Panil Barriquée (Sour)

Bottled 2005 - What a find this was. I was looking forward to trying this brew. Poured a brown/amber color with a dense and persistent creamy off-white, almost frosting like head. Recognizable sour aroma right after I popped this cap. Flavor reminiscent of a Rodenbach. Sour, dry with distinct oak flavor. Astringent/grapefruit tartness typical of this style. Carbonation kept head throughout entire glass of this very nice beer. Who would have thought that Italy could produce such a Belgian-esque beer? Purchased at Ramsey Liquor.

750ml bottles (2 different vintages! this review is for the fresh version) thanks to geuzelover Clearish dark-brown mahogany with bubbly head leaving good lace. Some sweet fruity and bubblegum nose. Tart, brown sugar fruitiness, mild horseblanket, some cherry, apple, grape maybe. More tart than funk, but much more funky than something like Duchesse.

this was flat and dry, very delicate flavor. the sour was subdued by the dryness

Batch #8, 2007 Vintage, Bottle 1259: Pours a clear ruby with a large and clingy off white head that laces well. The appearance is perfect. The aroma is red wine, sour cherry, yogurt, wood (I can taste the wood, but not the cognac), and wild yeast - good points here. The flavor is funky, cherry, yogurt, earth, wood, and sour; very good as far as I can tell. The alcohol is quite hidden. There is great balance between the earthiness, sour, and sweetness from the fruit. The palate is quenching, very wet with less than moderate carbonation. I could drink a ton of this. Earthiness and cask flavors seem to amplify as it warms. This is very good. I prefer my Sour Ale to actually be sour and have lactobacillus characteristics like this one does. I had no idea Italy had anything non-grape going for it.

bottle shared by guezelover
’07 bottle Pours a ruby color with mild offwhite head. Smell is oaky and sour cherry. Taste is mainly the same two flavors as in the nose with no real offensive funkiness at all. Still tart and some vinegar qualities, but one of the more drinkable sours that I’ve had, for sure. Nice as far as sours go, overall I thought, but still not my cup of tea.

Bottle purchased for 17.99 at Corkscrew in Urbana, IL. I forgot I had this and wanted to drink this before it went to far downhill. Pours a muddy amber red with a limp beige head. Aroma of tart cherries, malt, vinegar, and wild yeast. Medium bodied, but on the weaker side as far as carbonation, with a thin but not watery texture. Earthy malt backbone of dark wheat and figs, countered by a subtle cherry sourness and dry woodiness. The finish is slightly acetic with some acidity, but does not annoyingly linger like many other sour ales. Oxidation has started to creep in here, so if you have any 05 bottles left, drink them up now. For a wild beer, this well balanced. I really appreciate that it was not overly acetic (like La Folie) or overly acidic (Rodenback Grand Cru).

bottle 0048, batch #8. Pours a nice foamy red. Nose is of vinegar, cherries, cranberries, and horsebanket as well as a thin metallic note in the background. Flavors of sour cherries and must are very pleasant. Palate is somewhat thin, but smooth and enjoyable. A very pleasant suprise tasted at the hopleaf.

I’ve been wanting to try this one for quite some time. Striking rusty color with a thin white head. Lots of lacing. Sour aroma with a background of cinnamon and orange peel. Very sour at the start of this with a good dose of tangy orange and a hint of lingering vanilla. There’s an odd red wine note at the finish. I enjoy how upfront this one is with its sourness. I’m a tad disappointed that the mouthfeel is so thin. Still very refreshing.