For today’s beer, 50+ GABF medal-winning Firestone Walker Brewing drew inspiration from Belgian Gueuze legends like Cantillon and 3 Fonteinen. So it’s no wonder the resulting Sour Opal rose to BeerAdvocate’s Top 100 Wild Ales in the world.

Sour Opal is aged in French Oak Viognier Wine Barrels for vinous Chardonnay-like character brightened by tangy notes of tangerine and lime. Meticulously blending both young and mature Wild Ales (some as old as 50 months!), its complexity evolves for over a year, producing wood-derived aromas of coconut and Tahitian vanilla. Sip slowly as Sour Opal galivants along the palate with musky apricot juices and subtle nuances of spiced earth.

Because of its time-intensive brewing, blending, and aging processes, Sour Opal is one of Firestone Walker’s more limited releases -- with only 3000 cases brewed. It’s delicate enough to compare to the most graceful Gueuze-style Lambics, but its fruit forward, funky American foundation has enough unique intensity to give you gueuze-bumps!

Rated 4.22 on Untappd; 4.29 on BeerAdvocate