Style: Saison/Farmhouse (Mixed Culture & Brett)

ABV: 7.3

89/100
Aroma: 11
Appearance: 3
Flavor: 18
Mouthfeel: 5

Birds Fly South Ale Project Out Back Counting Stars

What the brewers say

Open-fermented, pitched onto hops and yeast at the same time for max biotransformation. Can-conditioned.

What our panel thought

Amazing aroma—huge pepper, citrus, and fresh tropical fruit grounded by damp wood-and-leather funk. Brett orange juice. Bitterness fights with Brett funk in the flavor, crowding out hops but leaving a citrus residue. Unbalanced toward Brett and bitterness.

What our editors thought

Contemporary NEIPA nose—replete with tropical fruit and citrus—punctuated by crisp Brett through line. The sip is soft and accessible, while pepper notes add a certain structure that keeps it honest. Juicy yet defined, it’s a curious syncretic approach.

Review printed in: Beyond Beer: Hard Seltzer, Hard Kombucha, and More (Apr-May 2021) (View All Issues)


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Birds Fly South Rustic Sunday

Funk-forward: spice, earthy Brett, barnyard, wet hay, wet stone, cannabis, and a weird green chili note. More green chili in the flavor; low sweetness, firm acidity, pleasantly tart. Notes of lemon, orange citrus, melon, pineapple.

Southern Tier Brewing Company Grand Arbor

**Aroma:** “Strange herbal character complemented by layers of malt sweetness. Prominent phenols up front. Orange and black pepper with alcohol heat. Spicy yeast character with bananas and maple syrup.” **Flavor:** “Sweet honey and syrup alongside lemon citrus. High caramel malt sweetness somewhat balanced with acidity. Light maple character, medium body, and medium bitterness. Dry finish with a carbonic bite.” Overall: “Very enjoyable, though a bit too sweet. Nice and complex. Balance is skewed toward malt sweetness. Sweet, but surprisingly dry. Gets better as it warms. Jagged.”

Birds Fly South Ale Project Czech-Style Pilsner

Subtle aroma—light sweetness, nuttier malt edges, zesty-floral hop notes. On the palate, a light and dusty bitterness, as light, clean, sweet malt pushes some floral-zesty hop flavor. Finishes clean and dry. Pleasant and bright hop character. Easy drinking. Slightly rustic.

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