Lady of the Woods

The 5 percent beer, aged in oak wine barrels, has a hazy blond color followed by a sour fruit aroma, with powerful notes of smoke, wood and Chardonnay and hints of spicy hops. Sour fruit dominates the palate with oak and smoke. A little fruity sweetness appears in the finish, countering the sharp, sour notes. There’s a gentle hint of hop resins in the final flourish of the beer. This is a Belgian-style lambic with additional bells and whistles, challenging but rewarding.
- Roger Protz

The color is beguiling – a veiled yellow that seems to glow with a tinge of green. There’s no sign of foam, which should have been a hint. The aroma is brightly fruity, a bowlful of lemons, with a big overlay of horsey Brett character. No oak is apparent, so I take a sip and Zing! Whoa. OK, the label says “slight tang,” but there’s nothing “slight” going on here. This beer has a full-on gueuze-like acidic attack, leading to a sour orange center and long dry finish. This is a great beer of considerable complexity, but ignore the label and get the fresh sardines onto the grill.
- Garrett Oliver

Roger Protz
Author of Complete Guide to World Beer and 300 Beers to Try Before You Die. Respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. and www.protzonbeer.co.uk.

Garrett Oliver
Garrett Oliver is the brewmaster of The Brooklyn Brewery, the Editor-in-Chief of The Oxford Companion to Beer, the author of The Brewmaster’s Table, and a veteran host of more than 800 beer dinners in 15 countries.