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Tartare Rouge
Bear Republic Brewing Co.
Beer Geek Stats
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- From:
- Bear Republic Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Wild Ale
- ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 91
- Avg:
- 4.06 | pDev: 9.36%
- Reviews:
- 17
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 16, 2019
- Added:
- Mar 01, 2014
- Wants:
- 12
- Gots:
- 16
Released from Foeder Number Two in our spontaneous ale program, Tartare Rouge is a sour red ale fermented using only airborne wild yeast and bacteria native to Alexander Valley in Sonoma County.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.92/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Sometimes I wonder why older breweries don't have evolving recipes to get with the times a la consumer demand. Also, I sometimes wonder why older breweries don't package their newer recipes that people love. This is the case with tartare and its variants like this one. Why can't I buy this in a bottle/can/4/6 pack?
Anyways, pours a rose kind of color. I was geeked to try this given how great tartare is despite it being massively sour for a berliner weisse (although I see here its labeled as a wild ale, which given the sourness, I would agree, might be better categorization). Thin off white light pinker head 1/6". Aroma is a little different, smells almost malty with the sourness.
Taste, ok this is very different from OG tartare, this is like an amber/red ale version, and the additional malt usage really provides way more balance and less heavy sourness and acidity. Its good, but I still kinda want the power sour pop up against a super light body like in the OG.
Feb 16, 2019Anyways, pours a rose kind of color. I was geeked to try this given how great tartare is despite it being massively sour for a berliner weisse (although I see here its labeled as a wild ale, which given the sourness, I would agree, might be better categorization). Thin off white light pinker head 1/6". Aroma is a little different, smells almost malty with the sourness.
Taste, ok this is very different from OG tartare, this is like an amber/red ale version, and the additional malt usage really provides way more balance and less heavy sourness and acidity. Its good, but I still kinda want the power sour pop up against a super light body like in the OG.
Rated by BrewVenture2 from Massachusetts
4.66/5 rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.66/5 rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
So tart! Andy fruity, but not overly so. Very good.
Aug 29, 2017Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado
4.15/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Tartare was excellent, so I had to try this when I saw it (and when does Bear Republic fail to deliver?).
On-draught @ a bar in Brooklyn. $10 per small pour. 6% ABV.
HEAD: None whatsoever. No lacing.
BODY: Dull dark red. No yeast/lees visible within.
Appears sparsely carbonated. A nice looking sour ale in spite of its lack of vibrance.
AROMA: Tart cherries and redcurrants, bacterial sourness (mild, maybe a 3/10 in terms of intensity), leathery. More tart than sour, but the bacterial intangibles are there. Average aromatic intensity.
TASTE & TEXTURE: Smacky in mouthfeel with plenty of bacterial intricacy and high acidity married to tart red fruit (cherries, redcurrants, cranberries) and subtle wood. Avoids any medicinal territory, sticking to authentic tart fruit without suffering from cloying sweetness or artificial cherry notes.
Smooth, wet, refreshing, soft, aptly medium-bodied, well-carbonated. Not oily, gushed, harsh, rough, scratchy, hot, boozy, or astringent.
The harmony of smacky Lactobacillus and acidic tart fruit is wonderful. Well-built.
OVERALL: Ludicrously drinkable, though sour fanatics may crave more bacteria, more sourness, and more fruit. I for one quite fancy this stuff. Incredibly well balanced even if there's room for more intricacy. Depth of flavour is stellar; this is a vivid evocative beer.
It's rare an American brewery gets a sour ale this right.
A- (4.15) / EXCELLENT
Jan 03, 2017On-draught @ a bar in Brooklyn. $10 per small pour. 6% ABV.
HEAD: None whatsoever. No lacing.
BODY: Dull dark red. No yeast/lees visible within.
Appears sparsely carbonated. A nice looking sour ale in spite of its lack of vibrance.
AROMA: Tart cherries and redcurrants, bacterial sourness (mild, maybe a 3/10 in terms of intensity), leathery. More tart than sour, but the bacterial intangibles are there. Average aromatic intensity.
TASTE & TEXTURE: Smacky in mouthfeel with plenty of bacterial intricacy and high acidity married to tart red fruit (cherries, redcurrants, cranberries) and subtle wood. Avoids any medicinal territory, sticking to authentic tart fruit without suffering from cloying sweetness or artificial cherry notes.
Smooth, wet, refreshing, soft, aptly medium-bodied, well-carbonated. Not oily, gushed, harsh, rough, scratchy, hot, boozy, or astringent.
The harmony of smacky Lactobacillus and acidic tart fruit is wonderful. Well-built.
OVERALL: Ludicrously drinkable, though sour fanatics may crave more bacteria, more sourness, and more fruit. I for one quite fancy this stuff. Incredibly well balanced even if there's room for more intricacy. Depth of flavour is stellar; this is a vivid evocative beer.
It's rare an American brewery gets a sour ale this right.
A- (4.15) / EXCELLENT
Tartare Rouge from Bear Republic Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
206 ratings
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