Sour Reserve
Upland Brewing Company

 

 

A - Pours clear golden, with a short white head that fades quick, leaving just a wisp on the edge of the glass. Beautiful.

S - Pungent hit of acid, funk, minerality, and fresh dark soil.

T - Layers on layers of flavor, with acidity out front, a complicated melange of fruit, lots of wildness, and wood and barrel. The result is lush and rewarding.

M - The acidic bite produces a moderate prickly feel on the tongue, moderate weight, and a close that leaves a lingering trace long after the flavors fade.

O - This has been a beer with a huge reputation locally, a real get. It is worthy of the kind words, an example of a difficult style done well and delivering not just a solid rendition, but also a pleasurable experience.

 

 

 

Blend 6 (2015)

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy apricot nectar color with a one finger head that fades to a film; splashy lacing

Smell: Quite the funk fest, with oak, green apple, lime and vinous white wine tones

Taste: Acetic from the outset, with green apple burgeoning into lime; funky and vinous, through the middle with a tart finish that brings a hint of vanilla

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation; major pucker factor

Overall: A spectacular brew with a lot of subtle fruit among the sour elements

Thanks, JHE73, for the opportunity

 

 

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled in 4/2017, batch K-17. Pours slightly hazy pale golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big sour/tart/tangy lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, cherry, plum, raspberry, gooseberry, passion fruit, papaya, mango, guava, red/green apple, white grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, oak, peppercorn, wet wood, leathery/musty/lacto funk, wheat, cracker, white bread, light white wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, oak barrels, and light-moderate pale/wheat malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big sour/tart/tangy lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, cherry, plum, raspberry, gooseberry, passion fruit, papaya, mango, guava, red/green apple, white grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, oak, peppercorn, wet wood, leathery/musty/lacto funk, wheat, cracker, white bread, light white wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness. Light-moderate lactic tart/sourness, Brett/wine tang, and yeast/oak tannin spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of sour/tart/tangy lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, cherry, plum, raspberry, gooseberry, passion fruit, papaya, mango, guava, red/green apple, white grape/wine, hay, straw, grass, oak, peppercorn, wet wood, leathery/musty/lacto funk, wheat, cracker, white bread, white wine vinegar, and yeast/oak earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, oak barrels, and light-moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; with a great malt/tart/sourness, and yeast/oak spiciness balance; with minimal puckering flavors after the finish, Moderate increasing dryness from lingering tart/tang/sourness, yeast/oak spiciness, and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, grainy, acidic, tangy, tannic balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 6%. Overall this is an incredible gueuze style. All around fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic/spicy yeast, oak barrels, and light-moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and easy to drink with the moderately sour/tart/tangy/drying finish, not overly lactic. Amazingly well rounded classic barnyard Brett/Bacteria complexity, great oak presence, and solid pale/wheat malts against acidity. A highly enjoyable offering, and spot on style example.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018. Blend 8. A little too tart - I bet some age would do this well.