-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Obscura Arborea
Telegraph Brewing Company
- From:
- Telegraph Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Flanders Oud Bruin
- ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- 79
- Avg:
- 3.38 | pDev: 18.93%
- Reviews:
- 26
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 10, 2015
- Added:
- Apr 10, 2011
- Wants:
- 8
- Gots:
- 7
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by zestar:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California
3.29/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.29/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Bottle pour at the bottle share held at Chloe's inside Golden Road Brewing in Los Angeles, CA.
Batch 77.
Pours a clear honey brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is slightly sour and tart with some fruity and wood aromas. Taste is much the same with a vinegar-like flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of acidity on the palate with each sip. This beer has a high level of carbonation with a really crisp and prickly mouthfeel. Overall, this is an above average beer that seems somewhat unrefined.
Apr 05, 2013Batch 77.
Pours a clear honey brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is slightly sour and tart with some fruity and wood aromas. Taste is much the same with a vinegar-like flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of acidity on the palate with each sip. This beer has a high level of carbonation with a really crisp and prickly mouthfeel. Overall, this is an above average beer that seems somewhat unrefined.
Reviewed by rand from California
4.08/5 rDev +20.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +20.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750 mL bottle poured into a Mikasa tulip glass
Batch 77
The beer is creamed-copper in appearance (if that's a legitimate color description) with a huge pillow-y head that never recedes. Tones of woodsy dank and unripe berries float about, but in the ether - the nose lingers and takes a few whiffs to pull it in.
The taste is much more pronounced with toffee-like malts playing against tart cherries. There are notes of drying oak that mix well with a subtle hop snap, keeping the sweet aspects in check. Alcohol is apparent but not aggressive. Finishes long, sweet and sour.
I don't get the low (or average) reviews here. My bottle's been aging for a little over a year (maybe longer) so that might be what 'smoothed' it out, but I don't think that's the entire reason. The brew produces a super-sudsy head, almost billowy, but it doesn't FEEL over-carbonated, something I can't stand. Over-carbing wouldn't get better with age. And I'm trying to pinpoint why the consensus feels this has a disjointed flavor profile - I'm getting a pretty smooth play of sweet and sour and bitter washing over the palate. Hmm...maybe I got a good batch? Or there's a bit of group-think here on BA? Well, no need to speculate...I've been drinking a lot of this style lately and this beer, at least my bottle, is a good example.
Nov 15, 2012Batch 77
The beer is creamed-copper in appearance (if that's a legitimate color description) with a huge pillow-y head that never recedes. Tones of woodsy dank and unripe berries float about, but in the ether - the nose lingers and takes a few whiffs to pull it in.
The taste is much more pronounced with toffee-like malts playing against tart cherries. There are notes of drying oak that mix well with a subtle hop snap, keeping the sweet aspects in check. Alcohol is apparent but not aggressive. Finishes long, sweet and sour.
I don't get the low (or average) reviews here. My bottle's been aging for a little over a year (maybe longer) so that might be what 'smoothed' it out, but I don't think that's the entire reason. The brew produces a super-sudsy head, almost billowy, but it doesn't FEEL over-carbonated, something I can't stand. Over-carbing wouldn't get better with age. And I'm trying to pinpoint why the consensus feels this has a disjointed flavor profile - I'm getting a pretty smooth play of sweet and sour and bitter washing over the palate. Hmm...maybe I got a good batch? Or there's a bit of group-think here on BA? Well, no need to speculate...I've been drinking a lot of this style lately and this beer, at least my bottle, is a good example.
Reviewed by brokensail from California
3.45/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
3.45/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
The pour is amber in color with a big white head. Aroma starts off with a mild buttery note. Notes of citrus, light caramel, oak, and vanilla. Maybe a bit of apple and pear on the nose. Sort of has a fruit flavor baby food thing going on on the palate. Lightly tart, maybe some spice, a touch of oak and vanilla. Really a strange beer.
Aug 07, 2012Reviewed by drabmuh from Maryland
2.91/5 rDev -13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.91/5 rDev -13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Thanks to Michael for sharing this, this beer was a mild disaster.
OVERCARBONATED WARNING WARNING GUSHER.
Beer is amber and clear with a huge off white head of small and medium bubbles with annoyingly good retention. Ugh.
Aroma is blank.
Beer has this woody, grassy, cherry, light body, complex weirdness to it. None of hte flavors play together at all. Not a repeat for me, not even very enjoyable.
Apr 06, 2012OVERCARBONATED WARNING WARNING GUSHER.
Beer is amber and clear with a huge off white head of small and medium bubbles with annoyingly good retention. Ugh.
Aroma is blank.
Beer has this woody, grassy, cherry, light body, complex weirdness to it. None of hte flavors play together at all. Not a repeat for me, not even very enjoyable.
