Confounded Mr. Sisyphus
Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project

Confounded Mr. SisyphusConfounded Mr. Sisyphus
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From:
Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Belgian Pale Ale
ABV:
7%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.89 | pDev: 8.23%
Reviews:
47
Ratings:
55
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 07, 2013
Added:
Jun 18, 2009
Wants:
  36
Gots:
  2
We brewed this beer as a single batch in 2009, our first full year of brewing. We only brewed it once, then we decided not to do it again. It’s hard to say why, except it seemed like the right thing to do. Maybe we’ll make it again one day.

Anyway, for the sake of history, here is our description:
Confounded Mr. Sisyphus is a subtle beer, full of yeast, bacteria, leafy hops and grains. Mr. Sisyphus’s roots are Vienna-style lager malts, which give a golden orange colour and a malty nuttiness. Light esters and phenols from four strains of yeast give fragrance, and a malolactic bacteria has softened the acidity during conditioning and will continue to do so in the bottle. At his extremities you’ll find herbal German Hallertau and American Crystal hops, like leaves basking in the sun. Finally come Balaton cherries, with their spicy, musty, earthy character.

This is a beer to drink at sunset, be it in the quietness of a darkening forest or with the stillness of the city surrounding you. We even wrote Mr.S his own bedtime story…

“A gentle breeze blew through the forest. The leaves fluttered, and the ripe cherries on the Sisyphus tree bumped against one another. Then all was still. A tiny, contented sigh then came. It would only have been audible to a bird close by, or perhaps a child standing amongst the blossoms near the ground. But a sigh it was, and a most extraordinary sigh, for it came from Mr. Sisyphus.

If you stand at the bottom of the Sisyphus tree, close in beside the trunk where leaves surround you, and gaze up into its depths, you might notice that amongst all the cherries hanging there, one is not quite the same as all the others. Perhaps you will notice a tiny foot, a twig-like hand, or even, if your crane your neck, an eyeball twinkling there amongst the hanging balls of fruit. Unpluckable, never picked by hand, nor pecked by bird, nor pitted and preserved in a pie. Never to fall gently and bounce on soft moss, to be planted and grow again. For there hangs Mr. Sisyphus, the cherry who cannot fall.”
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Ratings by DIM:
Photo of DIM
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania

3.51/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
a: This was a chill hazed dark straw color that glows a bit. It poured with a big rocky head that left clumps of lace behind.

s: Very much yeast forward I think. The most noticeable aroma was a very dry, lightly funky yeast note. I also got a little herbal hop with a little lemon. The cherries were very faint at first, but they did become stronger as it warmed. They were dry, tart, and a little medicinal.

t: Very dry overall and not all that complex. Yeasty, sour cherry flavors that degrade into a sharply bitter, roughly spicy finish. I had 7 or 8 ounces left for the second glass, so I decided to swirl in the dregs. This helped enough to up the score by .5. For the second glass, the finish was more mellow and it was a little sweeter overall.

m: Lightly fizzy carbonation and a fairly viscous body.

d: Not sure what to make of this one. Too dry, not bad but not for me.
Sep 14, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of gory4d
Reviewed by gory4d from Texas

4.29/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a murky orange with a billowy white head. The smell is funk and clean grains and something fruity. The taste is crazy: nutty malts, mild funk, some tangy hops, and then every fifth sip or so a huge hit of dank tart cherry. Really, I've never had a beer like this. The mouthfeel is full, foamy, a little slick. A beer like no other - glad to try it at last, glad I have a couple bottles more.
Apr 07, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Jan 09, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by t0rin0 from California

Dec 16, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by imperialking from Illinois

Jan 17, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by rmalinowski4 from Illinois

Jan 15, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Dec 20, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by TIJAE from Connecticut

Dec 02, 2011
 
Rated: 3.5 by deapokid from Pennsylvania

Nov 27, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by waiting4lunch from Massachusetts

Nov 18, 2011
Photo of kkipple
Reviewed by kkipple from South Carolina

3.28/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Bottle got in trade with I-forget-who, sorry! But thanks.

Single batch, June 2009, so this is over a year old by the time we got to it. Drunk with Todes and Bobby8405 from Florida. Note the bizarre bottle art; a cherry playing a flute. Hmm.

