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Home, Sour Home
The Rare Barrel
Beer Geek Stats
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- From:
- The Rare Barrel
- California, United States
- Style:
- Wild Ale
Ranked #43 - ABV:
- 5.8%
- Score:
- 97
Ranked #537 - Avg:
- 4.4 | pDev: 6.36%
- Reviews:
- 60
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 02, 2023
- Added:
- Feb 25, 2014
- Wants:
- 132
- Gots:
- 110
Golden sour beer aged in oak barrels with peaches, cinnamon, and vanilla bean.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by epyon396:
Rated by epyon396 from Pennsylvania
4.21/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Jul 27, 2015
4.21/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Jul 27, 2015
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by minterro from California
4.33/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.33/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
An early Christmas gift from my wife. Bought in San Diego at the Best Damn Beer Shop. I believe this is a 2020 version although that is just because it says RB 20, consumed 12/23/22. As always their bottle texture and artwork are on point.
A&S: Big chunks of unfiltered bits. Initially, the beer is transparent and straw-colored, but as you pour the last bits it becomes hazy and slightly more orange. The head pours a fizzy half finger and dissipates quickly. The aroma is really lacking on this one. I am getting some sour yeast tones and oak, but it is really light.
T&M: Unlike the aroma, the taste is both more prevalent and more intriguing. Initially, vanilla is the overwhelming majority of the taste. The taste is very tart initially as well. As it warms, the peach, vanilla, and oak tones really become something synergistic and the beer becomes very unique, but also compellingly delicious. Low, but noticeable sweetness. Not getting the cinnamon. The tartness lessens some as well. The mouthfeel is very much similar to most of their brews, medium and smooth but with a crispness brought on by pretty heavy carbonation.
Overall: A unique take. I liked it, and would recommend sour fans give this one a try, but I won’t be a repurchase for me.
Dec 23, 2022A&S: Big chunks of unfiltered bits. Initially, the beer is transparent and straw-colored, but as you pour the last bits it becomes hazy and slightly more orange. The head pours a fizzy half finger and dissipates quickly. The aroma is really lacking on this one. I am getting some sour yeast tones and oak, but it is really light.
T&M: Unlike the aroma, the taste is both more prevalent and more intriguing. Initially, vanilla is the overwhelming majority of the taste. The taste is very tart initially as well. As it warms, the peach, vanilla, and oak tones really become something synergistic and the beer becomes very unique, but also compellingly delicious. Low, but noticeable sweetness. Not getting the cinnamon. The tartness lessens some as well. The mouthfeel is very much similar to most of their brews, medium and smooth but with a crispness brought on by pretty heavy carbonation.
Overall: A unique take. I liked it, and would recommend sour fans give this one a try, but I won’t be a repurchase for me.
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
4.4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12.7oz bottle. Label is marked with '22'.
Cloudy pale gold color. Brief fizzy head. No lacing.
Aroma has peach, cinnamon, and vanilla, along with oak and an indication of funk.
Taste is lemon tart and has the flavors of peach, vanilla, and a little cinnamon. Oak at the end. Grassy funk.
Medium mouth feel. Quite dry finish. Good carbonation.
Very effusive with the nose, and very flavorful. Well done sour, with some funk.
Dec 05, 2022Cloudy pale gold color. Brief fizzy head. No lacing.
Aroma has peach, cinnamon, and vanilla, along with oak and an indication of funk.
Taste is lemon tart and has the flavors of peach, vanilla, and a little cinnamon. Oak at the end. Grassy funk.
Medium mouth feel. Quite dry finish. Good carbonation.
Very effusive with the nose, and very flavorful. Well done sour, with some funk.
Reviewed by SHODriver from North Carolina
4.75/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.75/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
2017 version
A: Poured into a Duvel tulip to a slightly hazy golden yellow beer which is topped by a dense and slightly rocky finger and a half of white head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing.
S: Smells of juicy peaches, smooth vanilla, and warming cinnamon along with some nice sour undertones. Hints of oak and light funk as well.
T: Taste is juicy peaches, some vanilla, a nice sour peach note overall, some warming cinnamon spice, a touch of oak and a hint of funk. On the swallow there's more juicy sour peaches, more vanilla, and some lingering warming cinnamon along with some acidity that hangs around.
M: This beer has a body which is kind of in the middle of the road. The beer is somewhat effervescent without being super prickly while the beer has a drying finish due to the acidity.