Reviewed by yourefragile from District of Columbia
2.82/5 rDev -16.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2
2.82/5 rDev -16.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2
750 mL bottle sent by Bauermj, thanks! Batch 77
Cork nearly explodes from the bottle, but contents don't gush. Poured out into a pitcher regardless since any attempts to pour produce a massive fizzy cream colored head. Pours a clearish amber mahogany color with previously mentioned fluffy head, and abundant lacing. Aroma and taste both carry a surprising lack of anything resembling flavor or alcohol. There is some mild cherry and vanilla hiding behind a predominant oak flavor. Light bodied with a dry finish. This beer is just...
Mar 16, 2012Cork nearly explodes from the bottle, but contents don't gush. Poured out into a pitcher regardless since any attempts to pour produce a massive fizzy cream colored head. Pours a clearish amber mahogany color with previously mentioned fluffy head, and abundant lacing. Aroma and taste both carry a surprising lack of anything resembling flavor or alcohol. There is some mild cherry and vanilla hiding behind a predominant oak flavor. Light bodied with a dry finish. This beer is just...
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois
3.09/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.09/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Thanks to yourefragile for sharing this bottle. Served in a SAVOR glass.
Pours a moderate caramel color with a big, fluffy off-white head and a good bit of lacing on the way down. Lots of lacing. Probably because the first few pours were 95% foam and we had to decant.
The nose carries a light bit of cherry and acidity. Some oak as well. Nothing too much. Very light. Flavor is the same. It's impressive that there is this little flavor in a 9% beer. Some light oak and a touch of cherry. Really not all that much going on.
Light body with just a touch of acidity through the finish. Interesting, but quite a bit too tame, even if it were a session beer.
Mar 15, 2012Pours a moderate caramel color with a big, fluffy off-white head and a good bit of lacing on the way down. Lots of lacing. Probably because the first few pours were 95% foam and we had to decant.
The nose carries a light bit of cherry and acidity. Some oak as well. Nothing too much. Very light. Flavor is the same. It's impressive that there is this little flavor in a 9% beer. Some light oak and a touch of cherry. Really not all that much going on.
Light body with just a touch of acidity through the finish. Interesting, but quite a bit too tame, even if it were a session beer.
Reviewed by phichifiji00 from California
3.67/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.67/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Light brown color, tons of thick off-white head that fades slowly. The pressure in the bottle blew the cork out as soon as the cage was removed. Tons of lacing.
Smell: Tart, malty undertones, earthy, dark fruit, sour cherries.
Taste: Tart, sour cherries, dark fruit, earthy, oak, caramel, raisins, plums.
Mouthfeel: medium bodied, moderate carbonation, silky, creamy, somewhat tart.
Overall: Another tasty beer from Telegraph. Not as sour as I'd have liked, but very drinkable.
Mar 07, 2012Smell: Tart, malty undertones, earthy, dark fruit, sour cherries.
Taste: Tart, sour cherries, dark fruit, earthy, oak, caramel, raisins, plums.
Mouthfeel: medium bodied, moderate carbonation, silky, creamy, somewhat tart.
Overall: Another tasty beer from Telegraph. Not as sour as I'd have liked, but very drinkable.
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)
3.83/5 rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.83/5 rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
on tap at The Blue Palm. A nice drinker for the style. Sour yes but very well malted backbone. Light brown and very lacy, something fine to look at. Sour and wild. Oaky, why I like these beers. Still decent mouthfeel. Satisfying. Suitably carbonated.
Jan 22, 2012Reviewed by Jason from Massachusetts
3.3/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.3/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
750ml brown bottle, batch #77.
LOOK: Lively carbonation, big head. Hazed brownish amber.
SMELL: Cooked veggies, fallen fruit, nutmeg, candied orange, musty yeast, chalk, toasted grain
TASTE: Smooth, creamy, wood, lemon grass, cellar funk, highly toasted malt, nutty yeast, chicory, sour candy, broth, faint bandaid, nougat, mint, bone dry finish.
Yup, it is a sour beer though not as mellow as what a Oud Bruin should be. I'd love to see another year or two on this bottle to see where it would go.
Dec 23, 2011LOOK: Lively carbonation, big head. Hazed brownish amber.
SMELL: Cooked veggies, fallen fruit, nutmeg, candied orange, musty yeast, chalk, toasted grain
TASTE: Smooth, creamy, wood, lemon grass, cellar funk, highly toasted malt, nutty yeast, chicory, sour candy, broth, faint bandaid, nougat, mint, bone dry finish.
Yup, it is a sour beer though not as mellow as what a Oud Bruin should be. I'd love to see another year or two on this bottle to see where it would go.
Obscura Arborea from Telegraph Brewing Company
Beer rating:
79 out of
100 with
39 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!