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Old Sour Cherry Porter
Rivertown Brewery & Barrel House
- From:
- Rivertown Brewery & Barrel House
- Ohio, United States
- Style:
- Wild Ale
- ABV:
- 7.9%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.86 | pDev: 11.66%
- Reviews:
- 30
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 07, 2017
- Added:
- Aug 13, 2012
- Wants:
- 12
- Gots:
- 33
From Rivertown’s Barrel Aged Series, brewed exclusively for Party Source. (Per the label) "We combined our Imperial Porter with fresh dark Michigan cherries, and then aged it for over three months in a bourbon barrel inoculated with wild yeast. This is a bottle conditioned ale, and can cellar for over five years. Enjoy!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by LiquidCucumber:
Reviewed by LiquidCucumber from Ohio
4.26/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
4.26/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
This beer comes in strong with both roasty and sour aromas. I was slightly skeptical at first, but after a few sips and some warming up this beer showed up on my palate as world class. I would call this brew Tart of Darkness' little brother. Bravo for an Ohio brewer with sour balls!
Mar 30, 2013More User Ratings:
Reviewed by macrosmatic from Florida
3.73/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Reviewed from notes. Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a Tampa Bay Brewing Company snifter glass.
A: A murky dark brown, with low visible carbonation and a thin tan head that rapidly become floating foamy patches. Not particularly attractive.
S: Acetic acid and vinegary tartness with sour cherries and sour apples. Some sweet malt aroma underneath.
T: Acetic tartness and sour cherries with a tannic acidic burn. There isn't a lot of porter character – a slight roastiness maybe, but the malt sweetness is overridden by the acid and sour characteristics. This stays quite acidic after the swallow and into the hang. This has an acetic cherry flavor, but I don't get a lot (or any?) of actual fresh cherry flavors.
M: A medium body overall, but is thin for an actual porter. The alcohol seems a little obvious, and has carbonation sensation on the low side of average.
O: Look...to me this is a Flanders brown/Oud Bruin. Call it what you want, but that's a style into which I think it would fit better. There's isn't a ton of cherry flavor, and there really isn't any porter character at all. Not unenjoyable though - just decent, and nothing I'd actively seek out.
NOTE: Apparently this is bourbon barrel aged. I didn't know that going into it. Going back again armed with the new knowledge...I still get no oak barrel character, but I guess a bit of bourbon flavors which makes the alcohol notes seem less fusel, and more attributable to bourbon. But overall, not a big change in how I felt about it.
SECOND NOTE: As it warms, the acidic burn dies down some, and some natural cherry flavor finally starts to come through.
Scores given reflect my opinion after the updates. I would certainly recommend letting this warm up significantly from refrigerator temperature before even bothering to taste.
Jan 07, 2017A: A murky dark brown, with low visible carbonation and a thin tan head that rapidly become floating foamy patches. Not particularly attractive.
S: Acetic acid and vinegary tartness with sour cherries and sour apples. Some sweet malt aroma underneath.
T: Acetic tartness and sour cherries with a tannic acidic burn. There isn't a lot of porter character – a slight roastiness maybe, but the malt sweetness is overridden by the acid and sour characteristics. This stays quite acidic after the swallow and into the hang. This has an acetic cherry flavor, but I don't get a lot (or any?) of actual fresh cherry flavors.
M: A medium body overall, but is thin for an actual porter. The alcohol seems a little obvious, and has carbonation sensation on the low side of average.
O: Look...to me this is a Flanders brown/Oud Bruin. Call it what you want, but that's a style into which I think it would fit better. There's isn't a ton of cherry flavor, and there really isn't any porter character at all. Not unenjoyable though - just decent, and nothing I'd actively seek out.
NOTE: Apparently this is bourbon barrel aged. I didn't know that going into it. Going back again armed with the new knowledge...I still get no oak barrel character, but I guess a bit of bourbon flavors which makes the alcohol notes seem less fusel, and more attributable to bourbon. But overall, not a big change in how I felt about it.
SECOND NOTE: As it warms, the acidic burn dies down some, and some natural cherry flavor finally starts to come through.
Scores given reflect my opinion after the updates. I would certainly recommend letting this warm up significantly from refrigerator temperature before even bothering to taste.
