Tartare Rouge
Bear Republic Brewing Co.

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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:
206
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.
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Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

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, 2019
 
Rated: 4.3 by Stofko1992 from Pennsylvania

Feb 24, 2018
 
Rated: 3.55 by BirdsandHops from Oregon

Feb 13, 2018
 
Rated: 3.89 by Wheels2532 from Pennsylvania

Feb 01, 2018
 
Rated: 4.15 by hozersr from Pennsylvania

Feb 01, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by Nat1975 from Indiana

Jan 02, 2018
 
Rated: 4.3 by leprechaunandfatman from Ohio

Oct 26, 2017
 
Rated: 4.19 by Taybeh from Minnesota

Sep 29, 2017
Photo of BrewVenture2
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
So tart! Andy fruity, but not overly so. Very good.
Aug 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by BergBeer from Hawaii

Aug 02, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by DamienI from Washington

Jun 27, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by AGust82 from Connecticut

Mar 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.83 by Zazzi82 from Tennessee

Mar 04, 2017
 
Rated: 4.06 by iRun2Beer from Minnesota

Feb 08, 2017
 
Rated: 4.12 by npachl from Wisconsin

Jan 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4.12 by Ohiovania from Ohio

Jan 17, 2017
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Reviewed 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
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, 2017
 
Rated: 4.1 by VABA from Virginia

Dec 18, 2016
 
Rated: 3.97 by Sludgeman from District of Columbia

Dec 12, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by kylehay2004 from Illinois

Dec 04, 2016
Tartare Rouge from Bear Republic Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 206 ratings