O.T.I.S.
Strangeways Brewing

O.T.I.S.O.T.I.S.
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From:
Strangeways Brewing
 
Virginia, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
ABV:
5%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.07 | pDev: 10.07%
Reviews:
7
Ratings:
59
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 09, 2018
Added:
May 02, 2014
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  10
We are excited to unleash this bulldog of a sour beer that was a collaborative effort with The Beer Den, an eclectic mix of passionate and discerning beer aficionados, who hail from a variety of professions inside as well as outside of the craft beer industry. This refreshing sour ale will tantalize the taste buds with fresh cucumbers, ripe honeydew melons, and wild juniper berries. Otis the bulldog is the honorary mascot of the Beer Den and the namesake for this beer. Partake in an O.T.I.S Sour and see if it wrinkles your face, too.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bobertkuekn:
Photo of bobertkuekn
Rated by bobertkuekn from Virginia

4/5  rDev -1.7%

Sep 13, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by BEER88 from North Carolina

May 09, 2018
 
Rated: 3.83 by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

Apr 23, 2017
 
Rated: 3.67 by bigbutter from Virginia

Apr 16, 2017
 
Rated: 3.34 by lupercmda from North Carolina

Jun 25, 2016
Photo of cjgiant
Reviewed by cjgiant from District of Columbia

4.16/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Bottle:
This is a very nice looking beer. A chill haze at best is the only thing that blurs the light gold clarity of this brew. A cloudy white topping prevents seeing the table through the beer vertically, however. A few lines of lace along with some spotty lacing.

The nose actually reminds me a little of some sour gose beers I have had in the past. A lime like sourness and a little bit of salted melon. Not sure where the saltiness comes from. The melon and cucumber come out a little more with warmth, subduing the sour scents.

The beer isn't as sour out very puckering, but does start with a decent pop of lemon-limey tartness up front. The cucumber is definitely there as well, and grows with steadily until the taste ends. It does add a "watering down" element to the beer when it is still cold. I get the impression of cucumber skin that adds the lightest vegetal note.

There is a nice level of carbonation that accentuates the sour notes up front. It is light but lasts into mid-taste; warmth also seems to help extend the tartness longer into the taste, and also brings a hint of melon in right behind that opening splash of citrus - all of which keep the beer from getting into bland territory.

I liked this beer. Decent amount of tartness, and the cucumber eventually seems more of an accent. The melon is hidden pretty well, however.
May 23, 2016
Photo of uvachief
Reviewed by uvachief from Virginia

4.12/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draft. Billed as a cucumber melon sour. Poured a golden opaque yellow with a finger of white fluffy head. Smells of cucumber, melon and a little hops. Tastes a little sour. Much like a dry white wine. Nice dinner brew. Finishes clean and sour. Not picked up sour but sour. Interesting beer. Try it. You'll like it. Definitely get cucumber and melon. Lemons make it sour.
May 10, 2016
Photo of HopBomb515
Reviewed by HopBomb515 from New Jersey

3.96/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Murky orange with almost no head or lacing. Light on aroma. Gin, light barrel, sour citrus, rinds, cucumber, melon and light pepper. Refreshing, tart, good carbonation and very dry. Great and interesting sour ale.
Apr 05, 2016
Photo of ChrisKayler
Rated by ChrisKayler from Virginia

4.56/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Cucumber. Melon. Grapefruit rind. Tart. Bread finish. Dry and dusty mouthfeel. Awesome.
Feb 10, 2016
 
Rated: 3.83 by 2dogbrew from Virginia

Jan 10, 2016
 
Rated: 4.53 by beerrat from Virginia

Dec 26, 2015
Photo of Stolenface1
Reviewed by Stolenface1 from Virginia

3.79/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a light golden color, slightly hazy with short-lasting head. Aroma of pilsner malt, slight melon and cucumber, euro hops, light juniper, sour citrus. Flavor is on par with the aroma with more melon and cucumber coming through as it warms. Not a punch in the pace sour, more like sucking on a lime that has been soaked in water. Feel is light carbonation is med-high. Overall not bad, but would like it to be more sour. The Tequila BA variant is better and more complex.
Nov 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by atrocity from Virginia

Nov 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4.46 by JMUbrewz from Virginia

Nov 16, 2015
Photo of upton7418
Reviewed by upton7418 from Virginia

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
500ml Bottle

A - The beer pours a light golden color that is cloudy. It feel like a cloudy golden ale. Unlike the cloudiness of a wheat beer this does not have any yeast floating throughout. Pours with a light head that dissipates quickly leaving a very small ring that leave no lacing throughout.

S - Leave a light smell of cucumber and melon. easy to tell that this is a sour by the smell.

T - Upon first taste you're hit with the sourness that mimics, to me, a citric acid minus the sweetness of the sugar fruit. I'm not disappointed but was expecting more of a sour patch kids vs the lemon/lime/grapefruit sourness. There is a light melon and cucumber flavor, which there should be, that could be easily lost. I don't get much from the base malts as most of the flavor comes from the sourness.

M - light carbonation that's nice with the sour parts of this beer.

O - This is definitely a beer for sour lovers, but if you don't like sours i would avoid it. it's not super sour but it's got a citric sour without the citrus fruit taste. def light cucumber and light melon nothing overpowering. taste like a light blonde ale done with a souring yeast and the other flavors. interesting and easy to drink but def not for you if you don't like sours.

Serving type: Bottle
Nov 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by reizorc from Pennsylvania

Jul 31, 2015
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Another awesome beer thanks to rudzud.

Decent fizzy very big bubble small head fades fairly quickly, hazy straw golden tan color.

Nose brings bright fruit, nice tangerine and little melon, some cucumber bright cucumber too, little peachy note, some doughy grainy blond notes as a base, very faint juniper note with a tangerine zest.

Taste brings more fruits, bit a musty earthy flavor like juniper earthy fruit, and some citrus zest, and some cucumber. Plenty of juicy fruit, tangerine, melon, little melon but not a ton. Some earthy gassy hops too, just a little, that offsets the grassy grainy blond malt. Plenty of zest late, with more cucumber, finishing dry and a fair bitterness, earthy bitter juniper and earthy gassy hops I think.

Mouth is med to lighter bod, nice carb, little sticky on finish.

Overall very nice, light base blond that holds up, with great melon, nice tangerine and citrus, nice cucumber, and thankfully light juniper. Enjoyable and tasty.
Jan 18, 2015
Photo of rudzud
Reviewed by rudzud from Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Shared with JLindros. Bottle 75 of 999.

A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a nice hazy golden hue with a thin half finger head that fades to leave a nice halo and thin blanket.

S - Aromas of cucumbers, honeydew melon, and light tangerine. The melon and cucumber are big and bold. The juniper is super faint and floral. Nice blonde notes too...can't get over the melon and cucumber.

T - Taste is quite tart and sour, light blonde notes. Man alive does this have loads of cucumbers and honeydew. The juniper is much more earthy. Good tartness with the tangerine zest coming out nicely. Loads of melon.

M - Mouthfeel is nicely carbonated, crisp.

O - Overall this beer was really nice with loads of melon and cucumber. Really enjoy the melon aspects. Quite lovely.

Serving type: Bottle
Jan 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.13 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Jan 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.66 by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

Jan 05, 2015
O.T.I.S. from Strangeways Brewing
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 59 ratings