Reviewed by BEER88 from North Carolina
4.55/5 rDev +17.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.55/5 rDev +17.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Look: murky brown with little head, but it's a sour, show me sour with head!
Smell: LOTS!! Bourbon, vanilla, funk, cherries, some vinegar, subtle malt.
Taste: same as smell but super balanced and the cherries are sticky in the back end.
Feel: acidic and slick, low dryness
Overall: awesome sour, wish I had more and I also don't get the low scores!!!! It's an awesome sour! Mine may have tasted better because it was a 2015 vintage bottle sitting for over a year. But it was SOLID!
Dec 07, 2016Smell: LOTS!! Bourbon, vanilla, funk, cherries, some vinegar, subtle malt.
Taste: same as smell but super balanced and the cherries are sticky in the back end.
Feel: acidic and slick, low dryness
Overall: awesome sour, wish I had more and I also don't get the low scores!!!! It's an awesome sour! Mine may have tasted better because it was a 2015 vintage bottle sitting for over a year. But it was SOLID!
Reviewed by gcamparone from Rhode Island
3.74/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 750mL bottle into a pint glass.
Pours a muddy brown uncarbonated body with no head/retention.. a few floaties in there too.
Smell is sour lactic, sweet molasses, dark fruits, cherry, vanilla. On the tongue is tart, sour cherries, caramel sweetness, molasses, finishes tart but somewhat sweet caramel, tobacco. Zero carb medium body.
Decent, sour, a little on the sweet side and could use more carbonation.
Oct 19, 2016Pours a muddy brown uncarbonated body with no head/retention.. a few floaties in there too.
Smell is sour lactic, sweet molasses, dark fruits, cherry, vanilla. On the tongue is tart, sour cherries, caramel sweetness, molasses, finishes tart but somewhat sweet caramel, tobacco. Zero carb medium body.
Decent, sour, a little on the sweet side and could use more carbonation.
Reviewed by ONUMello from Ohio
3.93/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Vintage 2013 poured from a 22oz bottle into a tulip
A: Opaque dark brown with no head
S: Sour cherry, burnt sugar, a bit of oak, bourbon chocolate and funk
T: Matches the nose with the same emphases on flavors and a fairly intense sour component
M: Medium-bodied, sour
O: Overall I like it I just can't tell if it is drinking well with a bit of age or if it would have been better earlier in its life
Sep 13, 2016A: Opaque dark brown with no head
S: Sour cherry, burnt sugar, a bit of oak, bourbon chocolate and funk
T: Matches the nose with the same emphases on flavors and a fairly intense sour component
M: Medium-bodied, sour
O: Overall I like it I just can't tell if it is drinking well with a bit of age or if it would have been better earlier in its life
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio
3.97/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Black with burnt red edges and no head.
Acetic cran-cherry aroma. Bourbon is thankfully taking a backseat, maybe lending a little smoke, and mostly allowed for a platform for the souring.
Taste is near spicy, maybe some oak, but a lot of cran-orange cherry.
Very nice and dry finish. I know this was basically an accident, but, well done recognizing a good sour when you have one. Now to consistently keep it coming.
Aug 28, 2016Acetic cran-cherry aroma. Bourbon is thankfully taking a backseat, maybe lending a little smoke, and mostly allowed for a platform for the souring.
Taste is near spicy, maybe some oak, but a lot of cran-orange cherry.
Very nice and dry finish. I know this was basically an accident, but, well done recognizing a good sour when you have one. Now to consistently keep it coming.
Reviewed by Dragginballs76 from South Carolina
3.93/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours - black with thin tan head that quickly dissipates not much lacing.
Smell - Tart sour cherries, little but of oak, slight bourbon smell, very tart and wild smell.
Taste - Tart sour cherries up front, very nice warmth from the bourbon, oak.
Feel - Medium body, nice warmth from the bourbon, slightly dry on the backend.
Overall - This is a really solid wild ale, not much like a porter even though that is on the label. I love the tart cherries.
Aug 12, 2016Smell - Tart sour cherries, little but of oak, slight bourbon smell, very tart and wild smell.
Taste - Tart sour cherries up front, very nice warmth from the bourbon, oak.
Feel - Medium body, nice warmth from the bourbon, slightly dry on the backend.
