When it comes to session beers, there are more than a few options for Pale Ales and IPAs. Gose and Berliner Weiss are two low ABV styles that have become increasingly popular over the last few years as well. I’m always curious to try beers that offer a more unique take on what a sub-5% beer can be, especially if a brewery is able to do so without sacrificing a fully-developed flavor profile. Allagash’s belgian-style beers are typically some of the best, so when the brewery announced a new session seasonal, I knew it’d be worth a taste.
The beer is called Little Brett: a 4.8% brew that’s fermented with Brettanomyces and dry hopped with Mosaic, one of my favorite varieties. I’ll admit to being partial to that hop, and always being eager to try beers that are made with it. I’ve found it to offer a rather complex flavor of citrus while retaining that piney earthiness and hop bite. Little Brett is classified as an American Wild Ale, but as I found during my time enjoying a 4-pack, it drinks like a Saison. And that’s definitely a good thing.
Little Brett pours a golden yellow with a milky white head. That head fades almost instantly to a thin layer across the top, a cover that remains until you hit the bottom of the glass. Allagash promises pineapple aromas on the label, and I’m happy to report that description didn’t disappoint. There’s plenty of the fruit in the nose alongside some earthy Brett funk and mild farmhouse character. Honestly, the nose isn’t too far off from what I’d expect a session version of Pineapple Sculpin to smell like. There’s that much fruit and a solid dose of hops in the smell.