El Cuatro by Ale Apothecary

EL CUATRO is made of barley and caramel malts co-mingling with lactobacillus and brettanomyces. After brewing and conditioning, the beer is transferred into brandy barrels to age for up to a year during an extended Brettanomyces Lambicus fermentation. Prior to bottling, the beer is blended with a small portion of year-old SAHALIE. The only hops added to this beer arrive from the aged SAHALIE. ?The brandy barrels and wild yeast fermentation give EL CUATRO a plum & cherry fruitiness balanced by the slight toast of the malt body.

Trillium Brewing Company Blueberry Super Soak

I am in drinking Blueberry Super Soak by Trillium Brewing Company, a Regional Brewery in Canton. Blueberry Super Soak is an American Wild Ale, with an ABV of 7.1 and IBU of 0. I gave this beer a 3.75 on Untappd’s 5 point rating system.

BREWER’S NOTES

Super Soak: our Soak series amped up with a bigger malt bill, increased ABV, and twice the amount of fruit as Soak. While still sour, the higher ABV in Super Soak serves to moderate the lactic acid formation.

We ferment the base beer with 60% wheat in large oak foeders for several months. Fermentation duties are shared gracefully between our house lactobacillus strain and our Native New England mixed culture. Loosely inspired by the cold-maceration process used in winemaking, we blend fruit directly into the foeders to “soak” for a deep extraction of unique colors, aromatics, and flavors and a refermentation.

Blueberries lend a tart, rich flavor profile, and a deep plum purple hue. The nose teases with aromas of blueberry cobbler, berries, and hints of baking spice. Moderate to heavy acidity is backed up with sweetness from the blueberries and a subtle earthy undertone.