Ladyface Ale Companie - Trébuchet

Of the four limited releases from Ladyface presented in this latest special offer for our Rare Beer Club members, Trébuchet is arguably the most out-there. Sure, Coquette has Viognier wine barrels and kumquats. Dérailleur introduces bière de garde to Mourvèdre barrels. And Flamberge had us referencing Russian River. But it’s the heftiest offering, a saison-like base with honey, aged in Sauv Blanc barrels with Lacto, that carries us furthest away from home.

There’s a cidery element when this is first poured from the fridge, like tart green apples, but this quickly develops into more of a honeyed, tart-lemon clarity as it’s allowed to warm up. A hundred directions to go from here. The crackling, peppery saison base forms a solid central platform beside toasty oak tannins, setting up everything that follows. The honeyed elements feel herbaceous, packed with fresh-cut grass, bright mint, plus an apple-pie richness that just never feels anything close to heavy. All packed into nectar-like generosity, like Sauternes and world-class ice ciders. There’s a firm acidity, for certain: lemony-custard tartness courtesy of the Lacto, plus the assertive grape-y whispers like chilled Sauvignon Blanc. So many interior notes between: vanilla and almond, grapefruit and red-fruit warmth, tight texture like lambic.

At 8.7% ABV (and with plenty of age behind it already), we expect to see Trébuchet hold up just fine with some time in the cellar. The zippy lemon acidity stands front and center in this one, hinting at lemon-minded pairings that don’t mind that tartness. Creamy vanilla desserts are one option, as well as heartier salads with a citrus base, or flaky white fish baked in breadcrumbs.