Hopfenstark Framboise Forte Édition Spéciale (Oak Aged)

Brewed by Hopfenstark
Style: Fruit Beer
L’Assomption, Canada

Very special beer, lots of unique character. Opaque reddish pink with a departing head of slightly paler shade. An extremely phenolic offering which wears it nicely, but for the insistent plastic note that gives way solely because of the massive quantity of raspberries in there. The yeast has done a good job at attenuation because this would otherwise feel quite candy-like. Still, the palate is robust, medium-full, cerealic and hay-like. Perhaps its most astonishing feature remains the incredible drinkability – I could have believed that this is under 5%.

My Bottom Line:
The citrusy component of plump raspberries flourishes within the oak barrel’s inherent sagacity, as bubblegummy yeast phenols colour this highly quenching and pleasantly tart Raspberry Saison.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A slice of foam coers the cloudy pink red.
-Alcohol is absolutely absent in the flavor profile, so this can become a very treacherous beer; it is so drinkable!
-Cereal sweetness fits perfectly with the Fruit Loops-like yeast phenols.
-This one definitely shares affinities with some Jolly Pumpkin creations.
-The tartness and fruitiness are definitely reminiscent of Dieu du Ciel’s Solstice d’Été berliner weisse series. And that’s a good thing. ;)
-This is much more complex and even more enjoyable overall than their regular Framboise. The fact that there are 5 times as many raspberries as there are in their regular Framboise must help...

From the bottle at the brewery tasting room.

Bottle. Bright red colour with a light pink moussey head. Aroma is very oaky and vanillaish with lots of buttery chardonnay-like character. As it warms there is a lovely light raspberry fruitiness that comes out. Light leathery aroma and a touch of lemony citrus on the back. Light acidity that accentuates the crisp dryness of this beer. It’s sort of like drinking prosecco, with the same level of drinkability. As it warms more of the raspberry aroma comes out of the glass. I would love to be able to get my hands on more of this stuff.

A pink rosy beer with a thin big bubbled white head. Very nice barnyard and raspberry aroma, strong Brett, and acids. Effervescent and tart in mouth, raspberry meeting Brettanomyces, woody notes and aged cheese. Rich and interesting. Thanks Hopfenstark! Bought at brewery.

Sour aroma is almost lambic-like but there are some sweet vanilla notes and an almost floral. soap-like component. Hazy amber coloured body is topped by a thin, white, large bubbled, fully diminishing head. Tart raspberry flavour with some lactic character. Wheat and raspberries linger in the aftertaste. I’m getting more fruit than funk but the underlying character is certainly Belgian inspired. Medium-light body with moderate unobtrusive carbonation that neither helps nor hinders enjoyment. Tulip glass. Bottle purchased at the brewery Jun-08.

Limited edition enjoyed at Mondiale 2008. This is the raspberry juiced beer aged for 3 months in oak, . The aroma is of the oak. The woody taste dominates. Much more enjoyable than a fruit beer.

Bottle. Shared by the brewer, Fred @ Hopfenstark himself - thankyouthankyou! - Great guy - go buy his beer!. Hazy peach-coloured pour with a small drizzly head - looks like a friggin lambic!! Wonderful aroma - goddamn this guy makes great beer - acidic and lemony raspberry sourness, funky and sweetly oaky, definite tannins in there. The taste follows but even more acidic - very fruity and sour, and the oak deftly complements the overall character rather than overwhelms it. Slick, still body, decidedly alcoholic but I was amazed that the malt and fruit carried right through to the long, tart finish without fading. No word of a lie, this is GOOD STUFF, complex, refreshing, smooth and subtle. Please make more - then send me some!!

2008-04-01. Hazy pink grapefruit coloured body with very little head (3+). Lightly must aroma, interesting fruit character - tart, mild funk, mild raspberry, something that insists that it is pineapple but I don’t believe it. (7+) Pleasantly fruity flavour, less funky than implied by the aroma. Lightly tart sour undertones, refreshingly so. (7+) Average to light bodied palate seems to suit it. (3+) Solid. Rather nice. Bottle generously shared by a friend