A. Clear gold; active carbonation and a fat head that falters but does stick around for the duration. Some specks of lace.

S. Weird. Golden-strongish ale, sweet, sour cherry notes and tons of vague smells I can't pin down. Is that vanilla? Almond? Pilsner malt, it seems, the fruit is minimal but there, and the experience is head-scratchingly vague, but not unpleasant.

T. This is quite odd. No real fruit flavor in this haltingly sweet ale, a decent amount of bitterness but zero hop flavor, and some sour-funk going on plus caramel malt sweetness in the finish. Simply defies easy description.

M / D. Seems till under attenuated, even after those 4 yeast strains... effervescent carbonation, a bitter-sweet flavor lingers with hints of sourness.

Not totally sure what Pretty Things was going for here, heck, maybe they don't even know. Everything about this beer is off-kilter and a bit bent, and while Confounded Mr. Sisyphus is surely confounding, I'm less eager to call it a good beer. Certainly stays with you after you drink it. Recommended to drink if you have one, but I wouldn't seek it out.
Sep 19, 2010
Photo of ZeroSignal
Reviewed by ZeroSignal from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz bomber, bottled June 2009

A - Pours perfectly clear and golden colored; with a foamy white head that settles to a thin layer with sticky lacing

S - Aroma has a saison funk to it, and a yeasty, bready note. A semi-sweet smelling malt aroma and the faintest bit of hop aroma round things out.

T&M - Carbonation feels brisk and lively; medium bodied. The fruit (cherry) is very well done; there is a very authentic cherry flavor without any added sugary sweetness, but the sweetness is there in the form of the malt; any added fruitiness would be too much I think. The yeast adds a bready and somewhat cracker like quality. At the end is just a bit of funk and grassy hop. Finish is dry and yeasty.

D - Wonderful beer with lots of flavor and a reasonable ABV. I'm sad that this is a one off, and very happy I found it pushed to the back of the shelf in a beer store.
Sep 09, 2010
Photo of nickd717
Reviewed by nickd717 from California

3.78/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Bomber via trade.

Excellent appearance: hazy golden with a well-formed white head and good lacing.

Great saison aroma - light and floral with good funk and malty sweetness.

The flavor is pale malt, very slight cherry, barnyard funk, pepper, and floral hops.

Decent mouthfeel, not as lively as I'd like but well-carbonated with medium body.

A very good saison, and after drinking this I've now ticked all 9 Pretty Things beers. I should get a gold star or some shit for that.
Aug 30, 2010
Photo of largadeer
Reviewed by largadeer from California

3.88/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks, Nick. Cloudy blond appearance with a large white cap.

Soapy, yeasty nose with a touch of cherry and spice. Pretty mild.

Dry, yeasty, peppery. The cherry is subtle and well integrated, lending the essence of the fruit without any sweetness. Light-bodied and well-carbonated. Light maltiness up-front, with a spicy, fruity finish.
Jul 25, 2010
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Pours a cloudy honey color with a prodigious head that leaves plenty of lace

Smell: Rustic aroma that is vaguely fruity, vaguely spicy, vaguely grassy....nothing jumps out but there is quite a bit of complexity going on

Taste: Unlike the aroma, the taste is much more disctinct; starts out tart and fruity, with stone fruit dominant, but by mid-palate, the tart funkiness starts to dominate like a wild ale, but with nuts and bread underneath and just a hint of sweetness; after the swallow, the cherry flavors become rather assertive and drive home all of the other flavors into the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Too bad this is a one off as it would be interesting to see how it would develop over time; as it is, it is drinking beautifully right now with just the right amount of wild sour flavors
May 19, 2010
Photo of mountdew1
Reviewed by mountdew1 from New Hampshire

4.32/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into an imperial pint glass. Color was a golden amber with a thick 2 finger foamy off white head. The head lasted 5-10 minutes then left a thin layer that clung to the sides. Copious amounts of carbonation rose from the bottom, that switched to lesser amounts after 10-15 minutes. Aroma was fruity sweet mostly, but occasionally had sour undertones. Taste was slightly sweet, small amounts of cherry type flavors. A very small hint of vanilla milk sweetness. Felt great in the mouth. Very smooth, coated extremely well. Just a touch of carbonation remained. Very pleasant to drink, kept wanting more.

