 ClarkVV (3547), Allston, Massachusetts, USA
Nov 21, 2004 Updated: Dec 15, 2006
First beer of the gathering. Not sure the date on this one (was it last made in 2000?) Bottle @ the Gathering. I believe Eyedrinkale or Jeffin7 brought this, not sure. Pours a dark ruddy orange/caramel color with some haziness perhaps?. Small beige head. Aroma is highly pungent: Cherries, wood, resinous earthy notes. Great intensity on the aroma as well, even after the bottle had sat open for some time. Flavor of cherry pits, more wood (oak,balsa, cedar) earth, lightly sour yeast. But overall, wow, this is surprisingly tame. I expected to be puckering my lips after this one. Moderately sweet, medium to medium-full body, sticky palate up front but light tingly carbonation, loosens the palate (not too much so). Lightly sweet toffee, maple and cherries mixed with citrus linger on the finish. Regardless of how old this bottle is, it is has aged very nicely and shows no oxidation or thinning. 9/4/8/4/17
Rerate from a bottle shared with Eyedrinkale in August 2005. This was the most full bodied, succulent, well-aged treat I’d had in a while. No syrupiness, not overly sweet. Perfectly sour and quenching with huge amounts of flavor and a long, lingering bacteria/musty/yeasty finish. Sour, but not TOO sour (if there is such a thing as too sour). Dry, vinegar and balsa/cedar notes, with light chocolate and prunes and brown sugar. Wonderful mouthfeel of tiny, tiny, bubbles popping in the mouth nicely. Out of this world! 9/4/10/5/19
Rating is an average of the three bottles I’ve had, though I’m tempted just to use the most recent. We’ll see how the next couple of bottles taste.
BDR (1929), Roseville, Minnesota, USA
Oct 7, 2008 This was hanging on better than I’d heard. Hazy copper color with cherries, brown sugar, and pitted fruits. A smooth body with similar flavors and the faintest hint of banana marring the otherwise fantastic body. A very thick mouthfeel.
santoslhalper (193), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Oct 3, 2008 1996 bottle, I think. Reddish amber body with a thin fizzy head. Very fruity, oaky and sour smell with some grapes, cherries, chocolate, raisins and lemons. The taste is incredibly fruity with a strong sour back. Cherries, dates, plums, oak, lemons, oranges, chocolate, raisins, and tons more. Complex, and aging great. Can’t wait to have another bottle in 10 years!
dpjuart (572), Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA
Oct 1, 2008 9/17/08 - Courtesy of santoslhalper, shared with Exec Board. ’96 bottle. Pours orange/amber with red hues, eggshell, fizzy head that reduces quickly to a thin, rimming film. Nose is caramel, raisin, figs, chery and mild chocolate - slight sherry notes. Taste is lots of cherry with caramel notes, leading to a candied chocolate, nice crisp tartness fro mthe sour cherry. Very, very solid beer. Yummy in the tummy. Thanks for the treat, Jon.
JMFG (1173), Florida, USA
Sep 27, 2008 Courtesy Beerlando. Cloudy copper-brown color, a little soapy white head. Some creamy dark fruits, mild oak, a healthy sweet component set off by lactic tartness. Sweet oak and sour cherry notes dominate the taste with nice lingering tartness on the back end. Good balance, great flavors.
Beerlando (1354), Orlando, Florida, USA
Sep 10, 2008 Pours very lightly hazy, almost transparent, and ruby red in color. A small, foamy, cream colored head leaves soapy spots of lace behind. The aroma is absolutely fantastic, notes of intense, sour cherries meeting sweet, fruity malts, vanilla, and sour lactose. Hints of worn leather, brown sugar and dark, sweet and sour fruits permeate. Flavors show even more sourness, tart cherries and lactic acidity screeching through the sweet fruits, oaky vanilla and lightly musty yeast lending complimentary depth. Medium bodied with light to moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is stellar for a brew of this age. Overall, this one lived up to the hype for me. It’s a simply fantastic brew that should be put back into production ASAP.
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