Bullfrog Beekeeper

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

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

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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

UPDATED: JUL 26, 2010 Pours a slightly hazy chestnut brown, purple edges with a small soapy head and fine legs. Kind of understated nose of mild brett, wine barrel. Interesting brew here...sweet fruit, acidic vinous wine barrel, brett and lactic sourness, and a really interesting spicy quality intermingle nicely. Much different from my expectations. Chinese spices, like cloves and star anise, kind of swell up near the back palate. Somehow Oriental, with the cloves playing with these sweet and sour flavors. So different than any American sour, really such interesting depth and complexity at this age. As it opens a caramel and apple quality comes out. Depth of flavor is just endless. Freakin fantastic stuff, kind of makes me sad and happy at once.

[Bottle] shared by tytoanderso. Wow, what an amazing beer. Pours a cloudy brownish red with some floaties and a medium sized fluffy tan head. Aroma is fantastic, with lots of oak, some lactic acid, sweat sock, vinegar, some cab sauv character, and quite a bit of brett. Flavor has a nice even sourness all the way across the palate and drops off a bit at the finish to some woody and somewhat dry flavors. Very prickly on the tongue. This was an astonishing beer and unlike anything I’ve had before.

UPDATED: OCT 26, 2008 [BCTC 08] Poured a hazy darker golden color, with a small, white head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of alligator pepper, coriander, honey, toasted dough, some funkiness, and vanilla. Taste of sweeter honey up front, some mild funk, tropical fruits, sour grapes, light citrus, some dough, and a lightly peppery finish.

750ml bottle (thanks Tom!). I’ve had this before and glad I waited to rate it until I had time to really give it some justice. Poured a deeper and cloudy amber (almost brown) color with an averaged sized off white head. Lots of big floaters at the bottom of the bottle. Aromas were very and nicely vinous (Cabernet), grapes, woody, a little funky, and light honey.Tastes of the same vinousness, funky, woody, vanilla, cherries, earthy, and grapes. I was really into the Cabernet barrel aging. Lively body with a dry finish. I wish I bought a lot more of these when I had the chance!

Really pretty dark burgundy color with a long lasting, creamy white head. Really complex nose that displays an array of oak wine barrel elements (dark red fruit, funk, toasted oak,) hints of cherries and funk. Flavor is incredibly delicious, with an elegant vinous-like character. Cherries, grapes, dark fruits, oak, vanilla, toast, funk. Unbelievable beer!

UPDATED: MAR 2, 2009 Bottle from the brewery. Pours an amber brown body with a creamy khaki colored head with great retention. Vinous, amazing cabernet aroma, and wild yeasts and brett in this one. Flavor is a sweet but dry sharp cherry flavor with a complementary spice and woodiness to kick. Incredible beer.

Pours a ery dark mahogany chestnut brown color that is completely opaque with a frothy two finger pale beige head with excellent retention, only slowly fading into a lasting cap and ring. The glass is left coated with rings of soapy lacing. Very vinous earthy aroma with a lot of oaky tannis subtle vanilla and HUGE vinous red wine presence. Lots of dark fruit notes especially grape, sour dark cherry and plum. There is also a slight malt presence with maybe some chocolate. Very vinous slightly tart and puckering medium body that is not acidic in the least bit with a very prominent red wine flavor. Subtle oak and vanilla notes and some alcohol warmth in the finish. Lots of dark fruit notes, especially grape, dark cherry and plum. Sweet and vinous with slightly dry finish.

(bottle, thanks tytoanderso!) Pours cloudy brown with a lot of particles floating around and little to no head. The aroma is just excellent, and is very complex. Scents of cherry skin, oak, wine, peppercorns, nail polish remover, and some light floral honey. Wow. The taste starts out just lightly sweet and vinous, with some cherry and sweet honey, but this soon changes to a completely bone dry finish of oak and pepper, that’s interspersed with plenty of tartness that lingers long after drinking. The mouthfeel is medium. Just an excellent sour ale that leaves me wishing it was readily available. Well done, Bullfrog.

Pours a transparent dark copper amber with a frothy, well-lacing off-white head. Complex aroma of lightly sweet caramel malt and fresh assertive vinous cherries with some leathery funk and oak. Starts with a fairly full body with good, finely-dissolved carbonation and just the right amount of sweetness to balance the tart fruity vinous notes throughout. Finishes crisp and sweettart with lingering oaky character. Very well aged and complex. No surprise this won gold at GABF. It’s very reminiscent of the Lost Abbey Veritas beers and Cuvee de Tomme.