Free State Eccentricity (2009 Release)

Brewed by Free State Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Lawrence, Kansas USA

Snifter from the tap at Free State’s 20th Anniversary celebration. A blend of different aged barrels. Smells good- definitely Belgian with fruit more evident when agitated. Hints of the whiskey are coming through. Deep golden with a solid white head. The taste was a wonderfully unique surprise, so many of my favorite styles all in one- heavy Belgian yeast, wonderful tartness that almost pushes toward sour, some standard Belgian spices but they’re hard to identify as the barrel aging which gives the beer a barleywine quality. (Maybe they aged some of this in barrels that previously aged the Ol’ Backus?) So much going on here, incredibly complex. Tart cherries, grapes, alcohol, maybe a bit of lemon. I don’t know that i would have guessed this was a wheat if i didn’t know it. The palate is great, too- nice tingle with creaminess and the heavy feel of alcohol without the burn on the way down. Very unique- i’ve never had anything like it. There were umpteen other beers on tap but i opted to just have another of these. Glad i did because it ran out on the next glass (it lasted less than two hours.) Hoping they have more of this hidden away. Now i just have to figure out who to bribe to find out when it will be tapped.

I hate the fact that FS teases people with this beer but doesn’t release till Friday when all the beer geeks have made there trip out. Luckily I happen to live in Lawrence. Unfortunately, I wish they had made more of this, so I can drink it all the freaking time. A snifter pour at the brewpub that is completely murky, I mean cannot see through it at all. Its all brown and thick, very dense looking. The head, oh the head on this thing, khaki colored and super strong, never fully subsiding. Aroma is BAM! All up in you. Its got sour brown rotting apples with lots of alcoholic grape and some melon. The alcohol accentuates the fruitiness and it becomes a cavalcade of craziness. You could feel the strong malty and yeasty Belgian aspects have been overtaken by some alcoholic barrel and sourness. Taste has a similar alcoholic spike with some effervescent sweet brown sugar with a heavy apple skins aftertaste. Layer of flavors playing off of each other. The mouthfeel was just ok, I was hoping something a bit thicker and slicker (more like their Owd Macs). I was blown away by this beer, highly impressed, I wish I could drink this again.

Finally splitting my ratings apart of the different versions. 2009 blended version released on tap @ Free State’s 20th Anniversary party. Pours a hazy dark amber, with a nice creamy tan head that drifts to a chunky ring, good retention and great lacing. Aroma is very floral, with almost a perfume quality, complimented by tart cherry, light oak, dark fruits, and grape skins. In some ways this was like sniffing a field of freshly bloomed flowers with everything else in there to compliment. Flavor is also highlighted by more floral, perfume, light oak and bourbon, tart cherry, sour grape and ripe dark fruits. The barrel-aging on this one is subtle and well placed, but overall this is a bit too heavy on the floral and perfume notes to really wow me. Very interesting. Happy 20th Free State! 8/4/7/4/17=4

[On-tap at GTMW ’09] Pours reddish-brown with a decent sized beige head. Aroma has a big barrel presence, vinous characteristics, and a good dose of some other fruitiness (that I couldn’t pinpoint). Taste has barrel again, but then the oatmeal stout really comes through, with chocolate, mild bitterness and some caramel. Medium-thick mouthfeel, smooth, and has a long dry finish. Very different and nice--would love to try in a non-festival setting.

Good lambic like aroma with some dill pickles and malt on the nose. Thick tan head, brown body. Rich and creamy with some cider and vinegar flavors. Dryish duration. Woody. Rich. Pretty good.

Great Taste, 2009. On a day with plenty of bourbon barrel beers, brett-based sour ales, and everything in between, this actually stood out for its uniqueness. I still can’t decide from my notes whether I liked it, as it seems to go a number of different directions. One thing though is that I think it needs some time to round out a bit. Onto the beer, the nose is particularly striking, making it clear that a lot of things are going on here. It reminded me on the nose of one of Firestone Walker’s complex, blended beers. On the palate, notes of caramel, butter, dried apricot, pear, leading into darker fruit and burnt toffee. It was a bit hot on the finish, with pronounced vanilla and wood. Interesting, and it would be fun to try it again by itself.

(on tap at GTMW 09) Pours a muddy light reddish brown with a light tan head that retains throughout the course of consumption. The aroma is certainly unique, but not all that appealing, with some hay, must, damp wood, lightly vinous, with a bit of brown sugar and apple skin. The taste is better, with a bit of blueberry, plenty of oak and salt, with an unidentifiable spice note (cinnamon?) and burnt caramel. The finish is quite dry and full of yeast. The mouthfeel is medium with light carbonation.

(Draught) Pours a cloudy amber-brown body with a tall creamy beige head. Aroma of insect repellent, florals, melon, green apple, vanilla, and herbs. Flavor of grass, Belgian yeast, molasses, cherry, alcohol, spices, and oak. It is a bit hot now, but will likely age nicely.