Whiner Le Tub 6Pk

Whiner Le Tub 6Pk is a 6.4% ABV tart farmhouse ale sold as a six-pack of 12 oz servings from Chicago's Whiner Beer Company. What distinguishes this saison is its blending technique — a tart farmhouse base married with 10% Cabernet barrel-aged house saison, earning an 87 score on BeerAdvocate.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.4%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Tart Farmhouse Ale / Saison  |  Brewery: Whiner Beer Company

Production & Heritage

Whiner Beer Company operates out of The Plant, a repurposed industrial facility in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood. The brewery draws heavily on Belgian tradition, employing alternative yeast fermentations and bacteria — specifically Lactobacillus alongside a saison yeast strain — to achieve Le Tub's signature tartness. The beer is hopped with Centennial and Amarillo, then blended with a 10% portion of Cabernet barrel-aged house saison, a technique that layers wine-barrel complexity onto the bright, acidic farmhouse base.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Tart lemon zest leads, followed by funky yeast character and a subtle white grape quality. A faint earthiness emerges as the beer warms, anchoring the brighter aromatics.

Taste: The entry is crisp and juicy, immediately delivering a lemony tartness that stops well short of puckering. Mid-palate brings white stone fruit, sour wheat, and green apple alongside interesting wild yeast funk. Cherry and white grape notes weave through, lending the blended Cabernet barrel influence a quiet but discernible presence.

Finish: The finish turns decidedly funky, with renewed tartness, a flicker of white pepper, and a touch of warming alcohol despite the modest ABV. It fades clean and dry, inviting the next sip without lingering heaviness.

How to Drink Le Tub

Le Tub is best served chilled, around 45–50°F, in a tulip glass or stemmed goblet that concentrates its aromatic funk. Straight from the can or bottle works perfectly for casual drinking. For cocktail-curious drinkers: try it in a Shandy with fresh lemonade to amplify the citrus tartness; use it in a Saison Spritz topped with dry sparkling wine and a lemon twist for a low-ABV aperitif; or build a Farmhouse Michelada with hot sauce, lime, and a pinch of salt, where Le Tub's acidity replaces the usual lager to striking effect.

Best For

• Summer cookouts where a refreshing, food-friendly beer outperforms heavier craft styles
• Introducing wine drinkers to sour and farmhouse ales through the Cabernet barrel bridge
• Pairing nights exploring tart beer alongside charcuterie and soft cheeses
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast interested in Belgian-inspired American brewing

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Le Tub taste like? Le Tub delivers crisp lemon tartness, white stone fruit, and green apple layered with funky wild yeast character. The 10% Cabernet barrel-aged blend adds subtle grape complexity and a dry, peppery finish.

How does Le Tub compare to Hennepin by Brewery Ommegang? Both are American-brewed farmhouse ales, but Le Tub leans noticeably tarter due to its Lactobacillus fermentation and barrel-blending technique. Hennepin tends toward a more traditional, spice-driven saison profile without the sour element or wine-barrel influence.

Is Le Tub good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its moderate 6.4% ABV and balanced tartness make it highly sessionable without overwhelming the palate. It drinks clean and refreshing, especially well-chilled.

Where is Le Tub made? Le Tub is brewed by Whiner Beer Company at The Plant, a sustainable food and agriculture campus in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood on the city's South Side.

What foods pair well with Le Tub? Soft-ripened cheeses like Brie or Camembert mirror its creamy tartness. Grilled shrimp benefits from the citrus acidity. Charcuterie boards with cured salami play off the funky yeast notes. Green salads with goat cheese and vinaigrette echo its bright, sour profile. Lemon tarts or fruit galettes make a natural dessert pairing.

What sizes does Le Tub come in? Le Tub is commonly available as a six-pack of 12 oz cans, which is the standard retail format from Whiner Beer Company.

Is Le Tub worth the price? Le Tub positions as a mid-range craft beer, and its barrel-blending process and mixed-culture fermentation represent genuine production complexity that many beers at this price tier do not attempt. For fans of tart farmhouse ales, it delivers strong value.

Why Le Tub?

The defining feature here is the blending — that 10% Cabernet barrel-aged saison folded into the tart farmhouse base is not a common technique among American farmhouse brewers, and it creates a layered drinking experience that a straight saison cannot match. Whiner's commitment to Belgian-inspired bacteria and alternative yeast fermentations gives Le Tub an authenticity that separates it from the wave of kettle-soured beers that dominate the American tart ale market. With an 87 on BeerAdvocate and over 12,500 ratings on Untappd, it has built a consistent following among drinkers who value subtlety over shock-factor sourness. For a 6.4% ABV beer, it carries a surprising depth of flavor without sacrificing the drinkability that makes farmhouse ales so enduring.