Magic Hat Belgian Sour Red Ale

Formerly brewed at Magic Hat Brewing Company
Style: Sour Ale/Wild Ale
South Burlington, Vermont USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

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Draught at EBF on 2/10/07
Huge, foamy white head is flecked with light beige notes. Hazy pinkish-red body is quite pale with a slight beige tint. Extremely strong retention and sticky, profuse lacing.
Very tart, poignant nose is full of dry, sour cherryskins, extremely tart phenols (lime, grapefruit, band-aid) and heavy oak tannins adding a blandness that soaks up some of the acid and tartness. Yogurt and grapefruit rind dominate with only moderate cherry juiciness and minimal malt sweetness. Highly attenuated, low alcohol apparency. Aroma would be stronger without the dull tannin and nutty yeast.
If the aroma is a bit dulled and overly dry/phenolic, the flavor is full of compound flaws. Diacetyl and heavy phenolics give a buttery-sourness? Cherry juice flavors and wood, with light honeyish malts, but the phenols, sharpness and streak of butter all combine to completely ruin any pleasure that might be found. Aerated, highly carbonated mouthfeel exposes highly sour yeast notes on the finish.