The famous, and relatively young, The Bruery in California make some of my favorite beers I’ve tried to date. Thanks to Scott, I’m able to try another recent release, Filmishmish – a 5.8% ABV American Wild Ale made with apricots and aged in oak barrels. Their Wild Ale/sour program has been nothing but impressive lately, so I’m hoping Filmishmish follows suit.

Poured from the 750 ml bottle into my Bruery tulip, Filmishmish (isn’t that just fun to say?) has a hazy golden orange body, truly the appearance of apricots. On top is a fluffy foamy white head, only a little lacing is left behind and the head settles out into a thin ring around the edges. A few swirls regenerates a nice head though. The nose has tart and sweet citrus fruits; apricots, orange, lemon and some funk. A slight must presumably from the oak comes in towards the end but trails off quite quickly.

A rush of big apricot, passion-fruit and peach hit the palate with an incredible sourness to it. Midway and into the back end there’s a subtle oak note from the barrel with a bit of pale malt trying to perform a balancing act off the tart flavors. This is incredibly well done, thoroughly complex and very delicious. There’s plenty of bubbly carbonation to break things up and deliver the tart flavors to the palate. I’m happy to see this, unlike some of the other Bruery sours with no-to-low carbonation.

I loved this beer, it’s hands down one of my favorite beers The Bruery has ever put out. The apricot flavors worked so well with the other citrus qualities, and the oak provided just enough to break things up. Wonderfully done, I wish I could drink this beer year round. Thank you for the bottle, Scott!

Rating

97
out of 100