O: Overall this is a world class sour beer. There's a really nice amount of complexity along with some really awesome flavors that are extremely well integrated. Definitely one worth trying.
Aug 05, 2021A: Poured into a Duvel tulip to a slightly hazy golden yellow beer which is topped by a dense and slightly rocky finger and a half of white head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing.
S: Smells of juicy peaches, smooth vanilla, and warming cinnamon along with some nice sour undertones. Hints of oak and light funk as well.
T: Taste is juicy peaches, some vanilla, a nice sour peach note overall, some warming cinnamon spice, a touch of oak and a hint of funk. On the swallow there's more juicy sour peaches, more vanilla, and some lingering warming cinnamon along with some acidity that hangs around.
M: This beer has a body which is kind of in the middle of the road. The beer is somewhat effervescent without being super prickly while the beer has a drying finish due to the acidity.
O: Overall this is a world class sour beer. There's a really nice amount of complexity along with some really awesome flavors that are extremely well integrated. Definitely one worth trying.
Reviewed by Franziskaner from Missouri
4.18/5 rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Gold in color with with a lightly hazy complexion. There’s a fingernail of off white around the rim and and covering three quarters of the top. The aroma is of peaches, vanilla, oak, and cinnamon. I’m tasting peaches, vanilla, and cinnamon. The mouth is moderately carbonated, but a bit smoother than anticipated due to the oak aging.
May 01, 2021Reviewed by BerryKumquat from California
4.5/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
L: Generic blonde color.
S: Vanilla flavor with wood at the end.
T: A small fizzy drinkable ramp up to a strong body and sharp finish.
F: Peachy and light,
O: Decent and simple vanilla and peach.
Nov 10, 2019S: Vanilla flavor with wood at the end.
T: A small fizzy drinkable ramp up to a strong body and sharp finish.
F: Peachy and light,
O: Decent and simple vanilla and peach.
Reviewed by JLK7299 from North Carolina
4.63/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.63/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I do not quite remember where I got this but I have been sitting on it for awhile and finally just cracked it. Wow! It’s really tart but also really tasty! Great on a hot humid summer day!
Aug 11, 2019Reviewed by macrosmatic from Florida
4.24/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Thanks to eyebereej for sending this bottle! Reviewed from (very) long-standing notes. Poured from a 750mL bottle into a Hunahpu's Imperial Stout goblet. 2015 vintage bottle, consumed 12/21/15.
A: Moderately hazy bright gold, with a thin white head that starts to form but fades quickly. Low level of visible carbonation.
S: Tart and moderately funky. Lactic acidity and the pales of cracker malts. Some hints of peach fruit (this does increase as the beer warms some) and a fair amount of oaken dryness. This comes across as a bit vinous, though I don't think wine barrels were involved.
T: Lactic tart, tart underripe peaches, and cracker malts. A modest funk here too, and the oak tannins. After the initial swallow, more tartness and peaches. Then a big hit of cinnamon and dryness comes on after the swallow. Very dry and modestly tart with more peaches at the end. I'm searching for the vanilla, but not finding much if any.
M: A light body for style. Low alcohol presence, and carbonation sensation on the low side of average.
O: Enjoyable – like a tart peach cobbler. I didn't grasp the concept reading the label – I just had to taste it first. This wouldn't be my first tier California fruited sour to seek out, but it was plenty enjoyable for sure.
Jul 26, 2019A: Moderately hazy bright gold, with a thin white head that starts to form but fades quickly. Low level of visible carbonation.
S: Tart and moderately funky. Lactic acidity and the pales of cracker malts. Some hints of peach fruit (this does increase as the beer warms some) and a fair amount of oaken dryness. This comes across as a bit vinous, though I don't think wine barrels were involved.
T: Lactic tart, tart underripe peaches, and cracker malts. A modest funk here too, and the oak tannins. After the initial swallow, more tartness and peaches. Then a big hit of cinnamon and dryness comes on after the swallow. Very dry and modestly tart with more peaches at the end. I'm searching for the vanilla, but not finding much if any.
M: A light body for style. Low alcohol presence, and carbonation sensation on the low side of average.
O: Enjoyable – like a tart peach cobbler. I didn't grasp the concept reading the label – I just had to taste it first. This wouldn't be my first tier California fruited sour to seek out, but it was plenty enjoyable for sure.
Home, Sour Home from The Rare Barrel
Beer rating:
97 out of
100 with
457 ratings
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