Cascade Brewing Figaro Ale
Cascade’s Figaro Ale was the second of six that I was lucky enough to purchase back in April. The Apricot Ale served as a wonderful introduction while this 9.1% ABV wild ale carries the relationship to new heights. This particular brew is a blend of strong Blonde ales aged for three months in Chardonnay barrels before additional aging on Adriatic white figs and Spanish lemon peel. Figaro, as a result, is a much more complex beer than the first.
For only having sat in those barrels for three months, there’s a strong vinous character going on within this brew’s ruddy depths. The chardonnay, at least to my palate, tends to be in the forefront a good portion of the experience — that is, after the mighty surge of tongue-grabbing sour tartness that greets you with every sip — while the fig and other influences linger gently in reserve. With regard to that tartness, Figaro is more potent than Apricot Ale, but still isn’t one-dimensional, allowing everything to make an appearance at some point.
While I liked Apricot Ale’s more approachable character, the dynamic and complex qualities of Figaro drove my tastebuds wild. That tartness, the vinous barrel influence, the figs, lemon peel, honey notes and a subtle sweetness late made for an incredible experience that I savored for a good long while after a tumultuous day on the job. This particular bottle was a 2014 project from the brewery, but I feel it could have sat comfortably in the bottle for much longer, making for an excellent, cellerable product.