Off Color Reine des Renards 4Pk

Off Color Reine des Renards 4Pk is a foeder-aged Flemish blonde ale from Off Color Brewing in Chicago, clocking in at 7.8% ABV. Named "Queen of the Foxes" in French, this wild ale distinguishes itself through an extended double-fermentation process involving a 14-year-old Calvados foeder and nearly 900 liters of raw apple cider — a technique rarely seen in American interpretations of the Flemish tradition. It holds an 86 rating on BeerAdvocate.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.8%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Foeder-Aged Flemish Blonde  |  Brewery: Off Color Brewing  |  IBUs: 14

Production & Heritage

Off Color Brewing, founded in Chicago, has built a reputation on reviving obscure and historical beer styles with modern precision. Reine des Renards begins as a Flemish blonde brewed with a grain bill of Pilsner, Vienna, and CaraWheat malts. It ferments for five months in a 14-year-old French Calvados foeder inoculated with wild yeasts, picking up deep oak character and funky complexity. The beer then undergoes a second fermentation lasting six additional months with 900 liters of raw, unpasteurized apple cider pressed from Northern Pippin, Northern Spy, and Golden Delicious apples. The cider was left unpasteurized specifically to preserve native flora, adding another layer of wild fermentation character. The result is an 11-month process that bridges Belgian farmhouse brewing with Norman cider-making traditions.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe pear and fresh apple dominate the nose, layered with a subtle earthy funk from the wild yeast fermentation. Underneath, hints of aged oak and a faint vinous quality reminiscent of Chardonnay emerge as the beer warms.

Taste: The entry is bright with tart apple and pear, quickly joined by a restrained sourness that stays well short of puckering. At mid-palate, allspice and a gentle oak tannin structure develop, balanced by a touch of malty sweetness from the Vienna and CaraWheat. The overall impression leans semi-dry, with the fruit and funk in constant dialogue.

Finish: Light to medium in body, the finish is vibrant and lively with lingering notes of tart lemon and dried apple. Oak tannins provide a clean, slightly drying close that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Reine des Renards

Serve at cellar temperature, around 50–55°F, in a tulip glass or wine goblet to concentrate the complex aromatics. This beer is best appreciated on its own, sipped slowly as you would a fine cider or lambic. For cocktail-curious drinkers: try it in a Shandy with a splash of fresh lemon juice to amplify the citrus brightness; use it in a Beer Mimosa alongside dry sparkling wine for a brunch-worthy blend; or mix a small pour into a Snakebite with dry cider to double down on the apple character.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates wild ales and sour styles
• Pairing alongside a fall or winter cheese board with friends
• Exploring foeder-aged and mixed-fermentation beers for the first time
• Serving at a dinner party as a conversation-starting alternative to wine

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Reine des Renards taste like? Reine des Renards delivers bright apple and pear fruit flavors balanced by a restrained wild yeast sourness, oak tannins, and hints of allspice. The body is light to medium with a semi-dry, lively finish.

How does Reine des Renards compare to traditional Flemish reds like Rodenbach Grand Cru? While both styles use extended aging in large oak vessels, Reine des Renards is a Flemish blonde rather than a red, so it lacks the deep cherry and malt-vinegar intensity of a Rodenbach Grand Cru. The addition of raw apple cider during secondary fermentation gives it a distinctly fruit-forward, cider-like profile that sets it apart from classic Flemish sour ales.

Is Reine des Renards good for sipping on its own? Yes — the complexity from its double fermentation and Calvados foeder aging makes it a rewarding sipper, best served at cellar temperature in a tulip glass to appreciate the full aromatic range.

Where is Reine des Renards made? Reine des Renards is brewed by Off Color Brewing in Chicago, Illinois. The raw apple cider used in secondary fermentation is pressed from Northern Pippin, Northern Spy, and Golden Delicious apples.

What foods pair well with Reine des Renards? Aged Gruyère or Comté cheese complements the oak and fruit notes. Roast pork with apples mirrors the cider character. Charcuterie with cornichons plays off the tartness. Apple tarte tatin echoes the fruit without overwhelming it. Pan-seared scallops with brown butter offer a rich, savory counterpoint to the beer's acidity.

What sizes does Reine des Renards come in? This product is sold as a 4-pack, which is the standard retail format for Off Color Brewing's specialty releases.

Is Reine des Renards worth the price? Reine des Renards positions as a premium craft ale given its 11-month, two-stage fermentation process and specialty ingredients. For drinkers who value wild ales and mixed-fermentation beers, the complexity and labor-intensive production represent strong value within the foeder-aged category.

Why Reine des Renards?

What sets Reine des Renards apart is the specificity of its process: a 14-year-old Calvados foeder imparts apple brandy-soaked oak character that no standard wine or bourbon barrel can replicate, while the unpasteurized cider introduces native flora that evolves alongside the wild yeast already at work. The result is not simply a sour ale with fruit added — it is a genuinely hybrid fermentation where Belgian brewing tradition and Norman cider-making converge over nearly a year. Few American breweries attempt this kind of extended, ingredient-driven wild fermentation with such precision, and the 86-point BeerAdvocate rating reflects a beer that delivers on its ambitious concept.