 TAR (1998), Boulder Co., Colorado, USA
Apr 8, 2008
Caller-aged two years: Dark orange with a light haze. Creamy off-white head slowly disperses but maintains a fine ring and broken center. Bright and expressive aromatics of peach cobbler drizzled with coconut cream and bourbon. Lively hints of iron, balsamic vinegar, and pineapple upside-down cake. Minimal oxidation (sherry). Carbonation is soft and restrained. Impeccable attenuation is evident right from the get-go, as brisk notes of iron gently buckle the cheeks before meshing beautifully with the super dense core of vibrantly fruity esters and balsamic vinegar. Bourbon boasts its presence by exerting a forceful sharpness which effortlessly penetrates the sweet cakey malts while slightly offsetting the sweetness. Deeply satiating yet uplifting at the same time due to the artful juggling of sweet and sour. Never remotely medicinal or cloying, remarkably. Snappy phenols are perfectly placed and accentuate the airy aspects just as the tongue-adhering bourbon viscosity takes foothold. Barrel extractives (coconut, vanilla, soft tannins), are kept at bay due to the balanced complexity. Dryish brush of oak gently sweeps across the palate at the finish, both complementing and lifting the sweet nut- and straw-tinged maltiness while notes of iron and balsamic vinegar linger. Very complex and characterful. Quite reminiscent of De Dolle Oerbier Reserva. Alcoholic heat has lessened, and the beer, as a whole, has significantly softened after two years of bottle aging. Man, when this brewery brings their “A” game, it’s tough to think of merely a handful who happen to be as exciting. What a fun beer!
BlackForestCO (489), Fort Collins and Black Forest, Colorado, USA
Jul 6, 2008 Bottle shared by mentor, thanks Paul! Poured a clear golden-amber color with a thin off-white head that faded to a ring. Lightly tart aroma with some fruitiness (berry and light citrus) and some yeast and oak peaking through. Tart, funky entry leads into an overpowering lacto, almost sour milk flavor with some light brett and a moderate fruitiness. Smooth, but not really sour, unless you take the sour milk flavor into consideration. I liked regular La Roja better, and I was pretty let down by this.
Crosling (1628), Loveland, Colorado, USA
Jul 5, 2008 Orange color with a small, white head that leaves a light ring. Aroma shows a lot of the barrel with coconut, wild yeast and mountain fruit notes. Flavor has a lot of wildness, red fruit character, funk and a lot of barrel contributions. It’s a funked out sour ale with a lot of complexity. It’s a nice ale.
eaglefan538 (2039), Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Jul 4, 2008 Bottle from Styles. Pour was beautiful for an aged brew, nice off-white head over a fully amber body with some deeper reddish hues. Aroma was bretty funk, citrus, caramel, tart fruits. The flavor followed, everything coming together wonderfully from the aroma along with spicey oaky (cedar even) barrel elements, tart apples, and vanilla. This is up there with some of my highly liked Russian River products, and I’m incredibly glad to have had the opportunity on this one. Thanks, Chris, a generous bottle to have sent me!
Goodgrief (1013), Middletown, Delaware, USA
Jul 2, 2008 Cherry brown color with ok lacing even in my small sample (thanks to eaglefan438). Huge aroma of brett. The flavor was a wonderful brent of brett, sour and tart fruit and heavy wood and ash notes. Nice.
after4ever (1698), Brier, Washington, USA
Jun 13, 2008 12-oz. Opaque dark brown with slim off-white rim, not much lace. Enormous tart funky green apple nose. Mild, somewhat thin and still body. Big oaky flavors up front followed by light apple and dry leaves. Mild green apple tartness kicks up at the end. Soft, mellow, and beautiful.
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