Belgian Sour
Anacortes Brewery & Rockfish Grill

This beer is a one-off that I hope will be brewed again. They took the wort from their Honey Cream ale and before fermentation placed it in an oak barrel. Then they added 4 strains of yeast and Brett. The brewer then left it alone for 18 months. The results were fantastic.

Served in hourglass pilsner glass at the brewery. Poured a surprisingly clear gold color with less than a half inch of white head that dissipated quickly and left minimal lacing.

A sharp sour scent greets the nose, with various yeast aromas blending with a hint of oak. As expected, there was a bit of a vinegar aroma, but it was just a hint. The flavors were similar to the aromas just more pronounced, bolder and sharper. The beer had a sharp, tangy, dry finish.

The body was the biggest surprise, a great combination of light and full, sharp and smooth, boldness and subtlety that finished with a refreshing effervescence. Drinkability could not have been better. We had an extended session at brewery and this was the only beer I drank. I rarely have 2 of the same brew in a row. The fact that this beer was a pleasant 4.5% ABV made my 3 hour tour possible.

Again, this was a one-time, brewery only treat. Perhaps if we whimper enough, 18 months from now, we'll receive another gift.

"Brewed and aged in oak," says the placard. Somehow I don't think this sour, yellow-gold beer was actually brewed in oak, but we get the idea. Anacortes serves this specialty beer in 12-oz. glasses showing a light rim of white head but virtually no CO2.

They brew a variety of rotating Belgian-style beers at the Rockfish. Unfortunately, I've been drinking sour ales a lot recently and this one can't compare to the best of them regionally or otherwise. It is as tart and sour as one might expect from a lactic ale, but also cidery and wine-like in ways that don't enhance drinkability. The beer is not flawed, but comes across as under-developed and lacking in artistry.