The beer ended up being several notches up from the samples from Redbud, and we were stoked. ![]() In fact, it did have some brettanomyces going on, but that was intentional. We figured we may as well taste the beer to make sure it wasn’t infected dreck. Colin’s original artwork mirrors and amplifies the distinct and unique beer within the bottle. That’s when we learned about the other half of Prairie Artisan Ales: Colin Healey, Chase’s brother. The beer had one of the most striking labels we’d seen in a long time. Chase had been clear that we needed to let it sit warm for a couple more weeks before we drank it, because the brett character wasn’t quite where he wanted it. But before even sampling it, we were nearly sold. Soon we received a few bottles of his first release, simply called Prairie Ale. After a bit of ribbing about stealing Ron Jeffries’ descriptive end to Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, we found Chase to be an affable and decent guy. He said he had moved on from his old job to do his own thing called Prairie Artisan Ales. Then, out of the clear blue prairie sky, we heard from Chase again, about 11 months later. We even sent in covert agents to infiltrate the noodling cults. We sent a search party down to locate him and they came up dry. Then, Chase sort of disappeared for awhile. At the time we weren’t blown away, honestly, but it seemed like there was real potential there. He sent two bottles of a barrel-aged pale ale or something. We can’t ignore such over the top flattery, so we decided to let him send us some beer. He was working for a company called Redbud and he said it was a dream of his to work with Shelton Brothers. probably never coming back at this point.When we first heard from Chase Healey in Oklahoma, it was via direct message on Facebook sometime in 2011. neat to get some more flavors coming through from prairie, but i miss the glory days of real wild ales from these guys. im shocked it was served in a pint, i didnt want that much of this, but i drank it down anyway. the flavor is nice though, especially the peach part. i dont need all the body, especially without much malt flavor, why do all of these have to be so thick, near still, and sort of sloppy feeling in execution. the cinnamon is cool for that too, its warming and all on the finish, makes this feel fresh baked. ![]() vanilla is strong in here, always weird in sour beer for me, and it adds to the perceived sweetness, but it also makes it taste like the dessert its modeled on, so have to take it here. i like how clean the sourness is too, lightly citric which makes the fruit pop, but little else from it, and its not overdosed. the nose and taste are similar, i dont get a lot from the pecan, which would have made this cooler, but the peach is juicy and sweet and bright, boldly dosed, all through the beer, even stays with me through the acidity this finishes with. it looks like graham cracker flour in water, dense, dull, orange tinted a little bit, but almost like paste or something, no head at all from the tap, although its cool to see this here in that format, not a pretty beer, but also not as sedimented as some of these heavily flavored modern sours are, no particulate, but it drinks weighty and needs more bubbles too. not sure there is salt in this, could just be a fruited kettle type not a gose, certainly doesnt present like a gose. ![]() Prairies dessert ones have been better than many, although this still lacks refinement for me, and as much as it does taste like a peach cobbler or something, it also seems a bit over flavored, untidy, and perhaps even a little unnatural, but no denying the taste is good, even if i think its still weird these are sour beers instead of just pales or blondes.
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