Sassy Tart
Crabtree Brewing Company

 

 

on tap - drank from a snifter

A - dark brown red, like a rotten cherry - minimal head that sticks to the glass like rubber cement

S - waves of cherry, raspberry, blackberry, sour tones ALMOST overwhelming

T - much more subtle than the smell. Hints of chocolate, cherries, and a slight earthy tone. Refreshing and clean.

M - tremendous carbonation and drinkability. Not too sweet, just the right amount of oomph.

O - a very pleasant surprise

 

Poured into a chalice at the taproom. Description says this is Serenity Amber aged with Brett in French Oak for 10 months. Pours an inviting shade of dark red with a nice healthy head considering that's been in the barrel for so long, but it dissipates fairly fast. It smells sour and funky with notes of tart cherry and raspberry. Flavor follows the nose with the tart fruits and sour bite right up front, fading smoothly into vinous bretty flavors and then some of the base beer reveals itself at the end providing a nice malty, biscuity reminder that this is still an amber ale at heart. The one flaw here might be the relatively light mouthfeel which ends up a little uneven throughout the taste, but on the plus side this beer feels so light it could easily pass for 2 or 3 percent less abv than the actual amount. This would be the perfect summer porch beer, but it's not too shabby in the dead of winter either.