Upstream Grand Cru

Brewed by Upstream Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Omaha, Nebraska USA

Red gold color with a small, quickly diminishing foam. Really complex nose, with hints of brett funk, barrel (vanilla, white wine soaked wood, coconut), as well as some hints of fruit. Flavor also has a lot of complexity. A lot of oak character and funkiness. Vanilla, white wine, funk and it even finishes well. I have had this beer a couple times this batch. The original offering was much less funky and I liked it more. This sample is quite funky, almost approaching sour ale, but it is still of very high quality.

Thanks for sahring a bottle, Mark. the body is hazy and rusty brown with a kahki colored head. The aroma was funky with some vinous character. There was also a little bit of blue cheese. The taste is largely funky cpple cores. Again, like the smell, it is also dry and vinous. Interesting.

Appearance: Pours a clear, mahogany-hued body with a small, white head. Smell: Funky, sourish, Bretty aroma of retired fruit juices and old, forgotten malts. Taste: Caramel maltiness with a surprisingly high degree of sweetness. This is offset by a grimy Brett taste and some sour fruitiness. Somewhat creamy oak taste on the sour, boozey finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: No thanks. Third beer I’ve had from Upstream and the first I rather disliked. 2 oughta 3 ain’t bad, though!

Name: Oak Aged Grand Cru
Date: 05/22/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

Appearance: hazy orange, wispy off white head,
Aroma: sweet malt aroma with lots of funky oak,
Body: creamy body,
Flavor: sweet caramel malt flavor, touch of fruity easters, lots of funk comes in along with the oak, light lasting bitter finish,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

Pours a copper color with a tan head. Aroma is malty, brett, honey, oak, citrus, and some vanilla. Flavor is oak, vanilla, honey, brett, funk, and a bitter funky finish.

Bottle 278 of 912. Brewed in Sept 2006, bottled in Aug2007. Pours a deep copper. Aroma is a little on the sour side. Flavor is a bit sour. Lots of tartness. Infected? huh.

Bottle at Paul’s Hoboken Gathering: Hazy copper pour with an off-white head. Very elegant in the nose. Oak, herbal characteristics, lavender, honeysuckle and light citrus hints. Very complex aroma. Creamy texture with an oaky flavor. Some honey, lavender, herbal spicy notes and more residual smooth oak into the finish. Complex and outstanding.

Golden-bronze colour. Oaky, caramelly, complex...a knock out. Sweet, oaky, balanced. Nice alcoholic signature. Full value.