Saboteur: Brett Barrel Brown Ale

Odell Brewing Co. Saboteur Brett Barrel Brown Ale is like no other brettanomyces beer, it’s warming alcohol, smooth oak, roasted caramel malts, and refreshing pineapple nose are simply “Good.”

Good That s pretty much what this beer is. Oh, define it? Hm… well that’s tough because the Brits had all the resources to make this beer, that is if they would have only been willing to embrace the “crazy” Belgian techniques of the day when Big Brown Ales were substituted for meals by the Queen’s people. Instead, we as American Craft Brewers here in Northern Colorado, now get the chance to brew a style defying beer that embraces both our English brewing heritage as well as our Belgian-esque creativity…because, after-all, we can only brew “English-Style” beers for so long before we turn our back on tradition. As for the beer…well, it fills your nose with a bright fresh pineapple character and light peppery notes contributed from the brettanomyces yeast we add to both the fermentor and American Oak Barrels. Over time this pineapple character will continue to grow and evolve, providing a slightly dryer finished product and a more complex dried fruit character. The malt contributes rich caramel and toffee flavors with a soft warming alcohol character that exists harmoniously with the pineapple. Saboteur benefits from our Brewers’ careful selection of oak barrels with which we age a percentage of Saboteur before carefully blending the proper amount of barrel-aged beer back to provide a soft, vanilla mouthfeel which complements the slightly bitter roasted caramel malts. Add raisin, toffee and a slightly sour finish and you have defined “Good.” After buying a bottle of this beer, stop by your local butcher for a 1/2 pound of Buffalo Corned Beef and then by your local baker for a loaf of Marbled Rye, return home and enjoy a glass of Saboteur with a Reuben on your back patio as the evening draws to a close and the spring sun sets over the foothills.

ABV: 10.0 %
IBU: Doesn’t really matter because it is slightly soured