Cascade Nightfall Blackberry

Brewed by Cascade Brewing
Style: Sour Ale/Wild Ale
Portland, Oregon USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

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Sampled January 2010
A solid, but softish pour from the growler yields a purple-pink stained, off-white colored head that is about a fat-finger in thickness. The beer is a rich purple, red-amber hue (almost like a plum) that shows a brilliantly clear, rich, cranberry red hue when held up to the light. The aroma smells of musty Brettanomyces followed by a light tarrtness and a very soft berry like fruitiness. My second draught of the aroma has me noticing more of the berry notes mixed with some spicy and tannic oak aromatics; much like a fruit forward red wine in fact. There is perhaps a hint of butter here, but it is not enough for me to tell if it is from the oak, or from some diacetyl.

Quite a bit more tart tasting than I was expecting, there is a significant berry flavor to this as well; both produce a really nice tart berry note. There is lots of carbonic fizz to this beer; it helps to lighten up this beer as there is still a fair amount of body left (at least when compared to sour beers). This isn’t bone dry either as there is just a hint of sweetness left that accentuates the fruitiness a fair amount. This isn’t heavy on the funk or Brettanomyces character as there is only a touch of up front mustiness and this has a soft’ish finish that sees some noticeable musky, barnyard Brettanomyces character that couples with some toasted oak flavors and light tannic astringency. This is actually quite a nicely balanced brew; the up front fruit and sourness is balanced nicely by the light funkiness and oak character in the finish.

At times this can actually have a fair amount of sweetness to it; especially after not having taken a sip of it recently. I like that there seems to be a complex, tannic berry skin flavor here that conveys much of the fruitiness of the blackberries. A summary sentence; Beatiful pale pink-purple head, with a brilliantly clear purple tinged body, the beer is a great balanced expression of tart-sweet berry, sour lactic acid, tannic, often lightly astringent oak and softly musty funkiness. Beautifully drinkabl, and despite the near-heresy, this has the faint sweetness that I wish New Glarus would aim for.

On tap at Cascade in Portland. 2011 vintage. Beautiful ruby pour, with an orange tinge and a small head. Mild aroma, vinous with some berry punch and sangria. Very vinous currants and blackberries -- almost herbal -- in the flavor. Tasty, but not my favorite of the Cascade brews.

On tap at the barrel house. Pours dark red with almost no head and a slightly sour berry aroma. There is a tart balckberry flavor that sticks to the palate. Refreshing and tasty

On tap @ the barrel house. Deep red pour with some white head. Lots of blackberry and currant aromas - flavor is vinous with dark fruit and wood. Earthy finish.

8oz pour at the Cascade Barrel House. Pours a deep reddish pink color with a light pink head. Aroma is fruity, berries, not sure if I smell blackberries. Light on the palate with lively carbonation. Flavor is tart, fruity, blackberry, With a tart, fruity finish. Tasty.

On tap at the brewery. Really nice garnet/ruby color with little to no head. Aroma is tart, fruity, vinous, some berry notes for sure. Flavor is very tart on the front and kind of melts into some sweet berry notes. Slightly musty and vinous. Good beer.

Pours a nice red color with little head but decent carbonation. Smell is crisp berry flavor, maybe a bit of raspberry too. Taste is very tart, the blackberry shows up in the middle of the taste. Drinkable and refreshing. Pretty good.

Tap at the Barrel House. 2011 vintage. Pours to a crisp winey colored translucent red. Aroma of blackberries and black currants. Has a leafy character. The flavor is black currants and juicy blackberries with green leafy characteristics. Tart but sweet palate. Medium bodied and clean.

Tap at the Barrel House - lightly hazy bright purplish red - zero head - nose of blackberry, plum, moderate acidity, light funkiness - a bit watery up front, but strong carbonation firms things up through the middle - flavor lacks complexity - mostly acidic, with notes of plastic/band-aid phenols, fruit is completely washed out by these - prickly, acidic finish - very light funkiness - meh.

32oz medicine jar growler courtesy of Tom once again... Growler opens with a hiss and massive foaming. Pours an enticing purplish lavender hue and a minimal soapy white head... Blueberry raspberry combination that is both sour with an accompanying fruit component... Flavors are much if the same. Blueberries more so than blackberries it seems - not completely discernable. Sour character is nicely developed with a nice and equally present. Lively carbonation and easy going body. Quite enjoyable and easy to drink.

On tap at Cascade Tasting Room with mcberko. Pours pink/red with no head. Aroma of soured fruits, red berries, and some floral notes. Flavour is of very sour red berries, some floral notes and dark fruits. There is a lingering tartness on the palate with some sourness also. Dry.