new—wild yeast. This brew is a collaboration ale with Crooked Stave Artisan Brewing of Fort Collins, Colorado. Chad Yakobson, Brewmaster/Owner of Crooked Stave, is well known for his skill and knowledge in the brewing of sour and Brettanomyces driven beers. The beer was brewed at Epic by the two brewers. Kevin Crompton, Epic’s Brewmaster, and Chad spent several weeks working on the recipe and selecting the proper Brett strains and barrels for the beer to morph from a golden Saison into a Saison-Brett Golden Ale.

Rel 1. - 8.8%

Rel 2. - 9.6%

Rel 3. - 9.3%

3.7

295 reviews

Salt Lake City, United States

Community reviews

3.5 bottle zt home Christmas 2017 pt1 ... light golden yelow .. thin white lacing ... soft dry floral lime herbal fruit nose ... light dry bitter herbal zezty fruit ...

3.3 Bottle at What The Funk V. Pours a clear gold with medium frothy white head. The aroma is brett and grape. Thin body, grape, funk, light tartness, dry finish, good.

2.9 Sampled on draft at House of 1000 Beers this beer poured a pale yellow color with a medium sized creamy white head that left good lacing. The aroma was dry, musty and very bretty. The flavor was dry, bitter, musty, very bretty and citric. Very long finish with lingering brett. Medium body. Ok.

3.7 Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, minimal patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, apples and pears, stone fruit, white grape must, oak, light earthy funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, off-dry tart warming finish. (4/5) A nicely done Wild, pleasant and interesting. It’s almost white wine-like with its fruit and wood notes, crisp body and gently warming finish. Problem is, I’m not that big a fan of white wine even when I’m drinking white wine. That said, I wouldn’t say no to another of these if offered, which is really the only test that matters, right? (15/20) 7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

3.4 It is light golden and clear. It has flavors that feature earthly elements, leather, and white grapes.

3.6 Bottle, shared at SuperBowl Party poker event. Hazy pale yellow, lasting white head. Herbal and funky, leaning toward grassy/medicinal, vague fruity esters come in late. Interesting.

3.8 Flaska importerad av FunkyF. Ljusgul vätska. Brettig smak. Jord, citron och stall. Örtig och torr smak. Frisk och fin.

3.7 Flaska från great wine wisconsin. Ljust gul med vitt skum. Syrlig doft av brett. Stall och citrus i smaken. Rejäl beska.

3.7 Golden pour with small one finger head that fades quickly. Good lacing clings to glass. Huge barnyard funk upon opening. Slight metallic scent in nose detracts a bit. Thin body. Little sourness. Grass, hay and funk. Pretty good stuff. Easy drinker for the ABV.

3.8 Pours light yellow quite clear, full on brett in the nose. Sweaty socks and horse-blankets. I always feel autumny with this kind of beers although right now it’s December. Light taste, displaying loads of brett and berries. Bit of vanilla. Nice smooth brett beer.

3.3 Tap at clubhouse BFD. Pours very pale yellow, white head. Aroma is very tart brett and lemon. bit of wheat and clove. Flavor is sour brett, lemon,wheat, clove. Not bad. Aroma is nice and bretty. The flavor has more of a saison presence than the nose. Not bad overall.

4.1 Bomber. Pours clear gold with almost no head. Aroma is sour funky farmhouse ale. Taste is sour, white wine, apple. Very good.

3.6 Tap. Pours hazy golden, minimal head or lacing. Aroma is loaded with Brett, clean, damp basement, hints of green apple. Flavor is dry, very light tartness, lots of Brett presence. A bit of apple and nail polish. Medium body, low carbonation.

4.2 September 14th, 2014 - Epic’s Elder Brett is a phenomenal funk bomb, fizzy and blonde, almost electric with energy. The aroma is slathered in brettanomyces scents, with pear, white grape and grassiness, with a squeeze of Meyer lemon. With all the acidic flavors, this might sound sharpish, but the acidity is restrained, giving it a luscious flavor that doesn’t strip hairs out of my nose. Good, mild sourness on the flavor, with a similar restraint, but a pronounced, powerful funk and cottony palate. There are some buttery notes too, with a perfect balance between those gentle esters and some savory touches.

4.1 Bottle. Pours a clear golden yellow with very little head. Aroma of Brett, light fruits, banana, lemon, sour grapes, sour wheat malt. Flavor of oak barrel, grapes, lemon, Brett, mild funk, diaper, hay, sour wheat malt. Lots of oak barrel influence, wine notes definitely present and add to fruity notes of the beer, light funkiness/sourness from the Brett. Very complex and delicious. 8/4/9/4/16 (4.1/5)

3.6 650ml bottle pours a clear golden color with a finger of white head that leaves some spotted lacing on the glass. Aroma is light fruits with some white wine grapes and yeasty notes. Taste is a light fruity and malty sweetness with a spicy and citrus hop bitterness and a dry white wine finish. Light to medium bodied with nice carbonation that pleases the palate. Overall, a nicely crafted brew that is well balanced and tasty. Recommended.

