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Valley Of The Heart's Delight
Almanac Beer Co.
- From:
- Almanac Beer Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Wild Ale
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 96
- Avg:
- 4.34 | pDev: 6.91%
- Reviews:
- 112
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 15, 2022
- Added:
- Jan 30, 2014
- Wants:
- 123
- Gots:
- 125
This sour ale is inspired by the agricultural history of the Santa Clara Valley. Long before it became Silicon Valley, it was known as the Valley of The Heart’s Delight, a fertile basin overflowing with fruit orchards. Brewed with foraged apricots handpicked by the Garden To Table non-profit, this collaborative beer celebrates and supports their mission to promote urban farming in San Jose.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by WeisGuy:
More User Ratings:
Rated by entheos from California
3.02/5 rDev -30.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
3.02/5 rDev -30.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
More like a sour seltzer than a beer. Disappointing given the high rating by others. It’s alright, but not world class.
Mar 15, 2022Reviewed by StoutElk_92 from Massachusetts
4.63/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.63/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Pours amber gold orange with a creamy frothy white foam head. Smells like strawberries, banana, apricot, stone fruit, tropical fruit punch, oak wine barrel, hint of leathery acetic vinegar, some caramelized bready malts, with earthy herbal grassy hops. Tastes like sour apricots, fresh strawberries, tropical fruit punch, banana, stone fruits, cherry, plum, nectarine, red berry, oak wine barrel, caramelized bready malts, hint of mild acetic leather, spice, with floral earthy herbal grassy hops. Feels medium bodied, creamy smooth with moderate carbonation. Overall a real nice sour blonde ale aged in wine barrels with apricots and strawberries.
Jul 04, 2020Reviewed by bubseymour from Maryland
3.93/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I’m not sure the high ratings on this one. Vinegar aroma, moderate/high sour scale. Minimal funk and complexity. Drinkable but very “amateur” IMO.
Feb 11, 2020Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina
4.32/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours a cloudy goldenstraw with a thin cap that fades to a film; spotty lacing
Smell: Lactic apricot and strawberry tones with some cheesy funk; oaky and acetic
Taste: Lactic and acetic sour tones mingle, with the apricot and strawberry peeking through; acetic, funky and oaky, through the middle, with a distinctly sour finish
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate to high carbonation; puckery
Overall: It appears that the fruit for this beer varies year to year (not sure what year this one is but I just bought the bottle and it is apricot and strawberry); really enjoyed this one as all the elements work well
Aug 08, 2019Smell: Lactic apricot and strawberry tones with some cheesy funk; oaky and acetic
Taste: Lactic and acetic sour tones mingle, with the apricot and strawberry peeking through; acetic, funky and oaky, through the middle, with a distinctly sour finish
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate to high carbonation; puckery
Overall: It appears that the fruit for this beer varies year to year (not sure what year this one is but I just bought the bottle and it is apricot and strawberry); really enjoyed this one as all the elements work well
Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania
3.94/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.94/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a hazed, yellow-orange color with a wisp of soupy, off-white head. Decent lacing.
Tart, sour aroma that comes across like plum as much as anything, along with a hint of wood.
The taste follows. Strong, tart plum, white wine grapes, apricot, cherry, wood and a little raisin. Acidic finish.
Medium bodied with a slightly oily consistency and moderate carbonation.
The fruit is pretty well melded into just fruity tartness at this age. The wine barrel does add a nice undertone to it all. Decent, but not my favorite from the series. 1/25/18 bottling date.
Jul 03, 2019Tart, sour aroma that comes across like plum as much as anything, along with a hint of wood.
The taste follows. Strong, tart plum, white wine grapes, apricot, cherry, wood and a little raisin. Acidic finish.
Medium bodied with a slightly oily consistency and moderate carbonation.
The fruit is pretty well melded into just fruity tartness at this age. The wine barrel does add a nice undertone to it all. Decent, but not my favorite from the series. 1/25/18 bottling date.
Valley Of The Heart's Delight from Almanac Beer Co.
Beer rating:
96 out of
100 with
886 ratings
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