pFriem Pêche by pFriem Family Brewers is a fruited “lambic inspired ale” and is being evaluated as a Fruit Lambic (category 23F from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Lambics are known for their sourness and wild characters that are naturally (or “spontaneously”) imparted by airborne yeast and bacteria. Fruit Lambics impart an additional dimension to the beer with the fruit flavors (the fruit sugars can be either fermented out to dryness or the beer can be back sweetened). pFreim’s “lambic inspired ales” are fermented with a blend of Brettanomyces and lactic acid bacteria cultures and are aged in oak. Pêche adds Suncrest and Arctic Gem heirloom peaches to the “lambic-inspired ales” base.
Pêche pours straw in color with a slight haze and a fading rim of white head. The aroma is prominently wild with aromas of lactic, leather, and light barnyard; a hint of peach appears in the background and increases as the beer warms. The flavor is moderate lactic acidity with light funky flavors of hay and earthy. The beer finishes moderately lactic sour with a light peach flavor lingering in the background.
This is a very well-done sour beer. The sourness is perfect – not too subtle and not over-powering. The wild character is funky but not off-putting. The peach flavors could be more prominent, regardless, the peach flavors work well with the lactic acidity. Pucker up!