Interlude

◎ Appearance

Interlude presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that clings to the glass with delicate lacing. The carbonation is gentle and refined, appropriate to the beer's contemplative character. Light plays through the beer with a luminous quality that suggests both the saison's brightness and the wine-barrel aging's influence.

◌ Aroma

The nose is complex and layered, opening with stone fruit notes of pear and apricot from the Brett, followed by warm graham cracker and toasted bread crust. Beneath these primary notes, subtle vinous undertones of plum and red grape emerge from the red wine barrel aging, mingling with the farmhouse character of the saison strain. A restrained herbal hop presence rounds out the bouquet without dominating.

◐ Taste

The palate opens with the fruity, peppery entry typical of saison, evolving into a nuanced mid-palate where the Brett's fruit complexity and barrel-aged tannins converge. Caramel malt and red wheat provide a subtle sweetness that balances the tartness of red grape and the wine-like grip on the finish. The bitterness, restrained at 28 IBU, emerges gradually and never overwhelms the delicate interplay of fruit, spice, and wood.

◑ Finish

The finish is notably dry and almost tannic, with a lingering peppery spice and gentle grip on the palate that invites contemplation rather than immediate quenching. The aftertaste carries echoes of plum skin and bread crust, fading to a clean, mineral dryness.