Russian River Watermelon Funk

Formerly brewed at Russian River Brewing
Style: Fruit Beer
Santa Rosa, California USA

Draft @ The Bistro’s Barrel Aged Beer Fest. Pours a light copper/ yellow color with a white wisp. Brett is obvious in the aroma right away. Definitely funky but I have to admit I didn’t detect any watermelon in the nose. Flavor was very nice with some horse blanket and cobweb notes I usually associate more with the Belgian sours rather than American versions. Very dry with a pleasant watermelon finish.

Draft at the Bistro Barrel Aged Beer Fest 11/11/06 Nose of watermelon and barnyard; hazy gold coloration with a ring of bubbles on the glass edges; Flavor of tart watermelon, with some yeasty barnyard funk!

Tasted on tap at the 1st Annual Bistro Barrel Aged Festival. This wheat ale poured a slightly hazy gold color. Small to medium sized head. Aroma is fruity and funky. Lots of watermelon aroma with a whole bunch of barnyard funk. A medium bodied wheat beer. Malts are fruity and funky. Lots of brett and fruit. Crisp and clean. The funk and the tart mix and match to make this a weird and wonderful really unusual beer. Nice carbonation. Very crisp and dry. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is crisp and dry. Aftertaste is slightly sweet and funky.

One of few beers I got to try 3 times at GABF 2007. Served at the 21st Amendment table. Bitter, dry, with a light body but full of flavor. Nice tartness, fruit flavoring and some nice skunkiness. This would be a great summer beer in hot humid Texas. Please bottle this!!!!

"Draft". Golden amber beer with a little white head. Great tart aroma with some fruitiness. Dry, tart flavor with some good earthiness. It was called "Temptation with some watermlon" and I agree. There;s good brett with some added fruitiness.

Very interesting beer! Aroma of vinegar, wheat, apple cider. Taste has a very pleasing smooth tart and sour note that finishes with a suggestion of freshly cut watermelon. Not at all sweet though. Nice tang in the finish.

GABF 2007. Pours a mostly hazy, goldenrod yellow color with a small head of wispy white. Intriguing combination of fresh juicy watermelon combined with some earthy oak and a tight acidity. Light bodied, crisply acidic mouthfeel with a gentle carbonation. Excellent watermelon flavor with a hint of oak. A mild level of funky acidity comes through on the backend, adding complexity and dryness, but staying restrained enough in the background to allow the watermelon flavor to remain at the forefront of the palate. As a sour ale, I would like to see this with more acidity and funk, but as a fruit beer, this rocks. It’s got a great fruit flavor, wonderfully dry finish, and has a level of acidity that keeps it interesting but still makes it possible to enjoy as a sessionable beer.

GABF 2007: Poured a light yellow color. This actually smells and tastes like watermelon. Great sour component. Get the tartness but not crazy funk. I like this beer a good bit. Refreshing with the sourness. It would be amazing if it stunk.