 kepano (239), Meudon, France
Oct 28, 2005 Updated: Dec 17, 2005
I would be lying if I said this brew wasn’t one of the paramounts of my beer tasting experiences so far. It is not the best I’ve had, nor is it revolutionary in its style. However it has been long on my list, building anticipation and it did not disappoint. Since I’ve been in Colorado it has been one of my goals to get a hold of this precious elixir. It was not a cheap acquisition at $20 a bottle, but I can surely say it was worth it. My experience with sour ales is admittedly narrow, with Rodenbach’s Grand Cru as the only representative. Yet their mysterious flair has only furthered my curiosity and appreciation of the genre. The pour was exciting and truly a stressful experience, one only matched by fine wines. The hue is difficult to describe without remaining in the realm of clichés, but I would call it a dark Cognac orange. The liquid was clear yet deep and nearly opaque, a very mesmerizing effect. Like looking into a cedar abyss. A frothy custard-colored head rose above to slowly diminish leaving thick airy lacing. The aroma is sharp as a blade, I was almost afraid my nose would be sliced off if I got too close. Sour apples and cherries, Champagne, generous brown sugar and a slight metallic twang resonate in the nose. The fragrance is simply delectable. As I took my first sip, I noticed the carbonation was not as lively as I had expected - pleasantly so. This Flemish Sour is surprisingly smooth and creamy, a quality I wouldn’t expect to match the intense tartness. Vanilla, oak and light banana notes add to the effusive bouquet. Every sip is a wrapped gift that slowly unveils itself in your mouth. As it moves back in forth on your tongue, you uncover different parts of the flavor. When I finally swallowed, the acerbity left me grinning with pleasure and warm satisfying sensation ran through my veins. The finish seems to last forever and the light sour aftertaste lingers until your next sip. A remarkable brew by New Belgium which I hope to enjoy again some day.
drpimento (796), La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA
Nov 10, 2009 Thanks to dear Pablo B. for this sample bottle. No doubt at all that it’s a sour ale. Poured with a nice light tan head and good lace. Color is a lovely clear mahoganey. Aroma is very clean, tart, refreshing. Flavor is a giant sour Belgian ale, more like a geuze than a Flemish. Good body and great carbonation. Finish is so tart to say anything other than that. Not a session.
fidel (887), Livermore, California, USA
Nov 8, 2009 Poured dark amber brown, tart fruit, malty, caramel, wood, little dark fruits in the finish.
SSSteve (2049), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Nov 8, 2009 bottle. deep, dark, purple, garnet. this is the most sour thing ever. immediate heartburn sets in as the stomach acids eat away my throat. vinegar, tart berries, citrus acid, and maybe caramel. painful to drink. not sure if this needs to age...but i just can’t handle this stuff as sour as it is right now.
jhumphries69 (718), Tyrone, Georgia, USA
Nov 8, 2009 22oz bomber. Pours a deep amber brown with a medium-sized short-lived head. The aroma has some toffee malt sweetness, some funky fruitiness (rhubarb, sour cherry), and a strong dose of sourness with an acetic bite. The flavor is such a mesmerizing dichotomy: acidic through and through with some funky and earthy sourness, but also quite malty with notes of chocolate malts and other dark malts. Unfortunately, the sourness begins to take over after several sips, which makes the beer a little more one-dimensional, unfortunately softening/hiding the beautiful nuanced maltiness. The finish is sour and earthy with strengthening notes of vinegar, but also some sour fruit characteristics. There are pleasant notes of dark malts and toast in the finish, too - just barely fighting their way through the sour. The mouthfeel is acidic and crisp, like a tart sparkling cider - but with a little more vinegar-acetic quality. Overall, a very pleasant sour ale. The sourness is quite intense at times, but the beautiful malt character layered underneath saves it from being too sour or unpalatable. Funky and interesting for sure.
cking (1012), North Canton, Ohio, USA
Nov 8, 2009 Perhaps it was just the right time for this to be the right beer, but I truly think this is just one remarkable sour that would never let me down. Dark caramel, amber-brown colored body with a filmy head and minor spots of lacing. Amazing acidic aroma of tart cherries, red wine and comforting vinegar. Medium bodied and the sourness attacks the taste buds, it’s a full on assault, very zesty feeling. Sips wonderfully and makes the mouth water wishing for more. Prominent sour cherry flavor with a sour mash and woody taste. Port wine that has started to turn perhaps. This is a wonderful creation, one of the richest and all around pleasing sour ales I’ve tried to date.
msante79 (785), Orland Hills, Illinois, USA
Nov 7, 2009 Bomber from Binny’s River Grove. Pours dark ruby brown with tan head. Aroma is tart cherries and wood. Flavor is sour cherries, wood, and some dark fruit. Mouthfeel is medium with good carbonation. This is sour but not over powering. This is pretty damn solid but not quite on the level of supplication in my opinion.
beergod (97), Houston, Texas, USA
Nov 4, 2009 This beer pours a very dark rusty copper with a nice head that quickly fades. The nose is of a smokey tamarind with a hint of a chilli spice.Flavor is spicy,dark plum ,very intresting and unique.Body is medium and all in all this is a must try.
CheersMate1 (770), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Oct 30, 2009 Welcome to Atlanta! Holy shit, this beer was at Mac’s liquor store on West Peachtree; last one too! Nice dark color. Dark brown with a slight ruby hue. The head fades away quickly. Sharp sour ale, without the fruity sour aroma. Very acute sour aroma. Wood is not a very big factor in this one at all, but I can slightly smell it. Mild cherry aroma, as others have said. Very sharp sour flavor that dies out rather quickly. Doesn’t have that nuanced fruity, yeast, sour flavors as other sours do. Wood is really not a big factor at all. Sour going down, but again short-lived. Decent sour beer, but not the best.
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