Bullfrog Beekeeper

Formerly brewed at Bullfrog Brewery
Style: Sour Ale/Wild Ale
Williamsport, Pennsylvania USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

UPDATED: AUG 9, 2011 Sample at the 8/9 Pgh tasting, thanks to Nate!
Opaque reddish-tan with a cream head. Nose is Bullfrog all the way, the cabernet and wood imparting to the earthy saison a delicate berry quality. The flavor is more tart, the citric notes and wood building on the sweeter berry and red wine notes. A little reminiscent of El Rojo Diablo in that earthy grass/plant note, but the sweet fruit (and possibly the aging) add some extra sweetness that balances off the edges present in the former. This is the signature Bullfrog beer. 949417

06/11 - Soft gush from the bottle, now shared between only a few so more to judge from. dark translucent red-amber, smaller cream head than blue cheer but more lacing, similar honeycombed layers going on with the head. Light paper in nose, clay, heavy berry-like wine, sweet with hints of bullfrog’s yeast but dominated by an apple and golden raisin. Flavor is particularly expressive cab savignon, light brown sugar, caramel apple and golden raisin. De Dolle with a bit less expressive yeast and more caramel/sugar. Palate is stunning, pleasantly effervescent with the mid showing red wine sweetness before the cab is on full display in finish, ultra dry to point of puckering but lasting endlessly and bringing a bit of the oak with it as caramel apple re-emerges. The wine imparts a light funk throughout the experience, particularly tannic acids in nose, but only lightest sour element. This is holding up remarkably, the cab savignon barrels expressive in the same way pappy shows up in GI Rare, awesome control of barrel-aging. Terry’s finest. 959519

Sampled from a 750 ml brown bottle this beer poured a murky brown color with multiple floating bits and a medium sized tan head that faded quickly. The aroma was tart and tangy cabernet sauvignon. The flavor was tart and tangy with notes of honey, nut and a strong cabernet element. The finish was long, tart, sour and winey. Fairly full bodied. The wine really dominates but in a good way. Very good.

Had this one at the RB Pittsburgh tasting, and my my..up until this point in the day, this is easily the highlight. Funky goodness in the scent with a pour that looks like apple cider. The taste is something that I can’t put into words except to say I wish all sours went for this. Thin/medium in thickness, high in carbonation. Just a fantastic brew.

Bottle at BCTC 2009: Muddy brown with bronze edges and a light tan dense film of head. Quite oaky in the nose with some buttery oak and apparent vinous qualities- currant like fruity hints. Fluffy feel. An acidic tartness meshes with some vinous qualities of blackberry, currant skins, buttery oak and a vinegary acidity. Complex and delicious.

This poured a medium brown color pretty cloudy with an off white head. Aroma was acidic, oak, and some sweetness i guess from the honey. Flavor had some nice funk to it, fairly sour but not overwhelming, and very smooth all around. Good sour and thanks to Nate for letting me try this one!

One of the many bottles of Bullfrog that Kramer brought to BCTC, and one of the ones I figured I’d never get to taste, so I was psyched about this one. Pours a lightly murky brown with a thin white head. Nice funky aromas, with some sweet honey notes behind it. Excellent mouthfeel, with great carbonation and a wonderfully big tang. Finishes off with some dry leathery brett character. Gorgeous.

I think this was electic who shared this at BCTC’09, thanks Kev. The best of the sour Bullfrogs. Aroma is lactic thick blueberry with an earthy sourness and a burnt malty corn thang. Cool stuff. Flavor is stingy sour (not acetone) over a background of lightly sweet malts. The blueberry was great in the aroma.

Huge thanks to pepsican, badbeer, and iowaherkeye. Caramel & chocolate in the aroma. Too much bile. Finish is harsh. Similar to Rodenbach Grand Cru, but not as sour.