Une Annee Le Seul I 2Pk

Une Annee Le Seul I 2Pk is a 7.1% ABV American wild ale sold as a two-pack, brewed with tart cherries and cranberries using solera-method blending. Scoring an 88 on BeerAdvocate, this release from the Niles, Illinois brewery demonstrates Une Année's commitment to French and Belgian wild ale traditions applied to American craft brewing.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.1%  |  Origin: Niles, Illinois, USA  |  Style: American Wild Ale  |  Brewery: Une Année

Production & Heritage

Une Année operates out of Niles, Illinois, drawing heavily on French and Belgian wild ale fermentation techniques to produce beers that stand apart from most American sour programs. Le Seul I is produced using the solera method, a fractional blending system in which older barrels are never fully emptied, ensuring each batch carries forward the complexity of previous generations of beer. The addition of tart cherries and cranberries introduces a layered fruit character that integrates with the wild yeast and bacterial cultures developed during the extended fermentation and aging process.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright tart cherry and cranberry leap from the glass first, followed by a subtle acetic sharpness and underlying earthy funk from the wild fermentation. A hint of currant-like sweetness rounds out the nose.

Taste: The entry is immediately tart, with cherry and cranberry dominating the front palate in a manner reminiscent of pure cranberry juice. Mid-palate, a moderate acetic sourness develops alongside a gentle yeastiness, while currant-like sweetness provides balance and keeps the tartness from becoming one-dimensional. The fruit intensity peaks without overwhelming, maintaining drinkability at 7.1% ABV.

Finish: The finish is dry and puckering, with lingering tart cherry and a clean, slightly tannic grip from the cranberry. Residual wild yeast character persists, leaving an earthy, funky impression that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Le Seul I

Serve chilled between 45–50°F in a tulip glass or stemmed goblet to concentrate the complex aromatics. Le Seul I is best appreciated on its own to fully engage with its layered tartness and fruit character. For those inclined toward beer cocktails, it works well in a Wild Ale Shandy blended with fresh lemonade to amplify the citric tartness, a Kriek Royale where it stands in for lambic alongside a splash of crème de cassis, or a Sour Radler mixed with grapefruit soda to lighten the body while preserving the fruit-forward punch.

Best For

• Gifting a sour beer enthusiast exploring solera-method wild ales
• Pairing alongside a charcuterie and cheese course at a dinner party
• Sharing between two people as a special-occasion tasting experience
• Building a cellar of American wild ales for vertical or horizontal tastings

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Le Seul I taste like? Le Seul I delivers an intensely tart cherry and cranberry profile balanced by subtle wild yeast funkiness and a currant-like sweetness that prevents the sourness from becoming one-note.

How does Le Seul I compare to traditional Belgian kriek? While Belgian kriek lambics rely on spontaneous fermentation in the Senne Valley and often use whole cherries steeped for months, Le Seul I employs a solera-method approach in Illinois with both tart cherries and cranberries, resulting in a more layered fruit tartness with a distinctly American wild ale character.

Is Le Seul I good for sipping on its own? Yes — its complexity from solera blending and fruit additions rewards slow, contemplative drinking, though its assertive tartness is best suited to drinkers who already enjoy sour and wild ales.

Where is Le Seul I made? Le Seul I is brewed by Une Année in Niles, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, where the brewery specializes in wild ales made using French and Belgian fermentation techniques.

What foods pair well with Le Seul I? Aged goat cheese, as the tartness cuts through the creaminess; duck rillettes, where the cherry notes complement the richness; dark chocolate, which tempers the acidity with bitterness; fresh berry desserts that echo the fruit profile; and pork belly, where the sour character acts as a palate cleanser against the fat.

What sizes does Le Seul I come in? Le Seul I is available as a two-pack, with each bottle typically a 375ml format consistent with the brewery's wild ale releases.

Is Le Seul I worth the price? Le Seul I positions as a premium craft wild ale, and its solera-method production, extended aging, and fruit additions place it in a value tier consistent with other small-batch American wild ales — a reasonable investment for fans of the style.

Why Le Seul I?

The solera method is relatively uncommon in American wild ale production, and Une Année's application of it gives Le Seul I a depth of character that single-batch sours rarely achieve. The dual-fruit combination of tart cherries and cranberries creates a more nuanced tartness than either fruit alone would deliver. With an 88 score on BeerAdvocate and a 3.9 on Untappd across nearly 3,700 ratings, Le Seul I has earned consistent recognition from the sour beer community. For drinkers seeking a wild ale rooted in European tradition but distinctly American in execution, this release stands on its own merits.