Tommie Sjef “Misto” Wild Ale with Grapes

Name: Misto
Brewers: Tommie Sjef Wild Ales (Netherlands)
Style: Wild Specialty Beer
ABV: 9%
Review Year: 2022

Tommie Sjef employed various techniques to use 624 grams per liter of wine grapes in this “Wild Ale” named, Misto. This beer was macerated on grapes and was combined with Tommie’s own spontaneously fermented wine. Backlog review from September 2022.

STYLE GUIDELINES

This beer is being evaluated as a Wild Specialty Beer (28C) as the base style in the context of the 2021 Beer Style Guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). The most current version can be found on the BJCP website.

TASTING NOTES

Aroma
Impressions of raspberry, passion fruit, and grapes dominated the nose with a hint of wine-like tartness
Appearance
Crimson with a slight purple hue; very thin white head.
Flavor
Dominant juicy-fruity flavor profile mainly of wild cherry, plum, and grapes with a hint of fermented and tart quality. A low mineral flavor was also noted, which enhanced the perception of dryness of this beer.  Finished a bit on the dry side with that mentioned mineral character.
Mouthfeel
Light-medium-bodied; moderately-high carbonation. Subtle tannic astringency.

THE VERDICT

Tommie Sjef’s Misto is certainly a wine-like wild ale. The grapes and fermented wine were definitely the backbone of this beer; it is acidic like wine but still quite drinkable. Mineral-like quality and tannic astringency are not uncommon for these types of wild ales and are acceptable at palatable levels. Overall, we find Misto as another excellent creation by Tommie– it is one of those beers that have a rightful place on the dining table.

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