Panil Divina (Barrel Aged)

Brewed by Panil Birra Artigianale - Birrificio Torrechiara
Style: Lambic - Unblended
Torrechiara (PR), Italy

Serve in Flute, Stem glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Splendida birra a fermentazione spontanea in legno, la nuova Divina è meglio della sua corrispondente "morbida" (Red), sembra quasi un lambic belga.
Earlier Rating: 3/13/2010 Total Score: 3.9
Lambic italico? se la Divina normale non mi ha mai convinto più di tanto (pare un po’ verdura lessata), questa Divinatale dovrebbe essere la norma, altro che la specialità: se non fosse per qualche noterella di gomma un po’ spiacevole nel sapore, direi che può benissimo competere con la Barriquée Sour e aggiudicarsi un posto accanto a lei nell’olimpo delle (poche purtroppo) acide italiane "di classe".

Hazy blonde with a thin but lasting white head. Nice citrussy and brett aromas, some pineapple in there. Light body, lively carbonation, nice bretty character, fresh palate with its lemony dominance, mild bitterness that fits perfectly. Very refreshing wild ale-saison hybrid. Delicious summer brew.

Incredibly sticky large white foam remains dense on the glass as the level goes down and this makes for a spectacular showdown over the dullish cloudy pale golden hue. Very surprising nose, certainly wild and countryside-like with refined oak notes, but surprisingly agressive medicinal phenols that become tiresome after a whole bottle. Speaking of which, that unlabeled 750 ml bottle is beautiful, all in feminine curves and pretty much the 750 equivalent to the curvy Orval smaller bottles. Nice stuff although that is not so surprising from an Italian brewery. Back to the beer, it showcases a confident, refreshing citrusy character that fits the countryside cereals nicely. Attenuation is of course stellar, the beer being dry all throughout and despite that feature and the low alcohol level, it feels rather nourishing and filling, never feeling thin, I was surprised to learn this is lower than 6%. So all in all, we have a fun and relatively complex tannic ale loaded with farmy and lemony character, but a bit intense on the phenols. There is nothing quite like it, so it’s an achievement in today’s wide-spread brewing world, but I can’t say I appreciate it as much as Divinale for instance, their other attempt on the wild side.

In short: An intensely rustic blonde ale of some kind. Dry, citrusy
How: Bottle 750ml, split three-way. Mega-thanks to Fred82 for hooking me with this gem after I screwed up our order of that very beer
The look: Cloudy yellow body topped by a small white head
In long: Superb strong rustic nose, this is not lambic-funky, this is just intensely rustic. I often use my own description of “walking in a countryside field”, but rarely has it been more true than with this beer. Taste is loaded with hay and dry wheaty cereals (light sensation of Shreded Wheat™), some citrus fruits notes and that omnipresent rustic yeast character. I suspect the not-so-high ratings on this one is because it is classified as a Lambic. This is obviously no lambic. If I was to compare Panil Divinatale to one beer it would be a Jolly Pumpkin Weizen Bam, only less funky but more rustic (if that makes any sense). This is one fancy high-priced beer that I would love to session. It is very expensive but I will buy more bottles if given the opportunity because I have a great investment strategy. With the economy going down and homelessness on the rise, I’m investing my money in shopping cart manufacturers.

750ml bottle from IPB. Shared with glouglouburp.
Appearance : Light hazy yellow. Light lacing.
Aroma : Great citrusy tartness with nice light funk. Some wheat and malt.
Taste : Very citrusy and tart with nice malt and light funk.
Overall : Ok, granted this is not that close to a real lambic nor is it as complex but this is still a really tasty brew. I really enjoyed the intense citrusy notes and the great tartness. It sometimes felt like a blend between a lambic and a berliner weisse (you get the picture ?). Funk is very light but present. This was very drinkable and refreshing. If the price tag wasn’t that high and it was more accessible, I’d session this all summer long...

Bottle. Blonde, cloudy. Rubber, leather and citrus in the aroma. Moderately sour vinegar-like flavor with lemon, vegetable notes and rubber. Decent.

UPDATED: FEB 11, 2011 Bottled 75cl. An amazing beer. Definitely underrated. I reveled in each sip of this beer on a wonderful sunny day and didn’t feel like writing my impressions. Fantastic. At least a 4.2 for my tastes.

750ml bottle, bright golden color, with a white head, leaving some belgian lacing, mild yeasty, funky, wild yeast brettiness, dusty, barnyard, cobweb, wet oaky nose with some light tannic white wine barrel accents with some sour green apple, juicy, acidic lemony notes and some tart, subtle lactic, doughy aromas follow through on a medium-bodied palate with a light yeasty, acidic, fruity, bretty, funky, white winey oaky character with some sour lemon juice, green apple, faint rhubarb tart flavours with some lemon, grapfruit, zesty rind, tannic wineyness undertones with a hint of bready dough, wheat malt, lactic milkiness, leading towards a sour fruity, acidic lemony, white grapes mustiness, funky, winey dry finish

Bottle: Poured a lightly hazy yellow color lambic with a super large foamy head with excellent retention and some very good retention. Aroma of light barnyard with some tart notes and dominating french oak notes. Taste is also heavily dominated by tart notes with light barnyard notes and some dry french oak notes. Acidity is well balanced by light sweet notes in the aftertaste. Body is somewhat full with great carbonation. Very easily drinkable thought maybe not as much as a Girardin gueuze.

Cloudy yellow with a small white head. Aroma of grapefruit with funk and wood. Dry and tart flavour with fruit and grain.