Red Eye 7
Red Eye Brewing Company

 

Had on tap this past weekend at Red Eye Brewing in Wausau. This is described as an anniversary ale, in which they take their Scarlet 7 dubbel, introduce wild yeast and other additives, and barrel age it. I'm reviewing from the howler we took home with us. Poured right from the fridge into a snifter.

L: Pours a deep rusty caramel/cola color, with about a quarter-inch of off-white head that quickly dissipates and leaves almost no lacing on the glass. Moderate visible carbonation where the light comes through at the edges.

S: Very tart bouquet, with a considerable amount of vinegar notes coming through. There are definite cherry notes present, as well as a bit of apple cider. Real spiciness to this one, as well: there's a fleeting sense of Worcestershire sauce, though this isn't in any way off-putting.

T: Caramel malt sweetness registers at the very front, immediately accompanied by a nice sour vinegar flavor that strikes at the sides of the tongue and lets you know that this one is, indeed, a sour ale. The middle sees an opening up of some nice fruit flavors, predominantly cherry and apple. There's also a bit of spiciness in the middle, with subtle notes of cracked pepper, tamarind, and onion. The sour/tart and malt vinegar flavors persist through the close, with virtually no bitter to speak of.

F: Lighter-bodied and a touch on the watery side. This one has a nice level of carbonation. This one is tart and bright, with no stick or syrupy quality, and nothing in the way of bitter.

O: Admittedly, I have not had a whole lot of wild ales, but this beer can certainly hold its own among the others I've had. It finds great balance between the malts, the vinegar, and the sweeter fruit notes that are present. If you're in the Wausau area, I recommend checking out this brewery and giving Red Eye 7 a try.