WHO: Odell Brewing Co.
WHAT: Ten Paces Huckleberry Wild Ale (6.5% ABV)
WHEN & WHERE: Ten Paces is available in limited quantities as single 750ml bottles across Odell’s 15-state distribution footprint (Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, Wyoming, New Mexico, Idaho, Arizona, Illinois and Iowa). This will be the last offering the 750ml bottles as Odell shifts its Cellar Series into 12oz bottles.
ABOUT: A bit of info from Odell: Drawing on the natural tartness of the huckleberries, this American-Style Wild Ale features a unique blend of yeast strains that produce a complex aroma of tropical fruit and clove-like spiciness while accentuating the deep fruit flavors. Among the characters of plum, grape, and fig, you’ll also notice this beer pours a beautiful deep purple hue.
Ten Paces is our tribute to the American West and all the things that make it wild. This beer harkens back to the days when Doc Holliday was gunslinging in the mountains near Leadville, Colorado. Drawing on the natural tartness of the huckleberries, this American-Style Wild Ale features a unique blend of yeast strains that produce a complex aroma of tropical fruit and clove like spiciness while accentuating the deep fruit flavors.
MY THOUGHTS: Thank you, Odell, for introducing me to my first ever huckleberry beer! It’s such a treat to drink a beer brewed with local fruit. We love our Palisade peach beers here in Colorado, and I’m thrilled that Odell decided to go with wild huckleberries for this fantastic new ale. This one is a great choice for those who enjoy tart, fruited beers with a bit of farmhouse funk. While not a saison, it seemed much like one to me. It’s brewed by blending Belgian yeast strains and Brettanomyces with the huckleberries, giving it an earthy funkiness. And, unlike some of Odell’s recent Cellar Series beers (Pyrus & Prunus, Brazzle, etc.), it’s tart but isn’t a straight-forward sour; you won’t find yourself puckering while drinking Ten Paces. This is one unique, complex beer, and I recommend grabbing one now before it’s gone!