3.9 "Hello, my name is elder Brett..." Reminds me of the "epic" musical "Book of Mormon." Clear bright gold with a small white head. Aroma is nice, Brett, oak, barnyard funk, green apple, lemon. Nice mildly tart funky flavor, good slight sweet malt backbone lending mild sweetness. Medium bodied, crisp, lively. Quite good.

3.8 From the bottle at the Annex after wandering the Lake Blanche trail all morning. Bubbly gold with a small white head. Awesome aroma with sour notes plus brett and citrus fruit; makes your mouth water. Nice sour kick in the flavor but the finishes has more brett and a hint of bitterness. Pretty cool and complex.

4.0 Draft at Doherty's ale house. Pours golden with a white head. Leaves some lacing in the glass. Nice white wine notes on the nose. Lovely balance between the Brett and the saison elements on the tongue. Finished clean. Lovely beer.

3.9 Bottle 660ml. Pours blond with low white head. Aroma is of fruits, bretts, menthol, eucalyptus, pampers. Taste is of fruits, bretts, vanilla, pampers. Palate: Medium body, medium carbonation. Overall: Quite nice, bretty.

3.7 Bomber from Capone’s. Pours clear gold with frothy, white head. Nose is champagne yeast, hops, citrus, pale malt. Tastes dry, hoppy, white winey, with late apple and hop flavor. Solid, and a true beer/wine straddler.

3.7 Pours an unclear golden with a small white head that leaves good lacing. Nose is of earthy brett, pepper, fruits and slight oxidation. Taste is really fruity, funky and offers some light white wine angles. Pretty oaky, too, was this barrel-aged? Dry. Average body and carbonation. A nice fruity/vinous saison.

3.8 Bottle 65cl / Botella 65cl. @ Liquor Shop Yoshida, Toyama, Japon. A: Hazy golden / Dorado turbio. T/S: Sour, fruity, yeasty / Agrio, afrutado, levadura.

4.2 pours unclear bright gold with a small creamy white cap offering some retention and lacing. candied lemons, ginger, minty citrus, tropical fruits, celery salt, golden juicy maltiness, rather fruity bretts, white pepper. moderate carbonation, light body - oily; gently tart and spicy-citrusy finish. solid juicy tart brett concoction.

4.1 Bottle (22 oz). Shared by czar at tasting, thanks! Clear pale golden with a small white head, moderate retention, leaving little lacing. Aroma is nicely brett forward with bright fruitiness, oak spiciness, funk, white wine barrels, cider notes and floral notes. Taste is nicely funky with fruity brettanomyces, oak spiciness, herbal and floral notes, white wine barrels, hints of vanilla and grass. Medium body. Lively carbonation. Super fruity finish. Really good, easy drinking fruity brett Saison.

3.2 Blonde body, ring of head. Really pleasant sour bouquet with an appealing, airy tartness. Body tastes similarly of sour and tartness, but is a bit too intense. Overly sweet tart candy finish.

3.4 Clear golden. White head. Smells like church. Lots of wood and spice. Fruity aroma and flavor. Light dry finish.

3.7 Sample in less than perfect condition, Rel. #5 8.9% Almost no head; faintly veiled ochre-golden beer. Sourish, flowery, green fruit, natural perfume, lactic acid. Sourish, but also spicy/herbal flavours, pharmaceutical herbs. Light body, strange slickness, faint oily feel. Despite the leftover, still excellent sour ale, perfumey and delicate, Bretts unlike the ones I’m used from the States. Many thanks to L & M V!

3.8 655 ml. bottle sampled @ “Sir Goatie McGoat S&G Tasting”. Thank you Mathieu87 and/or PriorL! Dark hazy orange with no head. Nose is massive sour citrus, sour lemon peel. Taste is big sour lemon, sour yoghurt, some yeast, vinegar, light yeast, puckering. Body is a bit yeasty. Very simple, enjoyable, decent.

3.8 Draft at Sunset Grill and Tap Alston, MA. Crystal clear appearance, total and complete clarity, light head retention. Flavor has lasting Brettanomyces character throughout the sip. Traces of oak, light Funk in the finish. Body is correct for a golden Belgain ale. And even if you feel like it isn’t complex that is fine because it has a pretty good drinkable quilaty. Well made.