June 2009 One Off on Neck Label
Apr 16, 2010
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.46/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to Bobby for sharing this one.

A: The pour is a hazy golden color with a fluffy white head.

S: The nose is rather bland and unimpressive. There's some light notes of orange peel, yeast, and a mild spice.

T: The flavor is certainly an improvement over the nose. There is a slight hop bitterness which goes along nicely with some sweet malt and orange flavor. The "Belgian" is there too with some spice and yeast notes.

M: The body is medium with a high level of carbonation which tingles the tongue.

D: This had some nice flavors, but nothing spectacular. I enjoyed my sample, but I wouldn't seek this one out again.
Feb 14, 2010
Photo of sulldaddy
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Split a cellar temp bottle with Stopper. Poured into a snifter the beer pours a slightly hazy golden hue with tightly packed bleached white head. The head fades quickly to a wispy surface layer.
Aroma is musty with some bready yeast notes and hints of tart cherry but less fruity than expected after reading the label.
First sip reveals an average body and fine tingly carbonation with relatively smooth texture.
Flavor is some fruitiness but not distinctly cherry, bready doughy yeast notes which remind me of a scone. SOme light tartness and bitter hits on the finish. Maybe hops but not very distinctive flavor just a faint bite on the end of each swallow.
The beer is a fairly easy drinker, but isnt as much cherry or complex as I expected. A decent beer but not an outstanding brew.
Feb 09, 2010
Photo of BTPete
Reviewed by BTPete from New York

4.12/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
bottle shared by friend at weekly tasting.

Confounded Mr. Sisyphus

A: hazy golden, little head, some slight reddish hues.

S: funky and fruity, not as Cherry as expected

T: sweet, funky and tart. Smooth nice and malty.

M: nice and active in my mouth, medium bodied

D: great beer, I have yet to be dissappointed by Pretty Things.
Jan 25, 2010
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

4.22/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
"The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy."

--Albert Camus

Bottled June 2009. Sunny apricot orange that isn't too far removed from rich honey gold. The ivory colored cap would not look out of place atop a world-class Belgian ale. The foam is firmly creamy, impressively rocky, and is responsible for a pretty decent display of lace.

The nose is a certified humdinger that is rife with all sorts of herbal, earthy, musky, spicy and faintly funky aromas. Interestingly, no cherries are noted. The beer's complexity may be due to the use of four different yeast strains and malolactic bacteria. Pretty Things can call it whatever they want, but it smells most like a saison. And a damn good one.

Confounded Mr. Sisyphus is delicious, drinkable beer if you prefer well-crafted Belgian ales that showcase spicy Belgian yeast esters (the brewery makes a point to say that no spices are used in any of their offerings). The flavor profile could go either way between Belgian pale and saison.

Golden grains hold down the bottom end and don't get lost in the kaleidoscopic top notes provided by German Hallertau and American Crystal hops, yeast, bacteria and Michigan Balaton cherries. Anyone looking for a cherry-flavored ale will be disappointed, because they aren't any more prominent on the palate than they are in the nose. Tangy pear, melon, lemon zest and meadow grasses become bolder as the beer warms.

Confounded's finest feature may be the interplay between sweet, bitter, tangy and spicy. The brewers did a great job keeping so many balls in the air without bobbling, much less dropping, any of them. In the final reckoning, this 'one off' brew doesn't quite compare with the world's best, but it tastes and feels authentically Belgian, so kudos to Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project for that.

The mouthfeel is well done. It's at least medium in heft and has the expansive creaminess that is needed in beer of this sort. The score could just as easily have been one notch higher. The same is true of the taste score, by the way.

Confounded Mr. Sisyphus is not confounding at all. The brewers have allowed us a peek behind the curtain to see just what makes this complex (yet still accessible) Belgian-style ale tick. Too bad it won't be brewed again because it's a sure-fire winner as far as I'm concerned.
Jan 02, 2010
Confounded Mr. Sisyphus from Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 55 ratings