Overall - This is a really solid wild ale, not much like a porter even though that is on the label. I love the tart cherries.
Reviewed by FBGordon from Oregon
3.35/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
3.35/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Poured from a bomber into a snifter. 2014 Vintage.
A: Pours a dark chocolate brown with faint ruby highlights but doesn't appear thick or heavy. Large, chunky bubble create an irregular head that settles into a ring around the edges. No lacing.
S: Funky, a little wild. Strong dark cherry smells. A pretty good whiff of alcohol. Some oak notes and light bourbon notes. But everything takes a back seat to the cherries.
T: More funk and a trace of bourbon. Dark, sour cherry notes. A little papery. I think this one probably started oxidizing.
M: A little slick and oily, leading to an astringent feel. It's most likely started to go bad.
O: I can't fault this beer because I took too long to drink it. I had a newer vintage on draft not long ago and was impressed, I just wanted to do a more thorough tasting. But from what I smelled at tasted it seemed like a solid beer.
Jul 12, 2016A: Pours a dark chocolate brown with faint ruby highlights but doesn't appear thick or heavy. Large, chunky bubble create an irregular head that settles into a ring around the edges. No lacing.
S: Funky, a little wild. Strong dark cherry smells. A pretty good whiff of alcohol. Some oak notes and light bourbon notes. But everything takes a back seat to the cherries.
T: More funk and a trace of bourbon. Dark, sour cherry notes. A little papery. I think this one probably started oxidizing.
M: A little slick and oily, leading to an astringent feel. It's most likely started to go bad.
O: I can't fault this beer because I took too long to drink it. I had a newer vintage on draft not long ago and was impressed, I just wanted to do a more thorough tasting. But from what I smelled at tasted it seemed like a solid beer.
Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts
3.77/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Thanks to JLindros for sharing.
A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a nice dark brown almost black hue with a thin off white head that fades to leave light wisps.
S - Aromas of nice chocolate, solid tart cherries, faint woody notes, good light bourbon.
T - Taste is similar to the nose, chocolate is faint, nice cherry juice, lactic acid, very little barrel and bourbon notes.
M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, bit thin.
O - Overall this was a solid sour porter, good cherry notes but other than that it was really weak.
Serving Type: bottle
Apr 30, 2016A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a nice dark brown almost black hue with a thin off white head that fades to leave light wisps.
S - Aromas of nice chocolate, solid tart cherries, faint woody notes, good light bourbon.
T - Taste is similar to the nose, chocolate is faint, nice cherry juice, lactic acid, very little barrel and bourbon notes.
M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, bit thin.
O - Overall this was a solid sour porter, good cherry notes but other than that it was really weak.
Serving Type: bottle
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts
3.77/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Little fizzy head fades quickly, dark semi clear mahogany chestnut red color.
Nose pretty light, a sour cherry juicy, straight up cherry juice, tart fruit, sour brown malts, little buttery toasted oak, faint chocolate, creamy lacto funk.
Taste brings sweet syrupy malts but soured brown malts, creamy lacto funk little flemmy and lactic acid, little powdered cocoa, into big cherry juice, tart cherries, sticky and flemmy finish, little lactic acid and creamy, touch of buttery oak, sour funk and cherry juice lingering.
Mouth is med bod, decent carb, little lactic acid and syrupy sour feel.
Overall not bad but nothing special, pretty much no barrel.
Apr 30, 2016Nose pretty light, a sour cherry juicy, straight up cherry juice, tart fruit, sour brown malts, little buttery toasted oak, faint chocolate, creamy lacto funk.
Taste brings sweet syrupy malts but soured brown malts, creamy lacto funk little flemmy and lactic acid, little powdered cocoa, into big cherry juice, tart cherries, sticky and flemmy finish, little lactic acid and creamy, touch of buttery oak, sour funk and cherry juice lingering.
Mouth is med bod, decent carb, little lactic acid and syrupy sour feel.
Overall not bad but nothing special, pretty much no barrel.
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
3.8/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.8/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dark brown color with no real head and looks real thin. Tart cherry scent. Very tart taste with cherry. Medium light body and carbonation. Ok but to sweet.
Apr 23, 2016
Old Sour Cherry Porter from Rivertown Brewery & Barrel House
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
153 ratings
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